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Omeprazole capsules 20mg
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£6.99
Omeprazole capsules 20mg
Buy Omeprazole
How to get omeprazole online
- Complete a short online consultation about your symptoms, health and any other medicines.
- A UK prescriber reviews your answers and decides whether omeprazole is suitable, and at which dose.
- If approved, our pharmacy dispatches your treatment in discreet packaging.
Omeprazole Prices
| Name & Dosage | x7 Capsules | x14 Capsules | x28 Capsules |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omeprazole 20mg Capsules | £6.99 | £9.99 | £16.49 |
Summary for Omeprazole
| Medication Class | Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) |
|---|---|
| Mechanism of action | Blocks the proton pumps in the stomach lining, so the stomach makes less acid |
| Active ingredient | Omeprazole |
| Strength | 20mg gastro-resistant capsules |
| Legal category | Prescription-only medicine (POM) |
| Brand equivalent | Losec |
| Effective within | Symptoms usually improve within 2 to 3 days; the full effect can take up to 4 weeks |
| Dosage Instructions | One capsule once a day, usually in the morning, swallowed whole with water |
| Maximum dose for reflux | 40mg once a day for severe reflux oesophagitis (higher doses only on a doctor's advice) |
| Use with alcohol | Alcohol does not stop omeprazole working, but it is best avoided as it can make reflux worse |
About Omeprazole
Key Points
- Omeprazole reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes.
- It treats heartburn, acid reflux, GORD and stomach ulcers.
- Take one capsule a day, usually in the morning, swallowed whole.
- It is the same active ingredient as Losec.
What is omeprazole used for?
Omeprazole is used to treat heartburn and acid reflux, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), an inflamed food pipe (reflux oesophagitis), and stomach and duodenal ulcers. It is also used with antibiotics to clear Helicobacter pylori infection, and to protect the stomach in people at risk of ulcers from anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen.
What does omeprazole do and how does it work?
Omeprazole blocks the proton pumps in the stomach lining that produce acid. With less acid, there is less to flow back up into the food pipe (oesophagus), which eases heartburn and gives any damage time to heal.
Is omeprazole an antacid?
No. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Antacids such as Gaviscon neutralise acid that is already in your stomach and work within minutes, while omeprazole reduces how much acid your stomach makes. It starts working on the first day, but it takes 2 to 3 days to improve symptoms and up to 4 weeks to work fully.
How long does omeprazole take to work?
Omeprazole starts reducing stomach acid soon after the first dose and reaches its maximum effect within about 4 days. Your symptoms may take 2 to 3 days to improve, but the full effect can take up to 4 weeks. If your symptoms have not improved after 4 weeks, speak to our prescriber or your GP.
Can I buy omeprazole over the counter?
Yes, but only for short-term heartburn. Omeprazole 20mg tablets can be bought from pharmacies and some shops and supermarkets for adults aged 18 and over to take for up to 14 days. If your symptoms have not improved after 14 days, speak to a doctor. Omeprazole capsules, longer courses and treatment for conditions such as GORD, an inflamed food pipe or stomach ulcers need a prescription. If you have needed heartburn treatment for 4 weeks or more, see a doctor.
Is omeprazole the same as Losec?
Yes. Omeprazole is the active ingredient in Losec and works in the same way. The differences are the brand name, the look of the capsule, some inactive ingredients and the price.
Is omeprazole the same as lansoprazole?
No, they are different medicines, but they are closely related. Omeprazole and lansoprazole are both PPIs that work in the same way, generally work similarly well and have similar side effects. The standard dose for reflux is 20mg for omeprazole and 30mg for lansoprazole. If one does not suit you, your doctor may suggest the other.
| Medicine | Standard dose for reflux |
| Omeprazole | 20mg once a day |
| Lansoprazole | 30mg once a day |
| Esomeprazole | 20mg once a day |
| Pantoprazole | 40mg once a day |
What are the alternatives to omeprazole?
Other treatments for acid reflux include another PPI, such as lansoprazole, esomeprazole or pantoprazole; a different type of acid-reducing medicine called an H2 blocker, such as famotidine; and antacids or alginates such as Gaviscon for quick relief. Your prescriber or GP can advise which is right for you.
Is omeprazole safe to take long term?
Some people need omeprazole for months or years, but long-term use should be reviewed by a doctor at least once a year, and it is best taken at the lowest dose that works. Taking it for more than 3 months can lower magnesium levels, and taking it for a long time may raise the risk of bone fractures and low vitamin B12. PPIs can also slightly increase the risk of some gut infections. Omeprazole can also hide the symptoms of stomach cancer, so tell your doctor about any new or changing symptoms.
Are there any warnings about omeprazole?
Yes. Omeprazole is widely used, but doctors, the NHS and the product information highlight some important points about long-term use. It can lower vitamin B12 and magnesium levels, which can cause tiredness, muscle cramps or twitches, dizziness or an irregular heartbeat, and very low magnesium can also lower calcium and potassium levels. Long-term use may also slightly increase the risk of broken bones. Tell our prescriber if you take digoxin or water tablets (diuretics), as your magnesium may need checking. If you have taken omeprazole for a long time, ask your GP whether your dose can be lowered or reviewed, and whether your vitamin B12 or magnesium should be checked. Do not stop a prescribed medicine suddenly without advice.
