Common Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Prilosec are headaches, gas, stomach and abdominal pain, diarrhea, upper respiratory infections or common cold, and aching and pain in the back. Side effects may stop when use of Prilosec is discontinued.
  
  

Serious Side Effects

• Signs of serious side effects are depression including irritability, aggression, and hallucinations. Other effects are inflammation of the pancreas accompanied by chills, fever, nausea, extreme pain in upper abdomen and rapid heartbeat. There is a possibility of liver damage as well, signified by jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin), upper abdominal pain, stomach pain and dark urine.
  
  

Rare Side Effects

• Accoring to a June 7, 2007 eMEDTV article by Kristi Monson, PharmD. and Arthur Schoenstadt, M.D., some side effects occur in less than one percent of people taking the drug at the time they were experienced. Rare side effects include appetite loss, weight gain, dry mouth, pain in the joints, muscle cramps, insomnia, drowsiness, vertigo, loss of hair, dry skin, blurred vision or vision changes, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dry eyes, urinary tract infections and anemia. The authors state that they are unsure if some of these symptoms are simply brought on by the drug or other medical conditions.
  
  

Prilosec Overdose

• In the event of a suspected Prilosec overdose, users should seek immediate medical attention. Signs of a possible overdose include flushing of the skin, profuse sweating, a rapid heart rate, migraine, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision or vision changes, confusion and odd behavior, drowsiness and dry mouth.
  
  

Conclusion

• Prilosec is widely used. Like all medicines, it comes with risks, but for the majority of people these risks and side effects will be minimal. Prilosec has a long record of helping heartburn and reducing stomach acid. It does not have a high risk for serious side effects and, for the most part, is quite safe to use to keep heartburn or similar conditions under control.