Acid Reflux

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Katiejane
Katiejane Member Posts: 789
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

  Have any of you ladies(or anyone in your family) ever experienced acid reflux caused by Prozac or any other anti-depressant? I'm just 2 years out from diagnosis & was left lactose intolerant from the chemo.  That has resolved itself but now I'm experiencing this acid reflux. Chemo also destroyed my thyroid so every morning I take synthroid(at least 1-2 hours before anything else) and then I take Arimidex, eat breakfast then I take the Prozac. After that, it's a free for all in my stomach!!!  The Doc has put me on Protonix 40mg which I take before dinner.  Any feedback would really be appreciated!!!  Thanks! katiejane

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  • lynnea
    lynnea Member Posts: 226
    edited June 2009

    Hi Katiejane- if I take my prozac on an empty stomach I experience reflux. Now I take it right before lunch or dinner and I have no problem with it. You said you're taking it after breakfast, then it sits on top of the food-try taking it before you eat so it's well mixed with food. Also if your breakfast is light you might need to take it before a heavier meal. When I first started I took in evening because it made me a little drousy, but that is not an issue for me now. Been on it over 20yrs.  Hope this helps. Lynne

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  • Katiejane
    Katiejane Member Posts: 789
    edited June 2009

      Thanks Lynne!  My Doc has changed me to Celexa. I will be sure to take it at the beginning of a heavy meal!   Katiejane

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited October 2010

    My doc put me on something called Kapidex which seems to help somewhat. I take it at night before bedtime. My reflux started during radiation and though its calmed down its not gone yet and I finished rads in early Aug of this year.

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited October 2009

    Breast radiation is known to damage the esophagus, causing or worsening reflux symptoms.  I found this out the hard way after the fact--if I'd known it before I would never have agreed to rads (I have GERD and Barretts Esophagus, putting me at high risk of esophagieal cancer, and now my risk is exponentially higher from rad damage). That's why we bc rads ladies should have our esophagus and stomach scoped every few years.  It's important to take  stomach medications like prilosec, nexium, prevacid, aciphex, etc about 30 minutes before a meal--the food stimulate the acid producing cells of the stomach to kick in, and the taking the medication before the meal bloks that action. 

    Antidepressants can cause nausea for the first few days or so, but it usually subsides pretty quickly.  Be careful about taking them close to bedtime--many can cause really viivid and uncomfortable dreams. 

    Don't you just love how many facts we aren't told until after we've had the treatment?  I think they know that many more of us would decline the treatments if we knew the truth about them.

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  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited October 2009

    Well that's interesting - no one has ever told me that Prozac on an empty stomach causes indigestion and I've had acid reflux for years.  I take 2 Nexium a day it's so bad - in fact, I had very bad pulmonary problems as a complication that damaged my heart.

    One thing I can tell you for sure is that steroids are VERY bad for acid reflux - they make it worse which can then lead to other problems (respiratory disease in my case). 

    I was prescribed a second blood pressure medication several months ago that I have been taking sporadically because my bp has been pretty good without it.  I got SO sick for months when I started taking it regularly again that I couldn't eat ANYTHING without getting extremely ill.  One day I skipped the pill in question, and did much better.  I decided to google the side effects and they were, guess what, stomach irritation, nausea, diarrhea.

    I'm not saying to decide not to take any meds without consulting your doctor, but make sure they understand how bad your GERD is.  Better still, see a gastroenterologist for a consultation on your medicines.

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  • desdemona222b
    desdemona222b Member Posts: 776
    edited October 2009

    One other thing for those of you who take Nexium or other prescription meds - my gastroenterologist told me to be sure and eat a little something, like a couple of crackers or a piece of bread, 30 minutes to an hour after taking it.  It doesn't work efficiently if you don't do that.  I was on the stuff for a long time before anyone bothered to tell me that.

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  • Pat634
    Pat634 Member Posts: 271
    edited October 2010

    I guess they just expect us to shut up and be happy we're still alive NativeMaine.

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