Omeprazole

Omeprazole is available to buy online from our UK pharmacy. You will need to complete a medical consultation to ensure that this medication is safe for you to take.

Omeprazole is a medication that belongs to a class of medication known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It is primarily used to treat symptoms of heartburn indigestion and acid reflux. It is available as a generic medication, which means that it is unbranded. Generic versions of medication are usually cheaper to buy. The brand name for omeprazole is Losec.

Omeprazole is used to treat symptoms of acid reflux (including silent reflux), indigestion, and heartburn. It can also be used to treat and manage stomach ulcers and is also used as part of a treatment therapy to treat stomach infections caused by the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori. Omeprazole can also be used to reduce the chances of stomach irritation if you are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as naproxen and ibuprofen.

Omeprazole works by reducing the amount of acid that the stomach produces. The stomach is lined with proton pumps, which have the job of secreting stomach acid to help with digestion. Omeprazole blocks the action of the proton pumps, so that less acid is produced. This reduces symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. 

The dose of omeprazole to treat acid reflux, indigestion or heartburn is: ‘Take one capsule daily, around 30 minutes before food’.

You should swallow the capsule who, with a glass of water. You should not crush or chew the capsule, as it contains tiny pellets which carry the medication. They stop omeprazole from being broken down by stomach acid, and chewing or crushing can damage pellets, reducing the effectiveness of the medication.

If you cannot swallow the capsule, you should open it and empty the contents into half a glass of water. Ensure all the medication has been swallowed, taking care not to damage the pellets.

Omeprazole 10mg

This is usually the low ‘on demand’ dose of omeprazole. It is used to treat occasional acid reflux. It is preferable to use the lower dose if it is able to control symptoms. This reduces the chances of long-term side effects.

Omeprazole 20mg

Omeprazole 20mg is used to treat acid reflux for those that suffer with chronic acid reflux. It is also the dose that is used to protect the lining of the stomach if you are taking or anti-inflammatory tablets, such as naproxen. Omeprazole 20mg is also used for treating stomach ulcers, H. Pylori, and a condition known as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a rare disorder which results in the over production of stomach acid.

The best time to take omeprazole is half an hour before breakfast in the morning. Where possible, you should try to avoid foods that can trigger symptoms, such as coffee.

If you suffer from symptoms of acid reflux at night, your doctor may ask you to take one capsule in the evening, 30 minutes before dinner.

If you forget to take omeprazole, take it as soon as you remember, and continue with your next dose at the right time. If it is on the same day you are due to take a capsule, or you remember when it is time for your next dose, do not take two capsules together, or on the same day.

You should only take one omeprazole capsule per day. Your doctor may instruct you to take it twice a day, but this dose is not licensed and requires specialist initiation and monitoring.

If you have been prescribed one omeprazole to take daily, but it is not having an effect, you should see your doctor or pharmacist for advice. You should take into consideration that it can take up to 4 weeks to feel the effects of omeprazole.

Omeprazole works relatively quickly, and you should start to feel some relief within a few hours. If you are on long-term treatment, symptoms should start to improve within 2-3 days. It can take around 4 weeks for omeprazole to work properly.

Like all medication, side effects of omeprazole are possible, although not everyone experiences them. Common side effects include:

• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Anxiety

These are reversible and should resolve once you stop using treatment.

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should stop taking omeprazole and seek urgent medical advice:

• Wheezing, difficulty swallowing, rash, fainting, or swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth, throat or body. These are signs of a serious allergic reaction.
• Skin irritation including reddening of the skin, blisters, or peeling. These are side effects of a rare but serious reaction to omeprazole.

You should read the patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects.

Taking omeprazole for a long time can increase the chance of side effects such as:

Low magnesium levels – Symptoms can include muscle twitching, tremors, abnormal eye movements, fatigue, vomiting, loss of appetite and weakness. The long-term risks of low magnesium levels (hypomagnesaemia) that are not manages can include seizures and heart problems.

Risk of bone fractures – this particularly affects elderly patients who have been using omeprazole for longer than one year.

Risk of developing Clostridium Difficile – An infection caused by bacteria which can develop in the stomach, due to reduced levels of acid production. Symptoms include stomachache, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and feeling sick. If you experience stomach pain when taking omeprazole, there is a chance that you may have developed an infection as a result of omeprazole suppressing acid production. You should seek medical advice in this instance.

Omeprazole should only be taken every day if it has been prescribed to you for long term management of symptoms. If you are needing to use omeprazole every day, your doctor is likely to monitor you once a year.

If you take omeprazole to treat occasional acid reflux, you can stop taking capsules at any time.

If you have been taking omeprazole long-term, stopping omeprazole all of a sudden can cause rebound acid production, where acid production by the stomach is higher than before treatment was started. This usually lasts around 2-4 weeks. To avoid this, your doctor may reduce the dose of omeprazole for a few weeks before tapering you off, ask you to take omeprazole once every other day before stopping, or ask you only take omeprazole when you have symptoms. Alternatively, you may be prescribed an alternate treatment, such as Gavison, to help manage symptoms when you stop taking omeprazole.

There is no evidence to suggest that omeprazole affects pregnancy. It is usually safe to take by pregnant women, however, this should be done under the supervision of your doctor. Your doctor will assess the benefits against the risks.

Omeprazole is present in breastmilk; however, the amount is thought to be too small to affect a feeding infant. You should only take omeprazole when breastfeeding, under the guidance of your doctor.

Omeprazole should not be taken with any of the following medication:

• Certain antiviral medication to treat HIV or hepatitis C such as atazanavir, ledipasvir, rilpivirine, saquinavir, sofosbuvir, tipranavir, velpatasvir or voxilaprevir
• Certain anticancer medication such as ceritinib, dasatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib or pazopanib
• Certain heart medication such as clopidogrel, dipyridamole or digoxin
• Certain antiepileptics such as clobazam or phenytoin
• Certain antidepressants such as citalopram or escitalopram
• Certain antifungals such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole or voriconazole
• Cilostazol
• Methotrexate
• Diazepam

If you are taking any of these medications, you should consult your doctor before taking omeprazole.

If you are taking an antacid such as Gaviscon, Tums or Milk of Magnesia for indigestion or heartburn, you should leave a 2 hour gap in between both doses for each medication

Omeprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole all belong to the same class of drugs, known Proton Pump Inhibitors. There is not much difference in the effectiveness of each treatment. Some studies have shown that lansoprazole is slightly more effective. Usually, the first line of treatment is omeprazole. If you are not experiencing any relief with omeprazole, your doctor may try switching you to lansoprazole or esomeprazole.

Alcohol has no direct impact on omeprazole but drinking alcohol can cause your stomach to secrete more acid than normal. If you are suffering from acid reflux, it is recommended to avoid consuming alcohol, as it can make symptoms worse.

We are unable to prescribe omeprazole if any of the following apply to you:

• Repeated symptoms of acid reflux for 3 weeks or more
• Unexplained weight loss
• Difficulty or pain on swallowing
• Blood or black coloured stools
• Abdominal swelling
• Persistent pain
• Vomiting or Diarrhoea
• Anaemia
• Those aged 55 or over with new or worsening symptoms

It may not necessarily be anything to worry about, but in these scenarios, it is best to be physically assessed by a doctor, who can rule out anything that could be hazardous to your health. If there is an underlying health issue that is causing acid reflux, omeprazole will only mask the symptoms, and not cure the problem. 

You can buy omeprazole over the counter at most pharmacies. You will need to have a consultation with a pharmacist beforehand, to ensure that treatment is safe for you to take. OTC omeprazole is limited to 14 tablets.