What else can help with acid reflux?
- Eat smaller meals, and avoid eating in the 3 to 4 hours before bed.
- Cut down on foods and drinks that trigger your symptoms, such as rich, spicy or fatty food, caffeine and alcohol.
- Raise the head of your bed by about 10 to 20cm, so your head and chest are above your waist (extra pillows can make reflux worse).
- Avoid tight clothing around your waist.
- Stop smoking, and lose weight if you are overweight.
Omeprazole Dosage Instructions
Take one omeprazole capsule once a day, usually in the morning. Your prescriber will tell you how long to take it for.
- Swallow the capsule whole with half a glass of water. Do not chew or crush it, because the coating on the pellets inside protects the medicine from stomach acid.
- If you find capsules hard to swallow, you can open the capsule and mix the pellets with half a glass of still water or a slightly acidic drink or food such as fruit juice or apple sauce, then take it within 30 minutes. Do not chew the pellets.
- You can take omeprazole with or without food. Most people take it before breakfast.
- Usual doses: 20mg once a day for heartburn, reflux and most ulcers, sometimes 10mg once a day to stop symptoms coming back. 40mg once a day is used for severe reflux oesophagitis or ulcers that have not healed.
- You can take an antacid or alginate such as Gaviscon for quick relief while omeprazole starts to work.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is nearly due. Never take two doses to make up for a missed one.
If you have liver problems, a lower dose of 10mg to 20mg a day may be enough. Our prescriber will take this into account.
When should you see a doctor instead?
Heartburn medicine can hide the signs of a more serious problem. Do not start omeprazole online if you have any of the symptoms below: see a GP promptly instead. If you are vomiting blood (it may look like coffee grounds) or have black, tarry poo, get help straight away: call 111, or 999 if you feel very unwell.
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing, or food getting stuck
- Repeated vomiting, or vomiting blood
- Black, tarry or bloody poo
- Weight loss you cannot explain
- New or changed indigestion symptoms and you are over 55
- Feeling full very quickly, or a swollen stomach
- Feeling weak, tired or looking paler than usual
- Heartburn that has needed treatment continuously for 4 weeks or more and has not been checked by a doctor
Omeprazole Side Effects
Like all medicines, omeprazole can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common are headache and stomach upsets.
Stop taking omeprazole and get urgent medical help if you have
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing (call 999)
- A severe skin reaction with blistering, peeling or sores, sometimes with a fever
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine, which can be signs of liver problems
Also call a doctor or 111 straight away if you get a rash on skin exposed to the sun, especially with joint pain, severe or long-lasting diarrhoea, or a change in how much you pee or blood in your pee.
Common (up to 1 in 10 people)
Headache, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea, wind, feeling or being sick, and small harmless growths in the stomach lining (fundic gland polyps).
Uncommon (up to 1 in 100 people)
Trouble sleeping, dizziness, pins and needles, sleepiness, a spinning feeling, itchy skin, rash, hives or inflamed skin (dermatitis), changes in liver blood tests, feeling generally unwell, swollen feet or ankles, and broken hip, wrist or spine (with high doses or long-term use).
Omeprazole can occasionally cause dizziness or blurred vision. Do not drive or use machinery if this happens. You can report side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme (yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk).
Omeprazole Warnings
Who should not take omeprazole?
Omeprazole is not suitable for everyone. Our prescriber checks your answers against these points before deciding whether to prescribe it.
Do not take omeprazole if you
- Are allergic to omeprazole, another PPI, or any of the capsule’s ingredients
- Take nelfinavir, a medicine for HIV
- Take rilpivirine tablets, or a combination HIV tablet that contains rilpivirine
Tell our prescriber first if you
- Have kidney or liver problems
- Have osteoporosis, or take corticosteroids
- Have been told your magnesium or vitamin B12 is low
- Have ever had a skin reaction after taking a PPI
- Have an intolerance to some sugars (the capsules may contain sucrose and lactose)
- Are due to have an endoscopy, or a chromogranin A blood test
- Are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding
- Take any other medicines, especially those listed under Interactions
Omeprazole Interactions
What should you not take with omeprazole?
