Prilosec

Prilosec reduces stomach acid, stops heartburn, and heals ulcers. Take this medication on an empty stomach.

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Pharmacist Trey Robinson, PharmD overviews the uses and common side effects of Prilosec
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Pharmacist Trey Robinson, PharmD overviews the uses and common side effects of Prilosec
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Pharmacist Lindsay Morrison, PharmD overviews the uses and common side effects of Omeprazole

Prilosec Overview

Updated: 

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.

How was your experience with Prilosec?

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What are you taking Prilosec for?

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  • Other
  • Duodenal Ulcer
  • Esophagitis
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux
  • Heartburn
  • Helicobacter Infections
  • Stomach Ulcer
  • Zollinger-ellison Syndrome

How long have you been taking it?

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  • Less than a week
  • A couple weeks
  • A month or so
  • A few months
  • A year or so
  • Two years or more

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Prilosec Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautions

Uses of Prilosec

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.

Manufacturer

Prilosec Drug Class

Prilosec is part of the drug class:

Side Effects of Prilosec

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.

Prilosec Interactions

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.

Prilosec Precautions

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

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

Inform MD

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.

Prilosec and Pregnancy

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.

Prilosec and Lactation

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.

Prilosec Usage

  • 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.

Prilosec Dosage

Short-Term Treatment of Active Duodenal Ulcer

The recommended adult oral dose range of omeprazole is 20 mg once daily. Most patients heal within four weeks. Some patients may require an additional 4 weeks of therapy.

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

Triple Therapy (omeprazole/clarithromycin/amoxicillin) — The recommended adult oral regimen is omeprazole 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 omeprazole 20 mg once daily is recommended for ulcer healing and symptom relief.

Dual Therapy (omeprazole/clarithromycin) — The recommended adult oral regimen is omeprazole 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 omeprazole 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 omeprazole 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 omeprazole 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.
The safety and effectiveness of omeprazole for the treatment of GERD in patients <1 year of age have not been determined.
 

Prilosec Overdose

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

Other Requirements

  • 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.