The NHS has issued a warning to people who take omeprazole, one of the most commonly prescribed medications for heartburn and indigestion. It has cautioned about the long-term use of this drug. Omeprazole belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). 73 million PPI prescriptions were dispensed in England between 2022 and 2023, with roughly 15% of the population using the medications, according to the recent NHS data.
The NHS has put out a warning about this on its website, against its long-term use. “Do not take omeprazole for longer than 2 weeks if you bought it without a prescription. See a GP if your symptoms get worse or do not get better,” the statement reads.
What is omeprazole?
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One of the most commonly prescribed medications in the UK, omeprazole treats conditions such as heartburn. A PPI, the drug works by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach. The drug is used to treat or prevent conditions and symptoms such as:
- stomach ulcers
heartburn - gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)
- the stomach infection Helicobacter pylori (along with antibiotics)
- discomfort from severe reflux in children
How to take omeprazole?
The medication is available in forms of tablets, capsules, and liquid that you can swallow. Some can be dissolved in water. The drug is usually taken once or twice, but it depends on the type of omeprazole and why you are taking it. Here are some things to keep in mind while taking the medication, according to the NHS.
- try to take it at the same time each morning if you take it once a day, or at the same time each morning and evening if you take it twice a day
- you can take it with or without food
- swallow tablets and capsules with water – do not chew or crush capsules or tablets labelled “enteric coated” or “gastro resistant”
Some of the other common PPIs include Esomeprazole (Nexium), Lansoprazole (Prevacid), Pantoprazole (Protonix), and Rabeprazole (AcipHex).Long-term use of PPI is linked to heightened risk of a bacterial infection known as Clostridioides difficile. This infection affects the intestines, leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever. This type of bacterium can lead to an infection in the intestines, resulting in diarrhea and additional symptoms such as abdominal pain and fever.
Side effects of omeprazole
Some of the common side effects include:
- a headache
- stomach pain
- feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- constipation or diarrhoea
- farting more than usual
“Omeprazole will not usually affect your ability to drive, ride a bike or use machinery. But if you feel dizzy or have problems with your vision after taking it, wait until you no longer have these side effects,” the NHS says.
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