Prilosec Information and Uses

Prilosec

Prilosec Overview

Prilosec (generic: omeprazole) is a prescription medication used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is also used for other conditions including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and certain ulcers. Omeprazole belongs to a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, which reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. A nonprescription (over-the-counter) omeprazole product is also available for the treatment of heartburn.

This medication comes in capsule form or in packets to be mixed with water to form a liquid. It is taken once or twice daily, an hour before a meal.

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

Uses of Prilosec

Prilosec is a prescription medicine used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), certain ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, and erosive esophagitis (EE).

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

Side Effects of Prilosec

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

rash
face swelling
throat tightness
difficulty breathing

Your doctor may stop Prilosec if these symptoms happen.

Low magnesium levels in your body. This problem can be serious. Low magnesium can happen in some people who take a proton pump inhibitor medicine for at least 3 months. If low magnesium levels happen, it is usually after a year of treatment. You may or may not have symptoms of low magnesium.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:

seizures
dizziness
abnormal or fast heart beat
jitteriness
jerking movements or shaking (tremors)
muscle weakness
spasms of the hands and feet
cramps or muscle aches
spasm of the voice box

Your doctor may check the level of magnesium in your body before you start taking Prilosec or during treatment if you will be taking Prilosec for a long period of time.

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

Headache
Abdominal pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Gas
Respiratory system events
Fever

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.

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 Prilosec. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about side effects.

Prilosec Interactions

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription drugs, anti-cancer drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements. Prilosec may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Prilosec works. In some cases, a drug you may be taking may need to be temporarily withdrawn. 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 (Hypericum perforatum)
rifampin
erlotinib
methotrexate

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

Prilosec Precautions

Do not take Prilosec if you:

are allergic to any of the ingredients in Prilosec. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Prilosec.
are allergic to any other Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) medicine.

Prilosec Food Interactions

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 Prilosec there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Prilosec.

Inform MD

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

have been told that you have low magnesium levels in your blood
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, anti-cancer drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Prilosec and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Prilosec will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Prilosec and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. You and your doctor should decide if you will take Prilosec or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Prilosec Usage

Take Prilosec exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Do not change your dose or stop Prilosec without talking to your doctor.
Take Prilosec at least 1 hour before a meal.
Swallow Prilosec capsules whole. Never chew or crush Prilosec.
If you have difficulty swallowing Prilosec 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 Prilosec, 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.

Take Prilosec Delayed-Release Oral Suspension as follows:

Empty the contents of a 2.5 mg packet into a container containing 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of water or empty the contents of a 10 mg packet into a container with 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water
Stir.
Leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
Stir and drink within 30 minutes.

If any medicine remains after drinking, add more water, stir, and drink right away.

Prilosec for Delayed-Release Oral Suspension may be given through a nasogastric tube (NG tube) or gastric tube, as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the instructions below:

Prilosec for Delayed-Release Oral Suspension:

Add 5 mL of water to a catheter tipped syringe and then add the contents of a 2.5 mg packet (or 15 mL of water for the 10 mg packet), as instructed by your doctor. Use only a catheter tipped syringe to give Prilosec through a NG tube or gastric tube.
Shake the syringe right away and then leave it for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
Shake the syringe and give the medicine through the NG or gastric tube (French size 6 or larger) into the stomach within 30 minutes.
Refill the syringe with an equal amount of water.
Shake and flush any remaining contents from the NG tube or gastric tube into the stomach.

Prilosec Dosage

Short-Term Treatment of Active Duodenal Ulcer

The recommended adult oral dose of Prilosec is 20 mg once daily. Most patients heal within four weeks. Some patients may require an additional four weeks of therapy.

H. pylori Eradication for the Reduction of the Risk of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence

Triple Therapy (Prilosec/clarithromycin/amoxicillin) — The recommended adult oral regimen is Prilosec 20 mg plus clarithromycin 500 mg plus amoxicillin 1000 mg each given twice daily for 10 days. In patients with an ulcer present at the time of initiation of therapy, an additional 18 days of Prilosec 20 mg once daily is recommended for ulcer healing and symptom relief.

Dual Therapy (Prilosec/clarithromycin) — The recommended adult oral regimen is Prilosec 40 mg once daily plus clarithromycin 500 mg three times daily for 14 days. In patients with an ulcer present at the time of initiation of therapy, an additional 14 days of Prilosec 20 mg once daily is recommended for ulcer healing and symptom relief.

Gastric Ulcer

The recommended adult oral dose is 40 mg once daily for 4-8 weeks.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

The recommended adult oral dose for the treatment of patients with symptomatic GERD and no esophageal lesions is 20 mg daily for up to 4 weeks. The recommended adult oral dose for the treatment of patients with erosive esophagitis and accompanying symptoms due to GERD is 20 mg daily for 4 to 8 weeks.

Maintenance of Healing of Erosive Esophagitis

The recommended adult oral dose is 20 mg daily.

Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions

The dosage of Prilosec in patients with pathological hypersecretory conditions varies with the individual patient. The recommended adult oral starting dose is 60 mg once daily. Doses should be adjusted to individual patient needs and should continue for as long as clinically indicated. Doses up to 120 mg three times daily have been administered. Daily dosages of greater than 80 mg should be administered in divided doses. Some patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome have been treated continuously with Prilosec for more than 5 years.

Pediatric Patients

For the treatment of GERD and maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis, the recommended daily dose for pediatric patients 1 to 16 years of age is based on weight and ranges from 5 mg to 20 mg.

Prilosec Overdose

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

Forms of Prilosec

Prilosec Delayed-Release Capsules are available in the following strengths: 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg.

Prilosec For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension, 2.5 mg or 10 mg, is supplied as a unit dose packet containing a fine yellow powder, consisting of white to brownish omeprazole granules and pale yellow inactive granules.

Active ingredient in Prilosec Delayed-Release Capsules: omeprazole

Inactive ingredients in Prilosec Delayed-Release Capsules (including the capsule shells): cellulose, disodium hydrogen phosphate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, lactose, mannitol, sodium lauryl sulfate, gelatin-NF, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, D&C Red #28, titanium dioxide, synthetic black iron oxide, isopropanol, butyl alcohol, FD&C Blue #2, D&C Red #7 Calcium Lake, and, in addition, the 10 mg and 40 mg capsule shells also contain D&C Yellow #10.

Active ingredient in Prilosec for Delayed-Release Oral Suspension: omeprazole magnesium

Inactive ingredients in Prilosec for Delayed-Release Oral Suspension: glyceryl monostearate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid copolymer C, polysorbate, sugar spheres, talc, and triethyl citrate.

Inactive granules in Prilosec Delayed-Release Oral Suspension: citric acid, crospovidone, dextrose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, iron oxide and xantham gum.