Losec

Losec is a medication used to treat symptoms of acid reflux. It contains the active ingredient, omeprazole.

Losec works by reducing the amount of acid that your stomach produces. This helps to relieve symptoms of acid reflux such as:

• Heartburn
• Sour taste as a result of stomach acid
• Bloating or feeling sick

You should experience relief within 2-3 days after using Losec. However, you should give it around one month to see the full effect of this medication. If you do not experience any relief from symptoms after 1-2 weeks, you should see your doctor.

Take one tablet around 30-60 minutes before breakfast. The best time to take Losec is in the morning. You should sit upright when taking the capsule and swallow it whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the capsules. They contain coated pellets, which stop the medication from being broken down by the acid in your stomach.

To treat acid reflux, the recommended dose is 10 mg or 20 mg once a day. Your doctor could increase your dose to 40 mg once a day. You can take Losec long term if you have chronic acid reflux; however, this requires a prescription from your doctor. 

Important note: You should not take Losec for more than 14 days unless this is on the advice of your doctor. If your symptoms get worse or do not improve, consult your GP 

If you miss a dose of Losec, you should take a tablet as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose, and go back to your regular regimen. Do not take two doses at the same time or an extra dose to make up for the missed dose. 

Losec is safe to take with most medication. However, if you are taking any of the following, you should consult your doctor first before taking Losec:

• Atazanavir, ledipasvir, nelfinavir, rilpivirine, saquinavir, sofosbuvir, tipranavir, velpatasvir or voxilaprevir, which are antivirals used in the treatment of HIV and hepatitis
• Bosutinib, ceritinib, dasatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib or pazopanib, used to treat certain cancers
• Clopidogrel, dipyridamole or digoxin, used to treat heart conditions
• Clobazam or phenytoin used to treat epilepsy
• Citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine or St John’s wort, used in the treatment of depression
• Itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole or voriconazole, which are used as antifungals Cilostazol
• Methotrexate
• Theophylline used to treat asthma
• Sucralfate used to treat ulcers
• Tacrolimus, used in transplants

You should see your doctor if:

• You develop signs of an allergic reaction such as hives, red, swollen, peeling skin with or without fever, wheezing, tightness in the chest
• You experience any unwanted side effects
• You have heartburn most days, or you do not feel better after 14 days
• You experience unwanted weight loss
• You have other alarming symptoms such as being sick or food getting stuck in your throat; there is blood in your stool or your stool is black, you have extreme stomach pain. 

Losec is not safe to use in pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding. This is because it can cross the placenta, and it is also present in breast milk. 

Losec has the active ingredient omeprazole, and Nexium contains the active ingredient esomeprazole. They both belong to the class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, and both work to reduce the amount of acid that the stomach produces. Clinically, there is not much difference between Losec and Nexium.