What is omeprazole and when is it used?

What is omeprazole and when is it used?

Omeprazole is a medicine that reduces the amount of acid that is produced in the stomach. These drugs are also called proton pump inhibitors. Proton pumps are enzymes gastric mucosa that help digest food.

Omeprazole is most often prescribed for the treatment of indigestion, heartburn, reflux, and for the prevention of ulcers.

History of discovery

The drug was first produced in Sweden in 1979. This was the first substance that could act on a proton pump. Already by 1989, omeprazole began sell in the USA and then around the world.

Mechanism of action of omeprazole

Omeprazole is an antisecretory compound. It inhibits, that is slows down, chemical reactions inside the stomach wall. There are pumps that are responsible for the final stage of stomach acid production.

The effect of the drug quickly manifests itself within the first hour after administration, and the maximum effect occurs after two.

The inhibitory effect lasts for about three days after administration, then normal proton pump activity is restored after 3–5 days.

The drug still remains one of the most effective in its category and included into clinical guidelines for the treatment of gastric diseases.

Omeprazole dosage

Different amounts of the drug are needed depending on the condition. The two main reception options are:

• for indigestion – 10–20 mg per day;
• for heartburn, reflux and stomach ulcers – 20–40 mg per day.

Omeprazole may also be prescribed for a rare disease called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. For its treatment, the dosage can reach 120 mg per day.

For people with liver disease, as well as for children, the dosage is usually reduced. The drug dosage regimen must be calculated and prescribed by a doctor. You may need to take more medication at the beginning of treatment, and then gradually reduce the dosage.

Recommendations before use

Usually the drug should be taken once a day, in the morning. Not necessarily during meals – the drug does not affect the functioning of the stomach itself.

You don’t need to take more omeprazole 14 days. If it doesn’t get better after two weeks, you should see a doctor. The specialist will prescribe additional tests and studies to find out the cause, or change the drug.

If possible, it is better not to drink alcohol during the course of treatment. This will not affect the drug itself, but the stomach produces more acid than usual when drinking alcohol. This can cause irritation of the mucous membranes and worsen the symptoms of diseases.

Side effects of omeprazole

Common Adverse Reactions meet quite rare, in about one person in a hundred:

• headache;
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhea;
• abdominal pain;
• constipation;
• flatulence.

Serious complications occur even less often – less than one person in a thousand. These effects include:

• Yellowing of the skin, darkening of urine, and the person himself feels more tired. This may indicate liver problems.
• Joint pain, red rashes on the skin – primarily on the hands, cheeks and nose. Such symptoms may be the cause of cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
• Severe or persistent diarrhea. May indicate inflammatory bowel disease.

If any such symptoms occur, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Omeprazole can be used during pregnancy without concern. Of course, if possible, you can cope with indigestion no drugs. For example, eat in smaller portions, avoid fatty and spicy foods. To reduce overall stress on the stomach, it is best to sit up straight rather than hunched over while eating.

When breastfeeding, follow your doctor’s recommendations. If the specialist confirms that the child is fine, then omeprazole can be taken. The drug does not cause side effects in infants and passes into milk in extremely small quantities.

Interaction with other drugs

Some medications may interact with omeprazole and increase your chance of side effects.

Consult Talk to your doctor if you are taking any medications from this list:

• to treat heart disease, such as digoxin;
• antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole;
• for the treatment of psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis;
• warfarin or other medicines to prevent or treat blood clots.

This is not a complete list, all interactions are usually there in the instructions or the doctor will take them into account before prescribing the drug.

However, omeprazole can usually be taken with over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. But the latter is then better taken with food to reduce the likelihood of stomach upset.

Missing a dose

If the usual dosage is once a day, then accept the next one as soon as you remember. But if there are 12 hours or less left before taking the new dose, then do not take it, wait for it.

If you take the drug twice a day, then if you miss it, take it as soon as you remember. Or do not take when there are less than 4 hours left before your appointment.

You do not need to take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

Overdose

Usually one or even two additional doses of the drug will not cause any problems. But if any symptoms appear – feeling unwell, abdominal pain, dizziness, diarrhea – call an ambulance.