Consume this medicine in the dosage and duration as per your doctors advise. While taking Omeprazole, swallow it completely without crushing, breaking or chewing it. Omeprazole is advised to be taken at a fixed time, but may be taken together with food (or) without food.
Q. Can I take Omeprazole with domperidone?
Omeprazole can be safely taken with domperidone as no harmful effects have been reported clinically. A fixed-dose combination of these two medicines is also available. Domperidone works by increasing the gut motility and Rabeprazole decreases the acid production in the stomach. So, this combination is very effective in the treatment of reflux esophagitis associated with acidity, heartburn, intestinal and stomach ulcers.
Q. What are the various conditions in which the use of Omeprazole is contraindicated?
Usage of Omeprazole is contraindicated if you are allergic to this drug or any other drug referring to the similar kind of medicines. Also, don't practice Omeprazole if you are already using a drug including nelfinavir (used for the treatment of HIV infection).
Q. What if I miss my dose of Omeprazole?
If you miss a dose of Omeprazole, use it as soon as you remember and the next dose as scheduled. Though, if it is almost the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use your next dose and then follow the usual schedule. Don't use double the dose.
Q. Can I take Omeprazole along with oral contraceptive pills (birth control pills)?
Omeprazole can be used with oral contraceptive pills (birth control). They don't affect each other's action and no adverse effects have been seen when they are used together.
Q. What is Omeprazole?
Omeprazole refers to the type of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). This drug reduces the acid production in your stomach and is indicated for the treatment of conditions produced by excess acid secretion in the stomach.
Q. Can Omeprazole cause subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus?
Omeprazole has been reported to induce subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus in various studies. General symptoms and signs of this disease include painful joints, tiredness, mouth ulcers, hair loss, weakness, rash, fever, anemia, and many others and these may get aggravated over and over. Consult your physician if you encounter these side effects as you may require to discontinue this drug.
Q. Can I take Omeprazole with ondansetron?
Ondansetron is an anti-emetic medicine which helps in relieving nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting. No harmful effects have been seen when Omeprazole is used with ondansetron. So, these two medicines can be taken together.
Q. Can Omeprazole cause lactose intolerance?
In some patients lactose intolerance has been reported with the use of Omeprazole. Many Omeprazole preparations contain lactose as an ingredient. This is a digestive problem in which the patient cannot digest lactose, a kind of sugar mainly found in milk and dairy products. The patient may complain of signs like flatulence (gas), bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, and feeling of being sick (nausea). Read the components specified on the pack before using the drug.
Q. Can I take Omeprazole with Vitamin E?
Omeprazole can be used with vitamin E. The combinations seems to have a beneficial effect in terms of better maintenance of moderate to severe esophagitis. Still, there are not many studies or reports on this subject. Consult your physician for more information on this.
Q. Can I take Omeprazole with levosulpiride?
Omeprazole can be safely taken with levosulpiride as no harmful effects have been reported clinically. A fixed-dose combination of these two medicines is also available. Levosulpiride works by increasing the gut motility and Omeprazole decreases the acid production in the stomach. So, this combination is very effective in the treatment of reflux esophagitis associated with acidity, heartburn, intestinal and stomach ulcers.
Q. Does Omeprazole use increase the risk of clostridium difficile infection?
Use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Omeprazole may be associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD) as reported in few studies and informed by the US FDA as well. A possibility of CDAD can be there in patients taking PPIs and developed diarrhea that does not improve.
Q. Can Omeprazole be used in cancer patients?
Omeprazole can be used by cancer patients as prescribed by a physician. Since cancer patients may also use many other drugs for the primary cancer treatment or for other symptoms and infections, there are chances of drug interactions with Omeprazole.
Q. For how long can Omeprazole be taken?
Use Omeprazole for as long as prescribed by your physician. The duration of taking Omeprazole would vary depending on your condition. Do not stop using this drug without discussing with your physician.
Q. Can Omeprazole cause calcium deficiency and osteoporosis?
Omeprazole can produce osteoporosis (thinning of bones) as it reduces the calcium absorption leading to calcium deficiency. This leads to an enhanced risk of bone fractures on long-term use, like hip, wrist or spine fractures. Notify your physician if you have osteoporosis or if you are using corticosteroids (these can enhance the risk of osteoporosis) before starting your therapy. Take enough calcium and vitamin D to minimize the risk.
Q. What are the rare side effects of Omeprazole?
Uncommon side effects observed with the usage of Omeprazole involves a reduction in white cells or platelets, allergic reactions, problems like blurred vision, wheezing, dry mouth, thrush, shortness of breath (bronchospasm), liver problems like skin rash on exposure to sunshine jaundice, hair loss (alopecia), joint pains (arthralgia) or muscle pains (myalgia), severe kidney problems (interstitial nephritis), increased sweating and swelling of the gut creating diarrhoea.
