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Venlafaxine and acid reflux?

Posted , 6 users are following.

zoe43889
zoe43889

Hi have any of you had any terrible acid reflux or evening just general acidity in your stomach that means you are in constant pain? I had a normal endoscopy before I took it (had a bad flare-up of reflux and was sent for one, but waited so long, flare-up cleared up)

I'm wondering if it's the venlafaxine that's causing all the problems. GP keeps throwing PPI's at the problem, they just make it worse! So stopped taking them altogether.

I'm just looking for some help, because if anyone else has experienced this at least I know I can go back to the GP and implore him to rethink.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • john059
    john059 zoe43889

    Posted

    Hey there Zoe. Have you tried any ginger for those symptoms?  I just got of Ven myself (9weeks) and sometimes I get a sore stomach. I read in a forum that Ginger or Ginger Ale is good for this. I have found that Ginger works for me. I buy bags of it at Costco. Dont know if it works for everyone but it sure helped me!!!!!!!
    • zoe43889
      zoe43889 john059

      Posted

      Hi John thank you so much! I usually find that anything fizzy set it off, but when you say ginger, what form do you have it in? Thanks again for this I really do appreciate it, I'm willing to do pretty much anything!

      Did you come off it because of this? Are you taking anything else? Thing is, I got into a really bad way when I had to find an alternative to citalopram, which had kept me stable for 16 years. Just one day, it just decided not to work. So I'm interested to know if you have gone onto anything else and how your transition was because GP just wants me to be concentrating on the mental health side, it's just that when you're getting constant discomfort for about 2 years, it kind of starts to become more of a barrier to a stable mind in itself!

    • john059
      john059 zoe43889

      Posted

      Hi Zoe.  I use chrystalized ginger as well as I put the fresh stuff in a smoothie. It all seems to help. I did the opposite of you. I was on Ven for 7 yrs (75 mg’s) and 3 yrs ago it stopped working. Tried a few  diff AD’s, the last being Celexa and none worked. A year ago (may 2017) my Dr suggested I try Ven again. So i did getting up to 112 mg’s and it didnt work. So after getting back down to 37.5 mg’s  for a few months, i stopped taking it on Jun 11th. It hasnt been an easy ride but I’m determined to get through this. And so sgall you. Perseverance and patience!!!!!  U will get through it.  
    • zoe43889
      zoe43889 john059

      Posted

      Thank you so much John! I guess I'm just so afraid of feeling the terrible sadness, the constant crying and anxiety were not only bad for me, but also for my husband who is also my full-time carer. (I have cerebral palsy).

      I have to say, I'm very surprised that your GP suggested going back to it again. Mine said that if citalopram has stopped working, it was very unlikely to work for me again.

      Thanks once again for your replies, I really do appreciate them and I wish you all the very best :-)

  • Rhubarb57
    Rhubarb57 zoe43889

    Posted

    Yes I did! I took zantac (ranitidine) for a couple of weeks which helped eliminate it... *touch wood*
    • zoe43889
      zoe43889 Rhubarb57

      Posted

      Hi rhubarb thank you so much for your reply. I tried ranitidine, but unfortunately it made my spasticity worse so had to stop. I have tried three different PPI s over the last 18 months or so and none of them have worked.
  • joanna1904
    joanna1904 zoe43889

    Posted

    I too have been experiencing acid reflux particularly if I eat onion. I have been on ven for 14 months, it's only the past six months that I have noticed the reflux problem. I must mention it to the GP. There is a medication you can take to help with this problem rather than taking general indigestion remedies.

    • zoe43889
      zoe43889 joanna1904

      Posted

      Hi Joanna, PPI medication is what the GP prescribed me. It stands for proton pump inhibitors. I have been taking them since I was 16, and managed to finally have the normal endoscopy before taking Ven. Since then, I have tried three different types but none of them have worked.

      Thank you so much for your reply

  • philip42202
    philip42202 zoe43889

    Posted

    Hi, Zoe,

    'yes' is my short answer - but in fairness I'd had an acid stomach for 15 years before I started o Venlafaxine. It was constant anxiety that had brought it about. In time the acid that splashes up from the stomach into the gullet causes constant pain and permanent scarring. There is a group of medications that nullify the acidity, but it's better to see your doctor sooner rather than later.

    I hope this helps,

    Philip

    • zoe43889
      zoe43889 philip42202

      Posted

      Hi Philip I have been on medication for acid reflux for many years, it was under control until I started taking Ven. Since then, I have tried 3 different medications, and none of them have worked. Also, because it hasn't been that long since I had my last endoscopy over a year ago, the GP and specialist will not refer me for another. I really wish they would, because that one was normal and I know a subsequent one wouldn't be!

      I had a barium meal a few weeks ago and because my stomach was empty, there wasn't a lot to see, and it came back as mild reflux. It certainly doesn't feel like it! It feels pretty severe to me!

      Thank you so much for your reply.

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