Highlights
- Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that prevents the production of stomach acid.
- Omeprazole is normally used to treat the causes of heartburn and other stomach acid disorders.
- Finding the lowest price for omeprazole can ensure you’re getting the treatment you need.
What we call heartburn is generally one of several problems related to stomach acid. While anyone can experience occasional heartburn, regular heartburn or heartburn after eating certain foods can reduce your quality of life and cause more serious problems over time. Learn how omeprazole can help you bring your stomach acid under control, how it’s formulated, and how to get the lowest price for omeprazole.
What Is Omeprazole and What Is It Used For?
Omeprazole, also sold under several brand names; Prilosec is the most common. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication that controls acid in the stomach. It’s generally used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), inflamed esophagus, and stomach ulcer, but it can also be used for conditions for which excess stomach acid is a symptom. It’s available both by prescription and in an over-the-counter formulation. You’ll usually see improvement about one to four days after you begin taking omeprazole.
How Does Omeprazole Work?
Omeprazole blocks an enzyme key to producing acid in the stomach. Unlike antacids that chemically neutralize acid, omeprazole controls acid production over long periods of time. This helps make other treatments more effective and reduces the risk of damage to the esophagus from excessive stomach acid.
Omeprazole shouldn’t be used for rapid heartburn relief.
What Formulas Are Available for Omeprazole?
Omeprazole is available as an oral medication or a powder that can be dissolved in water, though the powder formulation is uncommon. Omeprazole itself is a time-released medication, meaning it is released slowly over time to provide a longer duration of acid suppression.
However, omeprazole is also available combined with an antacid like sodium bicarbonate. An example of this is the brand Zegerid, which is an immediate-release formulation of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.
Omeprazole Dosage and Administration
Omeprazole is available in strengths up to 40 milligrams. The most common starting dose can vary, depending on the specific condition being treated and the individual patient’s needs. For example, the typical adult dose for GERD is 20 milligrams once a day before a meal.
Over-the-counter omeprazole is typically recommended for a 14-day course of treatment, but prescription omeprazole is often prescribed for longer durations under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
How Should I Take Omeprazole?
Take omeprazole at the same time every day, as early as possible. If you’re unable to swallow the capsule, it can be sprinkled over applesauce. However, you don’t need to take omeprazole with food.
If you’re taking it twice a day, take it as early as possible and at a convenient time at night. Always take the whole dose, all at once.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Omeprazole?
The most common side effects resemble cold symptoms and include:
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Pain and bloating in the stomach
- Vomiting and nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
These effects are usually mild and go away after a few days.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, stop taking omeprazole and seek immediate medical attention:
- Watery or bloody diarrhea, especially accompanied by severe stomach pain
- New pains or unusual pains in your hips, back, thighs, or wrists
- Seizures
- Any sign of kidney problems, including fever, rash, nausea, appetite loss, joint pain, infrequent urination, bloody urine, and weight gain
- Any sign of magnesium deficiency, including dizziness, irregular heartbeat, a jittery feeling, muscle cramps or spasms, and a coughing or choking feeling
- New or increasingly severe symptoms of lupus, including joint pain and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse when exposed to sunlight.
Taking omeprazole over a long period of time may also increase your risk of specific types of polyps in the stomach and may lead to a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
If you’re at risk of heart attack, remember that sometimes a heart attack can feel like a particularly intense bout of heartburn. Chest pain can be a sign of a serious heart condition and should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider. Review the signs of a heart attack with your doctor, and if you experience any of them while on omeprazole, get medical attention right away.
What Should I Avoid When Taking Omeprazole?
Avoid eating or drinking anything that increases stomach acid production while taking omeprazole. This includes notable trigger foods like:
- Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee and energy drinks
- Alcohol
- Fatty foods or greasy foods
- Highly spiced foods
- Acidic foods, such as citrus or tomatoes
Everyone’s food triggers are different, so think about what’s caused you heartburn in the past. If you’re taking omeprazole as part of managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other gastrointestinal problems, talk to your dietitian about triggers and alternatives.
People taking omeprazole should not smoke, as it irritates your esophagus and stomach.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose of Omeprazole?
If you miss a dose of omeprazole, skip that dose and resume your normal dosing schedule at the next dosing time. Don’t double up on omeprazole doses.
What Should I Do If I Overdose on Omeprazole?
If you think you’ve overdosed on omeprazole, contact your local Poison Control Center and follow their instructions.
Who Should Not Take Omeprazole?
Anyone with the following conditions should not take omeprazole unless advised to by a doctor:
- Any difficulty in swallowing
- Any signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, such as black stools or bloody vomit
- Persistent heartburn, especially if it lasts for more than three months
- Heartburn with chest pain or breathing issues like wheezing
- Sudden and unexplained weight loss
- Lupus
- Liver disease or elevated liver risk
- Kidney disease or a history of kidney disease
- Low magnesium blood levels
- Osteoporosis or other bone density concerns
- People who have previously broken a hip or wrist
Are There any Potential Drug Interactions With Omeprazole?
According to Drugs.com, omeprazole can interact with over 223 medications. Of these, 22 interactions are considered major, 154 are moderate, and 47 are minor.
Some of the most common drugs that interact with omeprazole include:
- Clopidogrel (Plavix): The effectiveness of this antiplatelet medication can be reduced when taken with omeprazole, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke. This is because omeprazole can inhibit an enzyme that converts clopidogrel to its active form.
- Methotrexate: Omeprazole can increase the blood levels of methotrexate, potentially enhancing its side effects.
- Warfarin: Omeprazole can increase the blood levels of warfarin, which could lead to an increased risk of bleeding.
- Digoxin: Omeprazole can increase the absorption of digoxin, which may increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.
- Benzodiazepines (such as diazepam): Omeprazole can increase the blood levels of these drugs, potentially enhancing their effects and side effects.
- Certain antifungal drugs (like ketoconazole and itraconazole): Omeprazole, by reducing stomach acid, can decrease the absorption and effectiveness of these medications.
- Certain HIV medications: Omeprazole can affect the absorption and effectiveness of certain antiretrovirals, potentially reducing their effectiveness.
- Drugs requiring an acidic environment for absorption: Certain drugs like iron salts, erlotinib, dasatinib, mycophenolate mofetil, etc. require an acidic environment for absorption. Omeprazole can inhibit their absorption by reducing stomach acidity.
No list of drug interactions is complete, so be sure your medical providers are aware of all the drugs and over-the-counter medications and supplements you take. Check with your doctor if you experience any new or unusual symptoms after beginning omeprazole.
Get the Lowest Price for Omeprazole With BidRx
If medication prices are giving you heartburn, BidRx can help. On BidRx, pharmacists across the country compete for your business by offering their best prices. Choose the price and pharmacy that works for you, and it’ll be shipped right to your door.
Start on our customer page to create your bid today!
