prilosec and weight gain

[betsy]

did anyone gain weight from prilosec?

[L Navel]

I have been taking Prilosec OTC for more that a year now, much more than the insert recommends of one 14-day course every 4 months. My weight has been fairly steady as compared to before I began having trouble with acid reflux. My weight is 230 to 240lbs. I am a male so Prilosec may affect women differently.

[Johnnie]

I have had weight gain from Prilosec OTC. When I started the daily regiment, which is desperately needed, I weighed 195, now I'm up to 220, which is ridiculous. I'm very upset with the fact that it seems nothing I do to loose works. I can't go off of this type medicine, because I've got scaring to my esophogus and food gets stuck due to the inflamation. So, I'm at a loss as to what to do. I wish there was another way.

[JASON M]

betsy wrote:

did anyone gain weight from prilosec?

YES WIEGHT GAIN IS COMMON APROX 3TO 5 POUNDS PER MONTH USE CAUTION OVER LONG PERIODS UP TO 100 POUNDS HAVE BEEN NOTED

[Linda]

I have been taking it on a daily basis for over a year. I have gained at least 25 pounds. I like how it allows me to be free of all stomach upset symptoms, but the weight is becoming a real problem. Has anyone tried any of the other pump inhibitors? I assume they would all cause the same problem.

[andrew]

weight gain is A BIG problem....I've been taking this crap for 2.5 years now. When i started i was was 237 lbs, now I am up to a whooping 279lbs...I work out 3-5 times a week (cardio and iron pumping)swim, watch my diet...still, i keep going up. Something should be done about these guys,..severe weight gain is not listed as a side effect for prilosec.

[Angela]

I've noticed the same thing. I've been on proton pump inhibitors off & on for approximately 10 years. I've put on around 40 lbs. over the last 5 years. I've noticed that I feel very hungry/snacky quite often - wondering if this is because the medication is interfering with my nutrient assimilation and my body is trying to compensate (?!!)
I was diagnosed with Barett's (sp?) and was put on Nexium for starters. Now I take Prilosec OTC. I've tried lots of different medications - some pharmaceutical & some holistic.... My latest thought is that perhaps sodium ascorbate (non-acidic Vit C) powder could help by healing the connective tissue problem which has contributed to the esophageal sphincter not closing properly.
Any thoughts??? Thanks!

[Sandy]

I started taking 2 Prilosec a day two years ago and have cut back to one for the past 2 months. I have always been on the thin side. I know can eat very little and am still gaining wait. I started walking for 45 minutes a day and still can't even take off one pound. Many have asked for a solution but as yet I haven't seen one.

[Barbara]

Stopped taking omeprazole 2 months ago and still have'nt lost an ounce of the 14lbs I gained. Is the weight gain permanent? Is there anything I can do to lose it? Help!!!!

[Cheryl]

I too have had this happen I believe it is because of the prilosec. I have been taking it for 6 years now and I exercise a good bit. No matter what I do I can not lose weight I probably gained 35 lbs and finally put two and two together I think this is what is causeing my weight gain.

[Gary]

I've been on Prilosec OTC for almost 2 years and have gained about 35 lbs. There haven't been other changes in my lifestyle other than the Prilosec. I just figured it out about a month ago what was causing it.

Has anyone quit using it, and if so, have you lost the weight you gained?

[Kasey]

I have been on prilosec for two years and have gained 10kg. I do not eat alot and exercise regularly. I am about to stop and see if I lose any weight.

[Roger]

been taking omeprazole for about a year...works great for my heartburn, but I've gained 20 lbs...always maintained constant body weight before taking it...

