UlcerGard

Omeprazole is both an over-the-counter and a prescription medication. The over-the-counter form is used to treat heartburn. The prescription form is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), certain ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, erosive esophagitis (EE), and infections cause by the bacteria H. pylori. This medication page refers to the prescription form of omeprazole.

Omeprazole belongs to a group of drugs called proton-pump inhibitors, which work by reducing the amount of acid made in the stomach.

This medication comes in delayed capsule form and in packets to be mixed with water to form a liquid (suspension). It is taken once or twice daily, one hour before a meal.

Common side effects of omeprazole include headache, stomach pain, and nausea.

Omeprazole is a prescription medicine used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), certain ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, erosive esophagitis (EE), and infections cause by the bacteria H. pylori.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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The most common side effects with omeprazole in adults and children include:

• headache
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• gas
• respiratory system events
• fever

Tell your doctor about any side effects that bother you or that do not go away. These are not all the possible side effects with omeprazole. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about side effects.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements. Omeprazole may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how omeprazole work. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• atazanavir (Reyataz)
• nelfinavir (Viracept)
• saquinavir (Fortovase)
• cilostazol (Pletal)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• voriconazole (Vfend)
• ampicillin (Unasyn)
• products that contain iron
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxincaps)
• tacrolimus (Prograf)
• diazepam (Valium)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• clopidogrel (Plavix)
• St. John's wort

This is not a complete list of omeprazole drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious allergic reactions may occur with omeprazole use. Tell your doctor if you get any of the following symptoms with omeprazole:

• rash
• face swelling
• throat tightness
• difficulty breathing

People who are taking multiple daily doses of proton pump inhibitor medicines for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist or spine.

Do not take omeprazole if you:

• are allergic to any of the ingredients in omeprazole
• are allergic to any other Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) medicine

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of omeprazole there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving omeprazole.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have liver problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Omeprazole falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with omeprazole. In animals, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. However, this medication may sometimes still help human mothers and their babies more than it might cause harm.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.

Omeprazole has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from omeprazole, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. Determining the importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

• Take omeprazole exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
• Do not change your dose or stop omeprazole without talking to your doctor.
• Take omeprazole at least 1 hour before a meal.
• Swallow omeprazole whole. Never chew or crush omeprazole.
• If you have difficulty swallowing omeprazole capsules, you may open the capsule and empty the contents into a tablespoon of applesauce. Be sure to swallow the applesauce right away. Do not store it for later use.
• If you forget to take a dose of omeprazole, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose on time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Short-Term Treatment of Active Duodenal Ulcer

If you take too much omeprazole, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

• Store omeprazole at room temperature between 20°-25°C (68°-77°F).
• Keep the container of omeprazole closed tightly.
• Keep omeprazole and all medicines out of the reach of children.