prilosec and weight gain

[Lena]

I am a 52 yr. old female and was diagnosed with acid reflux in 1990 and have been on medications for it every since. I began taking zantac and as my body got used to it and didn't respond, I was prescribed prilosec. the same thing happened and I had to go to Nexium From Nexium to Aciphex. It's now 2009, 19 yrs. later and I too have had rapid weight gain to the tune of about 40 lbs over this period. I recently went with a personal trainer and worked my but off for 4 months to lose only 15 - 20 lbs. when it should have been 30-35lbs at least. I have reached a plateau in losing weight however after reading all of the above comments I and my husband both feel that we've found the cause of me not being able to lose weight. Thanks for all of your comments. This is very comforting to know that it's not just me having this problem. Now I feel I know what I can do. Find an alternative medication for my problem - naturally.

[KEVIN K]

I just started taking the OTC prilosec, and have noticed weight gain in only one month. If I am eating more, it is very little extra amount, and should not justify the weight gain. I don't have a scale in my house( my weight has always been very consistant, so a scale is pointless) so I can't tell how much weight I have gained, but my stomach has bulged out like I have never seen it before. It actually feels different when I'm riding a bike or bending over.

I saw some pictures of me that were taken recently, and I look all bloated and puffed out.

I was all happy that my acid relux was gone, but I guess there is a trade off to this drug, I also have noticed some minor muscle aches, which it seems a few other people had.

[Lindsay]

I am 26 years old and I started Prilosec 2 months ago and gained 10 lbs (from 135 to 145)even though I was eating healthy and doing cardio 5 times a week. I am not sure if I gained the weight due to the meds or the fact that I was unconsciously eating more food becuase it made my stomach feel better. Kelsey- thanks for recommending probiotic foods...does anyone have any other suggestions of what I can do? I'm not sure if I should give Prilosec another try. Thanks!

[Lisa]

I am so glad I found this forum. I had been taking a generic form of Losec for over a year now and became very frustrated by weight gain, mostly in my abdomen. I work out regularly and had been at a steady weight until taking this drug. I assumed that I was feeling better and must have been eating more. It was a rational explanation since the weight gain was subtle (about a pound a month). However, I found it strange that my usualy methods for weight loss no longer worked and I finally had it when 2 people asked if I was pregnant! I stopped taking the drug abruptly and experienced rebound heartburn which disappeared after about a week. The weight loss since stopping this drug has been phenomenal. My husband cannot believe the transformation that has ocurred in the past few weeks and most markedly within the first week. I have lost noticable weight in my face and especially in my abdomen. Even with strict diet and exercise I wouldn not be able to achieve this much of a change in this short amount of time. I've decided to try and manage my heartburn through diet and zantac when needed and so far have been sucessful just by modifying my diet (restrict excessive caffiene use, spicy food, chocolate). I hope others find this post helpful. I can understand how upsetting it can be to gain weight despite hard work through exercise and diet.

[Jennie from NYC]

I started taking Prilosec 6 weeks ago. While I have gained 8 pounds, what I am most concerned about is that it is all in my stomach.

I tried going off of it for 3 days and now my heartburn is back really badly. Does Zantac work and not cause weight gain? What about Aciphex--does that cause weight gain?

[Jim]

Wow, I thought I was just getting fat because I was getting older. I started on 40mg omeprazole about eight months ago and have gained 45 pounds. The first 20 pounds was almost immediate, and my weight keeps going up several pounds each month.

I am going to stop taking omeprazole completely and see what happens.

[Julie]

Vee wrote:

If this study is still on, I would like to participate...thanks.
<quoted text>

I started to increase in size after 3 days of Omeprazole and have been off it now for almost 2 weeks. I lost an inch of my belly but still have a much larger belly than before I took it - I also had breathlessness and sweating.

Have you had any tips from people how to get rid of it?

[Tina]

I have been on prilosec for two weeks and have gained 3-5 pounds. This ticks me off because I have struggled for two months to lose 15 pounds. I have noticed the weight gain and very uncomfortable bloating. I'm going to stop taking it and try the zantac. I tried to get a hold of my doctor and she has not returned my call.

[Robin]

My doctor put me on Prilosec 2x day. I've gained 7 lbs in one week. I've been on a "bland" diet, plus no caffine, carbonation or alcohol, so the only explanation is the Prilosec.

[Barb]

Sandy wrote:

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.

I have the same problem. My Dr. says weight gain shouldn't be a side effect but I've gained 18 pounds in 2 years and the only way I can stay at that weight is to starve myself. I walk 3 miles daily and eat healthy foods. What can I try in place of the Prilosec?

