What is Omeprazole?
Omeprazole is a medication belonging to the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) family of drugs. Omeprazole’s primary indicated use is to treat issues that are being caused by your stomach producing too much stomach acid.
APO-Omeprazole is the brand name for this medication, but simply Omeprazole is also the generic name for this medication. Regardless which brand name it’s under, Omeprazole will contain the same active ingredients.
If you’d like to learn more about how Omeprazole prescriptions function or the ways that this treatment can be helpful, click here for more information.
How does Omeprazole work?
As part of the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) family of drugs, Omeprazole works by helping to reduce the amount of stomach acid that your body produces.
Specifically, it inhibits the secretion of both basal acids, as well as stimulated acid secretion (brought on by meals, etc.).
Through this, Omeprazole can help heartburn, GERD, and other acid-related symptoms and conditions.
What is Omeprazole used to treat?
There are a few different conditions that Omeprazole can be used to treat, such as:
- Duodenal ulcers
- Stomach ulcers
- Ulcers caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacteria
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Esophageal damage caused by chronic acid reflux
- Rare conditions where your stomach produces too much acid (i.e., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
In addition to using Omeprazole for GERD, acid reflux, etc., practitioners may suggest using this treatment to manage the symptoms of acid reflux that can impact your life. For example, they may suggest Omeprazole for heartburn and regurgitation management.
How do you take Omeprazole?
It’s always important to remember to take your Omeprazole dosages exactly as prescribed to you by your practitioner, in order to achieve the maximum efficiency from your Omeprazole treatments.
If you’re wondering, “can I take Omeprazole after eating?”, this medication can be taken with or without food. It’s best to take it 30-60 minutes before breakfast for maximum effect. You should always take your medications with a liquid though, to ensure it’s properly ingested.
Should you miss a dose of Omeprazole, try to take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s getting close to your next dosage. In this scenario, you should skip the missing dose.
NEVER double-up on your Omeprazole medication, as overdoses could potentially occur. If an overdose of Omeprazole occurs, you’ll need to seek immediate medical attention.
How long does Omeprazole last after you take it?
For those curious, “how long does Omeprazole take to work?”. Omeprazole starts to work within the first hour or so of you taking your daily dosage, and it reaches its peak state around 4 hours after its ingestion.
Omeprazole medications have a terminal half-life of only 40 minutes, and are excreted by the body through natural functions (urine and feces) each 24 hour period. However, repeated use has shown to provide scalable absorption of the medication during each dosage, until the fourth day of consecutive use when it reaches its maximum level.
If you want to get the most out of this treatment, you must follow your practitioner’s dosing schedule precisely, and take Omeprazole for as long as your practitioner deems it necessary to achieve your health goals.
What are the common side effects of Omeprazole?
Like many medications, Omeprazole dosages may cause side effects in some patients, but in many cases, these side effects of Omeprazole will be mild, and they may lessen or disappear as your body adjusts to the treatment. Meaning you may notice less Omeprazole side effects in long-term treatments, once you’ve been on the medication for a few weeks.
With that in mind, the most commonly occurring side effects of Omeprazole prescriptions include:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Excess stomach gas (bloating or flatulence)
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Difficulty sleeping
- Tiredness
- Sensations of prickling, numbness, or burning
If any of these side effects of Omeprazole begin to become severe or start to impact your daily quality of life, be sure to let your practitioner know. They may be able to suggest alternative medications to Omeprazole without interactions or negative side effects.
Who shouldn't take Omeprazole?
There are a variety of patients that shouldn’t use dosages of Omeprazole for GERD, acid reflux, etc. These people include:
- Patients who are under the age of 18 (the use of Omeprazole for babies or adolescents has not yet been confirmed as safe, and is therefore not recommended)
- Patients who are allergic to Omeprazole or any of the other active ingredients in Omeprazole dosages
- Patients who are currently taking Rilpivirine
In addition to these patients, there are other people who should be extra cautious about using Omeprazole for heartburn, GERD, etc. This includes people who:
- Have ever had major health problems in the past
- Have or have had severe liver problems
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- Are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- Are due to have a Chromogranin A blood test done soon
There are also a wide range of medications (prescription and over-the-counter), which may cause negative interactions with Omeprazole. Be sure to let your practitioner know about any/all medications or treatments you’re taking, even if some don’t require a prescription to acquire.
If there are potential negative interactions with Omeprazole between the other medications that you’re currently taking, your clinician may be able to suggest alternatives to Omeprazole without the interactions, or at least, a lower risk of occurrence.
Is It Safe to Take Omeprazole While Pregnant?
There are no studies that provide detailed information regarding the interactions between Omeprazole for babies or children, as well as whether this medication can transfer to children in the womb or through breastfeeding.
Because of this, Omeprazole is not considered safe in pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, be sure to let your practitioner know before you request an Omeprazole prescription online in Canada from Felix.
How Does Omeprazole Relieve Acid Reflux?
Prescriptions for Omeprazole relieve acid reflux symptoms by helping to regulate and reduce the amount of stomach acid that your body naturally produces, both after eating and between meals.
With less acid in your stomach, it’s easier for your body’s natural defenses against acid reflux symptoms to prevent symptoms from occurring, and the symptoms that do still occur may be less severe.
You can even improve the effectiveness of using Omeprazole for heartburn, GERD, etc., by making certain lifestyle adjustments (i.e., eat meals 2-3 hours before bed, avoid trigger foods, etc.).
Further reading
