1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Proton Pump Inhibitors

Lansoprazole and wheat intollerance

Posted , 4 users are following.

crossy67
crossy67

Hi all.

Just thought some on here might find my experience with Lansoprazole useful.

Since about 1993 I have been suffering a terrible acid stomach.  It used to make me feel bloated, acidic and sick.  It got so bad that I stopped eating during the day and just had one meal in the evening as close to bed time as possible.  Then about 10 years ago I went to the doctors and got prescribed Zoton (Lansoprazole), all was good in the world, one 15mg tablet in the morning and I could eat again.

This brought the problem of weight gain, I put on about two stones so about 10 years ago I went on a diet.  No alcohol, potatoes and wheat sort of thing.  Whilst I was on the diet I didn’t take the Zoton, it struck me that I didn’t get the bloated acid problem.  When I came off the diet I started eating normally again and the symptoms immediately started again so I tried excluding a few things until I discovered my symptoms only occurred when I ate wheat.

 

I came off Zoton for about a year and just avoided wheat.  That sounds easy doesn’t it?  It isn’t, it’s in absolutely everything.  I used to think of wheat as being bread and pasta, it’s in Oxo’s chrisps, oven chips, most sauces, beer, sausages, breaded ham, in short most processed food contains it because it’s cheap.  I have to be so careful what I eat and have to check the ingredients on everything.  I find it difficult to eat out and can never eat a sauce or gravy.  It is incredibly sensitive, any wheat at all will set it off.  I once took a bite of a cereal bar without thinking, spat it out without chewing or swallowing any of it and felt sick for two days.

I moved to France where the culture seems to revolve round the devil grain and being wheat free is a lot harder so I started taking Lansoprazole again (Zoton became hard to get in the UK, here it’s impossible).  I have been taking a generic brand of it for 3 years and have just stopped again to see if it’s causing some side effects.  These effects are so slow coming on I didn’t even think of the Lansoprazole.  I have been suffering terrible insomnia for the last two years and it’s getting worse.  I go to bem drop off quickly then wake again after three hours or so.  I have also been suffering really bad depression, just like a big black cloud coming over me and there is nothing I can do about it.  It’s very early days to say if not taking the meds has made a difference but I am sleeping much better.  Fingers crossed.

So, all you people who are suffering the same symptoms as me, have you tried going completely wheat free?  It might be worth a try.

Sorry for the long post.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • ALdragon
    ALdragon crossy67

    Posted

    Hi and welcome to the world of Coeliac disease. I suffered with all sorts of symptoms and being prescribed lanzaprosol was just one of the side shows! Look up Coeliac. See if you can tick any boxes. It maybe just wheat intolerance if you are lucky. You're right France is not a good place to be with those problems. But having been diagnosed 5 yrs ago with Coeliac life does go on and food does get better as you go!
  • crossy67
    crossy67

    Posted

    Hi Al.

    Thanks for your input.  I was tested for Coeliac desease about five years ago.  The test came back negative.  I had been wheat free for a while when I had the test, would that make a difference to the result?

    • ALdragon
      ALdragon crossy67

      Posted

      Likewise. It never ceases to amaze me that supposedly intelligent doctors can tell you that you don't have Coeliac disease when they test someone who has been following a strict gluten free diet for ages. It's no wonder the markers are not showing in the blood. A few years ago I was told to eat some gluten food before a test. I ate a bowl of ordinary wheat pasta and went for the blood test the following day. Sadly it was negative but the next day my blood pressure sank through the floor and I had an ambulance to hospital with a suspected heart attack. I took a while to recover and nobody did a further blood test unfortunately. Apparently food takes two or more days to get into my gut from the stomach. I have since been asked to eat gluten foods again so that they can try another test but after the last experience I will not be trying that anytime soon. I maintain a very strict gluten free diet and found I could do without the lanzaprosol. Good luck!
  • AmandaFA
    AmandaFA crossy67

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have been taking Lansoprazole since January this year.  I am been doing ok on it but have since started with palpitations and some breathlessness.  Although I do have asthma too!  I am going to see my doctor today to see if its connected with the medication.

    Hope that its going well for you in France and that you get better soon.  Its bad having these acid problems and am thankful for this forum at times!

    Take care,

    Amanda.

     

  • crossy67
    crossy67

    Posted

    Hi Amanda.

    Funny you should mention this now.  This morning I had my bowl of Coco Pops, as I poured them in the bowl something pale caught my eye, being rushed I just splashed the milk on, ate them and went off to work.  An hour and a half later I realised that there must have been something wheaty in them, the acid started.  Luckily I have Lansoprasole and a long as I take them quickly they stop the effects.  Lesser of two evils!

    You mentioning palpitations and breathlessness is a bit spooky too. 

    I have given up alcohol as even just a small glass of wine can give me a thumping bad head, I also get woken in the night with hot flushes and, really scary palpitations!

    Over the last couple of months I have also been getting short of breath after very little exertion.  This one's been really worrying.  I have never been an athlete but always been quite fit.  Until 6 months ago I was carrying sheets f plasterboard up three flights of stairs without breaking sweat.  Now I can end up gasping for breath when I reach to top.

    My brand of Lansoprasole has changed several times over the past 3 years.  Now it's made by EG Labo, not sure of the brand before

    • AmandaFA
      AmandaFA crossy67

      Posted

      Hi,

      Acid reflux is awful and the symtoms do seem to vary with reading these forums from what everyone has been through.  Maybe the palpitations and breathelessness are all to do with it but its not nice when it happens!  I hope its not the medication that makes it worse.  I have struggled to eat with my symptoms as I had a lumpy feeling in my throat for ages and now that puts me off trying anything other than a liquid diet but I have lost 4 and half stone with having this, which I did need to lose but its not been the most healthy way of doing it or enjoyable! I haven't had alcohol since before Xmas time as I am too scared to try this, at least until I am eating better anyway!  I am just sick of feeling ill from it all and it stops you from socialising which isn't good at all!  I use the make of TEVA of Lansoprazole as I need the ones that melt on your tongue with not being able to swallow tablets at the moment!

      Hope that you get on ok.

      Take care.

  • greensleves
    greensleves crossy67

    Posted

    Hi, I am new to this forum and stumbled across it by accident.  wow! your post is very enlightening! I was prescribed Omeprazole/Lanzoprazoe for inflamation of stomach lining, (which I believe is result of long term use of blood pressure and asthma medication).  I too have very similar symtroms as you.  I am overweight and always feel bloated. I have been using omeprazole/lansoprazole medication on and off. I stopped taking because i was suspicious off side effects such as excessive weight gain etc.  I am thinking of trying a wheat free diet but realise how difficult this might be from reading your post! 
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.