Blue Fluoxetine Causes Heartburn (Page 6) (Top voted first)

Recently my pharmacy began giving me a new version of fluoxetine, which I have taken for MANY years with no problems.... however the blue fluoxetine gives me horrible heart burn. I use to take them at night before bed, but couldn't sleep, so decided to start taking them in the morning and still get the heartburn. I don't take them with any other meds. I tried an empty stomach, and after eating, but the results are still the same. I also get a bad headache (I think from the heartburn.) Has anyone figured out how to avoid this problem?

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I understand the feeling completely, it feels as if the pill is blocking your throat and it causes a heartburn sensation that can travel to the head and cause headaches. It usually goes away after a while, but I've found that the best way to avoid this problem altogether is just take tablets, not capsules. It may have to do with them being a smaller size or the fact that it doesn't have a gelatin capsule coating.. Just drink plenty of water and know that it will pass.

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Chew some food in your mouth till it's mushy i.e. A biscuit put the capsule in the middle of the food and swallow it all in one go with a drink this usually works for me

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After taking the blue gel capsules for 2 years I ended up in the ER because heartburn was so bad it mimicked heart attack signs. Cannot believe they are still getting by peddling them to the unsuspecting victims. Just switch to white tablets. They cost more but your doc can write your script to exclude the blue ones and insurance must pay. If ever I see a legal suit against the maker of these pills of pain, you bet I will be signing on every line.

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There should be a clear warning that this type is more likely. Now I have gallbladder issues but these things can make me chest feel like I swallowed lava and this morning I vomited blue tinge green mucosa. Trying to get old pills back.

Agree not sure worthy but seems irresponsible.

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Teva is the best manufacturer I've found. I can not take the Blue ones from NorthStar without getting sick to my stomach of dry heaves. I always make sure they carry Teva and check the order before paying. Walmart Carries it, so I use that instead of my Insurance carriers Mail order service.

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I recently started taking fluoxetine capsules, the green and yellow ones. I've noticed I have been having bad heart burn and sulfur burps. Can this be due to my medication?

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with me, it's the blue dye, and when taking blue pills, I feel like a fire breathing dragon. I was on Wellbutrin, which I really liked, but they were blue pills. It was my pharmacist at CVS that mentioned this, so they prescribed the white ones, which are slow release, so not as much energy, but the reflux was gone. I was just prescribed Naproxen, and when I opened the bottle they are BRIGHT blue, and I said, "uh oh." I took them for a week + with awful gerd again. I haven't taken them in going on 3 days, and the gerd is coming back under control. For me, it's the dye.

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You and me both same meds I take Prozac and serquil before bed I usually don't have this problem I'm up now with my throat burning
This happens rarely when I don't drink enough water and stay upright for atleast couple minutes

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I've been getting heartburn with the blue fluoxetine 20 mg capsule. I just took it and thought I'd google it because it's terrible heartburn right now, and sure enough! Any advice, people? Can the pharmacist provide an alternate? Maybe (2) 10 mg in a different color?

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I just started taking Prozac a little over a month ago (generic form) and I've had this happen twice which caused me to google it. The pain is unbearable and nothing I've tried has helped. The burning and the discomfort in my chest and stomach is crazy. Both times caused me to panic thinking something was seriously wrong or I was having a side effect. I really hope the pharmacy will change this for me because I'm scared to take it again.

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Yes! Really bad heartburn, an some headaches. It has been horrible to say the least! I just found about this, an yes my capsules we're changed to the bright blue ones. I'm telling my Doctor, an the pharmacist about this definitely. In the mean time I'm opening the capsule an putting the powder into some peanut butter an taking it that way, until I switch to tablets.

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Re: Haley (# 187)

Ive been taking my fluoxetine and getting the worst heartburn, I usually will take 3 ranaditine with my fluoxetine and it stop the heartburn in about 30 mins

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Wow. I just posted a reply under a similar question on this forum. It seems that the blue capsule is the culprit although I did find research about SSRI's (serotonin reuptake inhibitors) being correlated with reducing the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tone, which means the round muscle at the bottom of the esophagus) top of the stomach is less able to keep your stomach contents where it's supposed to be, so acid leaks into the esophagus and UGH, unbearable!! I'm looking for that research now because I'm restarting Prozac. That heartburn and nausea was HORRIBLE and debilitating for hours. I would take Alka-Seltzer, tums, Pepto Bismol, drink lots of water, and sit upright for some relief. If I can find the actual research, I'll post it here ASAP.

Blessings, Sunny

PS. I'm SOOOO grateful for this forum!

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Re: Stella (# 193)

I have been taking prozac 40mg daily for the past 5 years. I have noticed that when i do not drink enough water with my dose i get the horrible heartburn. Throat on fire, ears get red, sour stomach, and nausea. If i drink plenty of water and make sure its good and washed down, i will not get it. A friend of mine had a simular issue and after i told her to drink a full cup of water while taking her meds thr heartburn stopped. Im not going to pretend like i know what causes this but it is thr prozac and this has helped me immensely. Although i still sometimes forget then at the first sign of that burning feeling i start chugging water. Unfortunately once i can feel it coming on water doesn't do anything to help

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Re: Eric (# 189)

Since vinegar is an acid, it will NOT neutralize stomach acid. Maybe there is another positive interaction, but it is not neutralization. My background? Chemistry teacher.

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Haley

Interesting about the gelatin. Thanks!
Note, however. Vinegar does not neutralize stomach acid, or any other kind of acid, since vinegar, itself, is an acid.

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Re: Eric (# 183)

My son takes liquid and has the same burning. No gelatin

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This happens to me too!!!! I had chest pains so bad from heartburn I considered going to the ER because I wasn't sure if it was a heart attack or not. I started taking my meds with milk which sort of helps. I also take it an hour or so before bed so when I lay down it isn't as intense. I do hope they recall it though because this is ridiclious!!!!

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I’ve been taking fluoxetine for years and never had a problem. This month, I switched from the tablet to the capsule because the capsule was covered by insurance and the tablet wasn’t (no idea why). Almost immediately had heartburn like I’ve never experienced in my life! Will likely go back to tablet.

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Re: David (# 1)

I’ve been taking fluoxetine for 12 years with no problems or side effects at all. After switching from Sanoff brand to these blue fluoxetines a month ago, I’m having terrible problems - severe headaches, nausea, pain in my joints, night sweats, day sweats, insomnia, crying spells, and extreme anxiety. Switching back to Teva brand today and calling the FDA.

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