What Causes Headaches And Dizziness After Taking Esomeprazole Apotex?

Posted on Sat, 28 Feb 2015

Question: I have a prolactinoma and after having 2 children was advised to go back onto the contraceptive pill as I have also been diagnosed with osteopenia. I had not been on the pill or had a period for nearly 4 years. I started on levonorgestrel/ethinyloestradiol 150/30mcg at the end of November last year and last week started levonorgestrel/ethinyloestradiol 100/20mcg as I was getting numerous side effects. Last night I saw a local GP who prescribed me Esomeprazole Apotex 40mg for heartburn which seemed better today, however I have been still having headaches, lightheadedness and anxiety - particularly today. Is this normal?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
need more details.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.

I need to know some more details so that I can help you better:
1. What was the size of prolactinoma? If possible please upload the Brain scan reports.
2. What other investigations have you undergone? Kindly mention the details.
3. Have you tried any other drugs?
4. Any other medical illnesses?
5. Since when you are facing the current symptoms, anxiety etc?

Kindly revert back with the details.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (7 hours later)

Hi, it is a microadenoma (0.7). I haven't had any othet medications or other issues previously. The reports are all with my endochronologist but he is on leave so I can't access them. The symptoms started soon after I began taking the pill and the last time I saw my gp she said my body could still be adjusting to having estrogen again. I didn't expect the anxiety and thought it would have started to settle by now.

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
serum prolactin levels testing indicated.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for providing the details in the follow-up.
Sorry for the late response.

I think the symptoms of headaches, lightheadedness and anxiety could be because of follwing causes:

1. Hormonal pills which you are taking: your body might not be tolerating the drugs. Symptomatic treatment would be needed like klonopin(prescription drug) for anxiety and lightheadedness, analgesics for headache.

2. Probable increase in size of prolactinoma: the size increase occurs only in 5-10% of cases. I would suggest you to go for testing serum prolactin levels and MRI brain scan.

3. Effect of prolactinomas on other body hormones: an alteration in blood cortisol and thyroid levels could cause your symptoms. Blood testing for these hormones is also required.

Also, testing serum calcium and vitamin D levels for osteopenia is advisable.

Keep a regular follow-up with your doctor.

Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Nidhi Setia (1 hour later)

Thanks for the info. I managed to organise blood tests today, so hopefully some answers there. One more question if I may - when I switched pills the instructions said to go from the last active tablet in the old pack to the first active in the new pack (meaning I had no period) - would this heighten the side effects?

Answered by Dr. Nidhi Setia (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
no increase in side effects.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the follow-up.

The inert tablets in the pack are just to have periods.
If you directly switch from last active tablet of old pack to first active tablet of new pack, I donot think the side effects would be more.

Hope this addresses your concerns satisfactorily.
You can ask further if you have more queries. I would be glad to help and would try to be prompt in replying :)
You can also ask a direct query at your convenience.

Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.

Thanks.

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari