Omeprazole: Uses, indications and cautions when using

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The health and life of a lot of people are affected by stomach problems. Currently there are many drugs to treat these problems, of which Omeprazole is an effective product and is recommended by many doctors. In order to use Omeprazole safely and effectively, let's learn together what Omeprazole does and what precautions to take when using Omeprazole.

1. What is Omeprazole?

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medicine that works by reducing acid secretion in the stomach, thereby reducing symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing and coughing Persistent acid reflux, peptic ulceration. In addition, Omeprazole helps heal damage caused by acid in the stomach and esophagus, helps prevent ulcers and may help prevent esophageal cancer to some extent.
Therefore, Omeprazole is used as a medicine to treat some problems with the stomach and esophagus. However, it should be noted that Omeprazole does not relieve heartburn immediately and it can take 1 to 4 days for full effect.

2. How to use Omeprazole correctly?

Proper use will help increase the absorption of active ingredients and Omeprazole will promote its maximum effect, ensuring effective treatment for users. Therefore, patients should pay attention to the following notes when using Omeprazole:
Omeprazole is used orally. Omeprazole dosage is usually once daily. The best time to take Omeprazole is before meals. If you are taking Omeprazole slow-release tablets for long-lasting action, you should swallow the tablet whole, do not crush, chew, or break the tablet because doing so could release all of the active ingredient in the tablet. Omeprazole drugs at the same time, increasing the risk of side effects. If using Omeprazole on the tongue, use dry hands to hold the tablet on your tongue and let it dissolve. If needed, an antacid can be used together with Omeprazole. If you are also taking sucralfate, take Omeprazole at least 30 minutes before using sucralfate. Omeprazole should not be taken for more than 14 days, if, after this time, heartburn has not subsided or even increased, seek medical attention.

3. What are the side effects of Omeprazole?

Besides the therapeutic effect, the use of Omeprazole can lead to unwanted effects. Common side effects of Omeprazole include: Headache and stomach upset.
Tell your doctor right away if while taking Omeprazole you have any serious side effects including:
Ợ sourness for more than 3 months, accompanied by lightheadedness, sweating, dizziness; Frequent chest pain, jaw pain, or arm and shoulder pain; Shortness of breath, frequent wheezing, unusual sweating; Nausea and/or vomiting, stomach pain; Unexplained weight loss; Swallowing food is painful, difficult to swallow; Vomiting blood, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, bloody or tarry stools, Symptoms of low blood magnesium levels such as abnormally slow heart rate, persistent muscle spasms, generalized convulsions Dear; signs of lupus such as a rash on the nose and cheeks, joint pain; Omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors may increase the risk of bone fractures, especially with long-term, high-dose use, and especially in older adults. Very rarely, but Omeprazole can cause a serious intestinal condition caused by bacteria called C. difficile . This condition may occur during treatment or weeks to months after stopping treatment with symptoms including: diarrhea that does not stop, abdominal pain, cramps, fever, blood or mucus in the stool. Another rare side effect of proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole is vitamin B12 deficiency with symptoms such as unusual weakness, sore tongue, numbness and tingling in the hands or feet. Note that this risk is increased with daily treatment for 3 years or longer. Serious allergic reactions to Omeprazole are very rare with symptoms including: itching and/or swelling of the tongue, rash, throat, dizziness, itchy face, feeling short of breath. Omeprazole may affect the results of certain tests, such as blood magnesium tests and vitamin B12 level tests. Therefore, patients who go to the doctor should let the laboratory staff and doctor know if they are taking Omeprazole. These are not all the possible side effects of Omeprazole. While taking Omeprazole, if you notice other unwanted effects not listed above or if any of these side effects are severe, persist or get worse, don't be subjective, stop the medicine. Omeprazole and go back to the doctor. Before using Omeprazole, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole or other drugs in the same class, have liver disease, or lupus.

4. What drug interactions can occur when taking Omeprazole?

Interactions between Omeprazole and other drugs when used together or for a short time can affect each other's activity, effects and effectiveness or even increase the risk of side effects against the will of each drug. So, before using Omeprazole, tell your doctor about all other medicines and products you are using.
Products that interact with Omeprazole that increase the risk of side effects include: Cilostazol, clopidogrel, methotrexate, rifampin, St John's wort, esomeprazole.
Omeprazole reduces the concentration of stomach acid, which can lead to decreased absorption of some drugs, causing a decrease in the therapeutic effect of products including: Atazanavir, erlotinib, nelfinavir, pazopanib, rilpivirine, some azole antifungals such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole.

5. What are some other notes when using Omeprazole?

Overuse of Omeprazole can lead to overdose and serious symptoms such as confusion, unusual sweating, blurred vision, heart palpitations, even fainting or difficulty breathing.
If you have missed a dose of Omeprazole, take it as soon as you remember if it is not time for your next dose. Conversely, if it is time for your next dose of Omeprazole, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual.
To prevent Omeprazole from being degraded leading to quality deterioration and possibly losing the required therapeutic and safety effects, you need to store the drug in the conditions as directed.
To ensure safety and avoid side effects of Omeprazole, patients should carefully read the instructions before using or follow the instructions of the doctor, pharmacist. In case the use of Omeprazole is not effective, the patient should go to medical facilities for examination and treatment.

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Reference source: webmd.com