A doctor said that he sees dystonic reaction often in young patients, all because of medicines they took casually without expecting any harm.
Published Sep 15, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 15, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Casual use of acidity or vomiting pills can lead to rare but severe side effects like acute dystonia, mimicking stroke symptoms. Doctors warn against self-medication, urging medical consultation to address underlying causes. Prevent acidity with nutrient-rich meals, mindful eating, stress management, and natural remedies like licorice root, ensuring long-term gut health over quick fixes.
Think twice before reaching for that acidity or vomiting pill at the first sign of heartburn. Doctors are warning that casual self-medication can sometimes trigger alarming side effects–including a rare condition that mimics stroke.
In a recent Instagram video, neurologist at Neurospace Dr Shakeeb Ahrar from Hyderabad shared a video of his patient who felt a little sick after a heavy meal so went and bought a tablet for vomiting.
Just few hours later his neck tilted to one side, hand stiffened, locked in one side and experienced severe pain and could not move. His parents thought he was having a stroke.
Dr Shakeeb says, “This was not a stroke but a reaction to the tablet called acute dystonia. Some tablets which people take casually for vomiting, gastritis, acidity, can interfere with chemicals like dopamine which plays a key role in controlling movements. In some case this can lead to sudden painful muscle spasms,”
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The doctor said he sees this often in young patients rushed to emergency, all because of medicines they took casually without expecting any harm.
Doctors explain that a dystonic reaction happens when muscles suddenly contract involuntarily. Patients may experience their eyes rolling upward, jaws locking, or necks twisting unnaturally.
For families witnessing it, the symptoms can look frighteningly similar to a stroke.
Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad said, almost all doctors encounter them in the emergency department. This usually happens with the injections, but they are fairly easily treatable.
“Patients respond well to treatment and the symptoms completely disappear in some time… But as long as the patient is having symptoms, it is quite uncomfortable for the family members to watch them suffer. This is one side effect people should be aware of. However, there’s nothing to worry about. Once recognised and treated, complete recovery is possible,” he added.
Dr Swathi Sanjee, Consultant Neurologist at Pain-X in Bengaluru, told South First that gastric tablets such as metoclopramide and domperidone may relieve acidity, but frequent or unsupervised use can cause involuntary movements and neurological side effects.
She adds, “Think twice before reaching for quick fixes. Your brain, gut and body deserve long-term care, not short-term cover ups.”
Meanwhile, Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, senior gastroenterologist from Kochi says, what is described in the video is an extremely rare side effect when certain medications in the family of phenothiazines are used for nausea and vomiting.
He says, “In three decades of practice as a doctor and two as a gastroenterologist, I have not seen more than one or two cases. Even those occurred following injections, not tablets.”
However, he still warns that the main message in the video is right with nausea and vomiting are the symptoms of something that’s gone wrong in the body.
He says, “Rather than self medicate, it is more sensible to seek medical attention, find out the underlying cause and treat accordingly. While it is true that some cases go away on their own, that’s not the case for many other conditions that present the same symptoms,”
Jayadevan warned, “By delaying medical attention, sometimes the window of opportunity for receiving the right treatment is lost. Complications that follow such delays are always harder to treat.”
Dr Sanjee suggests the following tips to prevent acidity:
According to metabolic health coach Dr Jasmeet Kaur, acidity is fueled by processed foods, stress, and poor mind-gut connection. Indian diets often fall short on key nutrients like protein, zinc, and vitamins – worsening the problem.
She lists out a few prevention strategies:
Ultimately, real food, activity, and mindful habits offer lasting relief over quick fixes.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