[Mark]

I am convinced that my weight gain is caused by omeprazole - over 50lb in 3 years. I have been trying to lose weight for months but cannot shift a pound - the weight still piles on. My doctor is adamant that omeprazole does not cause weight gain. I came off the omeprazole for a week to try to convince my doctor that it was the drug that was stopping me from losing weight - my weight went down from 18st6lb to 17st10lb in a week! I tried lansoprazole and pantoprazole but got severe side effects so I have had to go back on omeprazole as I cannot do without the drug due to severe reflux. Started omeprazole this Friday again weighing 17st9lb, today is monday and my weight has ballooned up to 18st3lb over the weekend. I feel bloated and uncomfortable. Been back to doctors but they still say it is not the drug and I must be over eating. I feel i am fighting a losing battle.

[kelsey]

Iam 16 years old. I have been on prilosec for approximately 10 months and have gained about 12 lbs. I have talked to my gastro Dr. about this but he doesn't think the prilosec is the cause. I have not changed my diet much besides the fact that I now eat more probiotic foods due to my acid reflux and gastritis. I have just joined the gym and I am hoping to lose some of this unwanted weight.Iam also stopping this medication to see what happens. Is there anyone out there who has lost weight after stopping prilosec?

[wayne moore]

I have been taking prilosec otc for 2 years and gained 20 pounds. ihave discotinued its use for about 2 weeksnow adjusted my. no coffee high acid foods leave out.Read the side effects on the printout. Read directions for use 2 weeks on 4 months off,tellme how that can be good for you.A DOCTOR IS NOT GOING TO COMMIT TO WEIGHT GAIN WITH PRILOSEC WHEN IT'S GENERATING MULTI MIILION INCOMES IN THE BUSINESS OF MEDICINE.QUESTION THE AMA TRUE TO IT SELF AND NOT THE USER.

[carol]

I have a long history with both prilosec and nexium and have gained 35 lbs. over the last several years. I gained 15 of these lbs the first month of taking the nexium. I was told I gained the weight because my stomach felt better and I was perhaps eating more. I knew that wasn't true. However the medication did make me feel better so I went with it not realizing it was the reason I couldn't take any weight off. I discovered it accidentally as I had to stop taking all i-buprofen and felt such relief that I discontinued prilosec (I tried going back to otc prilosec to cut back on 40 milligram nexium) and didn't have my new script for nexium filled. And in the last 5 days I have lost 4 pounds automatically. I am having a scope next week and going to deal with it until then and hope to see more weight loss.It is a delicate situation tho--no coffee and no spicy foods and no i-buprofen--and still a quesey stomach but yes--the medication causes weight gain and no the Dr.'s either don't know because it isn't taught to them or it is a conspiracy and they won't admit it--but we know and next week my Dr. will know I know too--and then he will too....

[MikeR]

I started Prilosec OTC on April 10. I was 203 pounds. It is now July 23 and I am now 220. I swim three times a week and eat well. There is no excuse for the weight gain. I have never ballooned up like this. My doc doesn't think there is any weight gain issues, but this is definetly odd. I cannot lose the weight.

[Deena Presho SD]

I am Bi-Polar and those meds make you gain weight because the ingredients block the H 1 and 2 Receptors of your brain and in some people make them gain that is why i am hear i got those meds all figured out and then started prilosec and couldnt figure out why i started gaining again thank god i found this message board with prilosec gainers tell your doc to check out that histamine receptor thing good luck medication induced weight sucks

[Mark]

Update further to my post of 9th july - after seeing my doctor again with a list of everything I ate for a whole week, he confirmed I am not overeating and agreed that the omeprazole (prilosec) I have been taking is causing my bloating and weight gain. He replaced the prilosec with zantac (ranitidine) 10 days ago. I feel great, no bloating, eating the same as before, not changed my diet but the weight is coming off! I have lost 13lb already!! My doctor said weight gain wasnt a common side effect of omeprazole but in my case it did cause it. I saw 4 different doctors before I got confirmation that this drug was causing my weight gain but I am glad I persevered. I would suggest anyone with the same weight gain problem taking prilosec go back to their doctors because this drug obviously can cause weight gain in certain people.