[Mark Young]

I started taking Omeprazole 2 years ago and I went from 13.5 stone to 16 stone. My diet has always been healthy and I lead a very active lifestyle but the weight just kept piling on. I couldn't understand where the weight was coming from but after reading this forum I'm going to stop taking Omeprazole and just buy Zantac from the chemist. Hopefully I will see a difference.

[Bill]

I started taking Prilosec 12 days ago and have instantly gained 15 pounds. I'm 54, 5' 10" and have weighed 160-165 pounds since I graduated from high school 36 years ago. I was having severe pain between my shoulder blades radiating into my shoulders and neck sometimes giving me a headache at the same time. My doctor told me it was GERD even though I don't have heartburn or acid reflux (at least that I'm aware of!) and prescribed Prilosec. I don't know for sure it's alleviated my symptoms as sometimes the attacks can be weeks apart as well as everyday at times. But the weight gain is real. I'm discontinuing them today. I'll try an H2 antagonist next if the symptoms return.

[Abdul]

I am using Prilosec for 5 months and I was 183 and now I am 202. So, I got 19lb in 5 months.
I did not change my eating way, but I toke some of it since I started gaining weight.
Do you know any other option with no side effect?
Thank you all,

[Maria34]

I find some information about Prilosec (Omeprazole) at http://omeprazoles.com There is description of side effects, dosage, using of this medicine. Hope it will be useful.

[alison]

i had severe burning and the doctor now thinks i have a ulcer. he put me on omoprozol 4 wks ago and i have gained nearly a stone. I knew it was the medication as my diet has not chamged. im constantly hungry and my tummy is so swollen that i look pregnant. i have been told that this medication does not make you gain weight, but im so glad i found this message board as i now know it does. i will be goin back to my gp and see if there is anything else i can take. i have alwys been very slim, and this weight gain is making me become depressed and not want to leave the house. im glad im not imaginig this. here is to all of us that kno its the medication causing this but the medical proffesion dont seem to agree with us!!!

[TonyB]

I started tasking Prilosec OTC two weeks ago and noticed my weight going up. My weight was steady around 185 lbs. to 190 lbs. and now I am pushing 200 lbs. in just two weeks. I work out every day including a vigorous 20-minute cardio workout, always watch my diet staying away from sugar and fatty foods keeping my daily calorie intake under 2500, but my weight is still up and will not drop at all. The only change that I made in my life since this phenomena was taking one Prilosec OTC tablet everyday. I had a feeling this was the cause and then I read all of these stories under this topic. Needless to say no more Prilosec for me!

[Jacky P]

Wow you guys, finally found someone who agrees with me!! Been taking this sh*t for 6 months, in spite of the fact that insert say should only be taken for a short period. During that time, all the weight I had lost (type 2 diabetes) has come back on, but only around my middle! I have the largest spare tyre you have seen!
Now spoken to my GP, who has prescribed Renitidin, so hopefully weight will now start to come off? No mention of weight gain on packs, but my eating habits are the same as before, and was losing weight until this regime started.
Watch this space!!

[Pat]

I too have been taking Prilosec, prescribed by my doctor, twice a day. With absolutely no change in my diet, I have gained 15 lbs. in 4 months! I thought hard and the ONLY new thing I've been doing is taking the Prilosec, hence I googled it and ended up on this website. I am so happy to have found all this living proof here, as I am already prepared for my doctor to say he knows of no evidence that this medicine causes weight gain! So happy to know that my suspicions are not imaginary! I see some people here have switched to Zantax, so I'm going to run that by the doc. I am only 5'1" and can't continue this weight gain. I wonder if anyone on here knows of a holistic or natural remedy for reflux? That would be ideal - to not have to take a chemical cure.

[knowTheTruth]

I had been taking aciphex for over 5 years when in July my insurance company decided to not cover this drug any longer, don't know why. I talked to my doctor and I started taking Prilosec in July. I have gained almost 16 lbs since then. My eating habits have not changed, I haven't had reflux for years because of the aciphex so eating more because my stomach feels better isn't the cause. I quit it about 5 days ago and have already lost 3 lbs. I haven't told my doctor yet but as I am in charge of my own health he will prescribe something else or I will find a new doctor, simple as that.

[Priscila]

ohohh..........my God! I was wondering why am I gaining weight. I've been on prilosec 40mg little over a month and I already gained 8lbs........ and I feel so bloated after I eat....