Can you take omeprazole with other medications at the same time?

Doctors use omeprazole to treat and prevent acid reflux symptoms. This medication is part of the proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drug group. You can buy omeprazole online in the UK under several names, including Losec, Losec MUPS, and Pyrocalm. Each option contains a weak base which is concentrated and activated within the parietal cell. The active substance inhibits the proton pump that produces gastric acid in the stomach. Your doctor can prescribe Losec 20 mg or omeprazole 10 mg tablets to reduce stomach acid and prevent the symptoms. Search online for omeprazole to buy in the UK and order it from a registered pharmacy.

Acid reflux occurs when food or liquid moves from the stomach to the oesophagus. Doctors recommend an omeprazole dosage of 20 mg to treat or prevent acid reflux. But there several PPI drugs, including lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, and rabeprazole. All PPIs work through a similar mechanism to relieve acid reflux. So, doctors don't prescribe omeprazole with other PPIs together. Here are two reasons why you shouldn’t take more than one PPI drug together:

Ø  PPIs boost the level of proton pump inhibitors in the body. Think of omeprazole, lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, and rabeprazole as types of fatty meats. Each option adds a specific amount of fat to your body. So, combining two or more PPIs increases the risk of overdose. You’ll end up with more than the recommended proton pump inhibitors in your body.

Ø  PPIs share several side effects, including headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Some people experience itchy skin rashes, constipation, dry mouth or throat, dizziness, and tiredness after using PPIs. So, taking omeprazole with another PPI drug combines the side effects of both medications.

Doctors and pharmacists recommend that people with acid reflux use one PPI at a time to avoid risks. You can start your acid reflux treatment with Omeprazole 10 mg tablets. The low dosage reduces the risk of side effects. Your doctor can prescribe Losec 20 mg if 10 mg of omeprazole doesn’t deliver the desired results. Most patients need an omeprazole dosage of 20 mg to treat acid reflux symptoms.

Mixing medications without approval from your doctor or pharmacist is a recipe for disaster. Some drugs interact negatively with omeprazole, increasing the risk of severe complications. Here are five medications to avoid when taking omeprazole:

Ø  Warfarin is a blood thinner used to treat and prevent blood clots. Warfarin and omeprazole are broken down in the liver by some of the same proteins. Your body may not have enough proteins to work on omeprazole and warfarin. Some warfarin can linger in the body, increasing the risk of severe bleeding. Never take omeprazole with warfarin.

Ø  Citalopram raises serotonin levels in the brain to treat depression. It is broken down in the liver like omeprazole. This interaction can lead to higher citalopram levels in the body, increasing the risk of heart rhythm problems and serotonin syndrome. Avoid citalopram if you’re taking Losec tablets.  

Ø  Doctors use digoxin to treat heart failure and heart rhythm problems. This medication affects blood levels and pressure. Omeprazole can increase how much digoxin is absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach. Higher digoxin levels can affect heart functions and pose life-threatening risks. Don’t mix Losec tablets with digoxin.

Ø  HIV medications prevent the virus from attacking immune cells in the body. HIV drugs, like rilpivirine, atazanavir, and nelfinavir, need stomach acid for absorption. But omeprazole and other PPIs reduce gastric acid in the stomach. Taking rilpivirine, atazanavir, and nelfinavir with omeprazole can undermine their effectiveness. So, the drugs won’t fulfil their function of keeping HIV infection under control.

Ø  Doctors use clopidogrel for heart attack and stroke prevention. This blood thinner is activated by a protein blocked by omeprazole in the liver. So, taking clopidogrel and omeprazole can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Don’t mix Losec 20 mg or omeprazole 10 mg tablets with clopidogrel.

This list doesn’t contain all the drugs that interact with omeprazole. Other medications to avoid when taking omeprazole include tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil for organ transplant patients, diazepam (Valium), cilostazol, and phenytoin (Dilantin). Check with your healthcare provider before using another drug with Losec or Omeprazole 10 mg tablets.

What supplements should you not take with omeprazole?

Doctors use St. John’s wort to treat depression. But this herbal supplement can interact with omeprazole. Studies indicate that St. John's wort accelerates omeprazole metabolism and decreases blood levels. It can interfere with the effectiveness of omeprazole. So, don’t combine St. John’s wort with Losec tablets.

What conditions can omeprazole make worse?

Omeprazole is one of the best and safest medications for acid reflux. But taking this drug for over a year can increase the risk of side effects, including bone fractures, gut infections, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Some people experience tiredness and develop sore tongue and mouth ulcers catalyzed by these complications. However, severe side effects from Losec are rare. The benefits of taking Losec tablets outweigh the risks.

What organs does omeprazole affect?

Omeprazole works in the stomach. But it is metabolized in the liver and almost entirely cleared from plasma within 3-4 hours. You can buy Losec in the UK from online pharmacies without a prescription. This medication can protect your stomach lining and oesophagus from gastric acid and relieve acid reflux symptoms. Remember, the recommended omeprazole dosage is 20 mg.

Omeprazole is the go-to medication for people with acid reflux. But it interacts with several drugs, including warfarin, citalopram, digoxin, clopidogrel, tacrolimus, diazepam, cilostazol, and phenytoin. Never take these medicines with omeprazole. You can get omeprazole in the UK under the Losec brand name. Search for omeprazole and buy it from a UK pharmacy like Ashcroft. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining other medications with Losec 20 mg or omeprazole 10 mg tablets.