Omeprazole can affect how some other medicines work, and some medicines affect omeprazole. Always list everything you take in your consultation, including herbal remedies.
| Medicine | What it means |
| Nelfinavir, rilpivirine tablets | Must not be taken with omeprazole |
| Clopidogrel | Omeprazole can reduce how well clopidogrel works, so taking them together should be avoided |
| Atazanavir | Not recommended with omeprazole |
| Posaconazole, erlotinib | Omeprazole can stop these being absorbed properly, so taking them together should be avoided |
| Ketoconazole, itraconazole | Less stomach acid means these may be absorbed less well |
| Warfarin, phenytoin, diazepam, cilostazol, tacrolimus, digoxin, saquinavir, high-dose methotrexate | Omeprazole can change the levels of these medicines, so extra monitoring or a dose change may be needed |
| Clarithromycin, voriconazole | Raise omeprazole levels. Usually no dose change is needed |
| Rifampicin, St John’s wort | Can lower omeprazole levels and make it less effective |
| Antacids, such as Gaviscon | Can be used for quick relief while omeprazole starts to work |
Can I take Gaviscon with omeprazole?
Yes, Gaviscon can be taken alongside omeprazole to provide additional relief from heartburn or acid reflux. However, you should leave a gap of at least two hours between taking Gaviscon and omeprazole, as Gaviscon can affect the absorption of some medicines. If you regularly need Gaviscon despite taking omeprazole, speak to our prescriber for advice, particularly if your symptoms have not improved after four weeks.
Can I take omeprazole and Buscopan together?
They work in different ways: omeprazole reduces stomach acid, while Buscopan relieves cramping in the gut. They can usually be taken together, but check with our pharmacist or your GP first.
Can I take omeprazole with ibuprofen?
Yes, and doctors often prescribe omeprazole to protect the stomach in people who need to take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen regularly. Taking omeprazole does not make these painkillers safe for everyone, so check with our prescriber or your GP if you take them often.
Omeprazole Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Can you take omeprazole while pregnant?
Omeprazole is usually considered safe to take in pregnancy, and it is often the PPI doctors prefer because there is more information about its use in pregnancy than for other PPIs. Speak to our prescriber or your GP before taking it if you are pregnant or trying for a baby.
Can you take omeprazole while breastfeeding?
Omeprazole passes into breast milk in small amounts, but it is unlikely to affect your baby at normal doses, and it is usually considered safe while breastfeeding. Tell our prescriber if you are breastfeeding.
Read the leaflet before you start treatment. The leaflet in your pack is the version for the product you receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time is in the morning, at the same time each day. If you have been prescribed two doses a day, take one in the morning and one in the evening.
Yes. You can take omeprazole with or without food, as food does not affect how well it works. Most people find it easiest to take before breakfast.
If you take one dose a day, take it in the morning. Your doctor may prescribe a second dose in the evening for some conditions; if so, take it at the same time each evening.
For heartburn and reflux the usual dose is 20mg a day, and the highest usual dose is 40mg a day for severe reflux oesophagitis or ulcers that have not healed. Some treatments use 40mg a day split into two doses, for example for one week with antibiotics to treat a Helicobacter pylori infection. Higher doses are only used under specialist care for rare conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Never take extra doses on your own.
40mg is the higher standard dose. It is used for severe reflux oesophagitis, and ulcers that have not healed on 20mg, usually for 4 to 8 weeks. Some Helicobacter pylori treatments also use 20mg twice a day for one week. Higher doses, such as 40mg twice a day, are only used on a doctor’s advice, for example for severe oesophagitis that has not responded to treatment. Higher doses taken for a long time are more likely to affect your bones, magnesium and vitamin B12, so they should be reviewed regularly.
It can. Constipation and diarrhoea are common side effects, affecting up to 1 in 10 people. Drinking plenty of water and eating more fibre can help with constipation. Contact a doctor or 111 straight away if you have severe or long-lasting diarrhoea.
Weight gain is not listed as a side effect of omeprazole. Swollen feet or ankles from fluid build-up is an uncommon side effect: speak to our prescriber or your GP if you notice this or sudden weight gain.
Alcohol does not stop omeprazole working, but it is best avoided or kept to a minimum, because it increases stomach acid and can make reflux symptoms worse.
After taking omeprazole for a long time, your stomach may make more acid than usual for a short time when you stop (sometimes called rebound acid), so heartburn can come back or feel worse. This usually settles. To reduce it, speak to your doctor before stopping: they may suggest lowering the dose gradually. If you feel unwell in other ways after stopping, speak to your GP.
Omeprazole is a widely used medicine, but like all medicines it can cause side effects and is not suitable for everyone. It is best taken at the lowest dose that works, for the shortest time needed. Our prescriber checks your health and other medicines before prescribing it.
No, omeprazole does not affect combined or progestogen-only pills. It may make the emergency contraceptive ellaOne less effective, so tell the pharmacist if you need emergency contraception.
Give it up to 4 weeks for the full effect. If your symptoms have not improved by then, or they come back as soon as you stop, speak to our prescriber or your GP: you may need tests such as a gastroscopy, or a different treatment.
Written and clinically reviewed by our pharmacists
Omeprazole Reviews
Product rated 5/5
Great service
By Muhammad Arslan Waraich
Great service and fast delivery. Recommended.
By Sean Perera.
The product is of good quality and recognised branding. Worked exactly as stated in the instructions
By William
It helps me a lot. I take it every day.
By SHERIF EL SHAERCustomer reviews reflect individual experiences and are not medical advice.
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