Taking Your Health Into Your Hands: Why I Quit My Stomach Meds
*Before fully diving into this post, I want to add that you should NEVER DISCONTINUE A PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE WITHOUT A DOCTOR’S SUPERVISION. This is simply the story of doing my own research and talking to my doctor to take my health into my own hands, responsibly, and in a way that worked for me. Enjoy.
Recently, I began taking a stomach medication that actually felt like it was helping, at first. My bloat days and nausea were reduced. My stomach felt normal again, even after a day of sensitivity-filled foods. I was ecstatic.
However, the joy didn’t last long, as about two weeks into treatment I began having some of the worst mental health symptoms of my life— debilitating anxiety unlike I’d experienced in 10+ years, including dissociative episodes and a near nervous breakdown.
At first, I didn’t connect the two. I thought, “Could it be my period? Could it be my supplements? What has changed?” Then, after a few days, I realized only one thing had changed— the new stomach meds, which I’d then been taking for over a month.
I began searching this medication online, and to my shock and dismay, found out about a list of side effects my doctor had neglected to tell me (even when I’d asked them multiple times). The side effects included hallucinations, psychosis, debilitating anxiety, and, in worst cases, early onset dementia— all from an acid reducer.
Why my care provider neglected to tell me this, I’m unsure. But I jumped into action.
I immediately told my doctor I’d be stopping these medications, and, with their approval, I did. The withdrawal I also wasn’t warned about (but had read about online), and it was hell. I felt like I was losing my mind, becoming ill, and cried every day for about a week, but— it was worth it in the end.
Long story short, taking your wellness into your own hands and letting your doctor know what you need vs. what they think you need at first glance can make all the difference. I’m feeling much better, the anxiety is almost all gone (I always struggle with anxiety, but it’s not nearly as bad this week), and one week off of these meds I’ve vowed to never touch them again.
Always trust your gut instinct. Do your research. And, most important, advocate for yourself when speaking to your medical team. Your health should be non-negotiable and you deserve to feel good, no matter what.
I’ve had a hell of a few weeks, but the light at the end of the tunnel is clear and I’m able to say, finally, with confidence, that I’m pretty much through it now. I feel like “me” again, and that’s worth fighting for.
Take care of yourselves, and always fight for YOU. Much love,
Xoxo, MM.