Q. How does Omeprazole work?
Proton (acid) pumps are seen on the stomach mucosa and they are responsible for secreting acid in the stomach. Omeprazole acts by blocking this gastric acid pump and this unusual mechanism of action assists in reducing the acid secretion in the stomach.
Q. Does Omeprazole cause hepatitis B and can a patient of hepatitis take Omeprazole?
Omeprazole can unusually create hepatitis with or without jaundice and extremely unusually it can lead to hepatic failure and encephalopathy in patients with the underlying liver disorder. Omeprazole doesn't cause hepatitis B or any other viral hepatitis. Still, there are studies confirming an increased appearance of hepatic encephalopathy in hepatitis B patients practicing PPIs. These drugs should be used with care in patients with the underlying liver disease.
Q. Does Omeprazole increase chromogranin levels?
Usage of proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole has been seen to be connected with an increase in chromogranin levels. This rise in chromogranin levels due to the impact of these drugs on enterochromaffin cells and that could also falsely increase the levels in patients with neuroendocrine tumours.
Q. Does Omeprazole cause dementia?
Use of proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazole has been recently linked with the development of dementia in elderly patients. As this risk of increasing dementia is not confirmed, consult your doctor for more information on this effect.
Q. Does Omeprazole cause vitamin deficiencies?
Omeprazole may produce vitamin B12 and vitamin C deficiency. When used orally, vitamin B12 requires acidic conditions for its absorption from the stomach while Omeprazole produces a drop in gastric acid secretion. You may require to use vitamin B12 supplements from external. The clinical importance of the loss of vitamin C levels is not known, so vitamin C supplementation is not suggested
Q. Does Omeprazole have an expiry date?
Omeprazole has an expiry date. Always check the expiry date on the pack and do not use after the expiry date.
Q. What is the role of Omeprazole before endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding?
Omeprazole before endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding decreases the necessity for endoscopic therapy, the rate of post-endoscopy bleeding, and reduces hospital stays. Hence Omeprazole is provided before endoscopy in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.
Q. Are there any withdrawal symptoms associated with the use of Omeprazole?
There are no withdrawal symptoms observed when patients stop using Omeprazole as it has no way of forming tendencies.
Q. Can Omeprazole cause magnesium deficiency?
Omeprazole can produce magnesium deficiency in the blood. Low magnesium levels is a rare side effect observed in patients treated with Omeprazole for at least three months and in maximum cases after a year of therapy. The patient may have symptoms like tetany, arrhythmias, and seizures and may want to stop this drug and take magnesium from external. Magnesium levels should be tested at constant intervals in the patients practicing Omeprazole for a long duration.
Q. Is Omeprazole a controlled substance?
Omeprazole is available when prescribed by a doctor. It is not a controlled substance.
Q. Can Omeprazole be used in cardiac patients?
Patients with cardiac disease can take Omeprazole. Still, Omeprazole can communicate with certain drugs (e.g clopidogrel, digoxin) which might be practiced by a patient with an underlying cardiac disease. Patients practicing Omeprazole and digoxin may require to be monitored for digoxin toxicity. Omeprazole reduces the activation of clopidogrel, thus decreasing its effects. Patients using these drugs together needs to be monitored closely by a physician.
Q. Can the use of Omeprazole cause iron deficiency?
Use of Omeprazole can create iron deficiency and a drop in hemoglobin levels as it reduces the acidic environment of the stomach needed for the absorption of iron. Still, there are no instructions on the regular monitoring of iron levels or using iron supplements when the patient is using Omeprazole.
Q. Is Omeprazole a narcotic substance?
Omeprazole is not a narcotic substance and hasn't been recorded to have any abuse potential. Omeprazole doesn't get you high and doesn't create any addiction as no withdrawal symptoms have been reported when you stop using this drug.
Q. Is Omeprazole available without a prescription as an over the counter product?
Omeprazole is not available as an over the counter (OTC) product. Omeprazole is a prescription medicine and you can buy this drug by providing a doctor's prescription.
Q. How is Omeprazole metabolised in the body?
Omeprazole is metabolized in the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzymes mainly CYP2C19. There could be an increase in the level of Omeprazole in patients with the underlying liver disorder because of a reduction in its metabolism. Though, the amount of drug does not increase if given once a day.
Q. Can Omeprazole be used in stroke patients?
Omeprazole can be practiced in stroke patients. There are studies suggesting that proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) as a type are not correlated with an increased short-term risk of recurrent stroke or death among older adults treated with clopidogrel after stroke.