Omeprazole

You can order Omeprazole gastro-resistant capsules (20mg or 10mg) online from Ashcroft Pharmacy after a quick online assessment.

Once you have completed your assessment and checkout, our prescribing pharmacists will review your order to check that this treatment is right for you. Once approved, our pharmacy team will quickly dispatch your medication.

Highlights:

• Relieves heartburn and acid reflux
• Prevents ulcers from recurring
• Treats ulcers
• Protects the oesophagus from damage

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to treat certain stomach and oesophagus conditions, including acid reflux and ulcers.

It works by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. This can help relieve symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, difficulty swallowing, and cough. Omeprazole can also be used to treat and prevent ulcers.

Most people can take Omeprazole. However, tell your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• Have ever had an allergic reaction to Omeprazole or any other medicine
• Have liver problems
• Are due to have an endoscopy

The medical name for long-term acid reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, also known as GORD. Acid reflux, often referred to as heartburn, occurs when stomach acid moves up into the gullet (oesophagus) and throat.

This can cause a burning sensation in the chest and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Each Omeprazole dose can help control acid production for up to 24 hours.

Shop our full range of acid reflux management treatments to see what other products are available.

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, causes discomfort or pain in the upper stomach and may make you feel bloated or nauseous. Indigestion can also trigger acid reflux symptoms.

Omeprazole 10mg or 20mg can be used to treat these symptoms effectively, and is particularly helpful for relieving heartburn and indigestion.

Lesser-known benefits of Omeprazole

• Helps with silent reflux (LPR) by reducing throat irritation, chronic cough, and hoarseness
• Helps prevent NSAID-induced ulcers by protecting the stomach lining in long-term NSAID users
• Reduces aspiration pneumonia risk by lowering acid exposure in patients prone to aspiration
• Improves absorption of some medicines, increasing their effectiveness
• Helps manage Zollinger–Ellison syndrome by controlling excessive acid production
• Supports Helicobacter pylori treatment as part of ulcer eradication therapy
• Used in hospitals to help prevent gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients

Omeprazole 10mg and 20mg works as a proton pump inhibitor. It reduces stomach acid by blocking the proton pump in the stomach lining, which is responsible for acid production.

When this pump is blocked, the stomach produces less acid, helping to relieve symptoms such as acid reflux, excess stomach acid, and certain types of ulcers.

Omeprazole may start relieving symptoms within the first few doses, although this can vary between individuals. For some people, it may take up to four weeks to experience the full effect.

If your symptoms do not improve after five days of treatment, you should speak to your GP or another healthcare professional.

Omeprazole is usually taken once a day, ideally before a meal. It can be taken with or without food, but taking it on an empty stomach may help it absorb more quickly.

Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the capsule.

A 10mg dose is commonly taken once daily in the morning. In some cases, a twice-daily dose may be prescribed. If so, doses should be taken 12 hours apart, usually morning and evening.

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and continue as normal. Do not take a double dose.

In order to address whether a pregnant woman can take Omeprazole, the links between Omeprazole and pregnancy have been widely studied, concluding that Omeprazole is safe to use during pregnancy.

Current medical evidence suggests that Omeprazole does not harm the developing baby. It is typically the first-choice medication for pregnant women when lifestyle changes and antacids have failed to manage severe reflux. 

We recommend a brief consultation with your GP before use of Omeprazole tablets during pregnancy to ensure the dosage is tailored to your specific needs.

Official NHS guidance states that you can “usually take Omeprazole while breastfeeding, but check with a pharmacist or doctor first”.

The NHS Special Pharmacy Service provides the following advice for breastfeeding full-term and healthy infants:

“Any PPI can be used during breastfeeding, however Omeprazole and pantoprazole are the PPIs of choice as they are excreted into breast milk in very small amounts and have evidence to support their use. Any PPI that passes into breast milk is likely to be degraded in the infant’s gastrointestinal tract.”

If you’re unsure, we recommend you talk to your GP before using this medication.

For short-term acid reflux symptoms, Omeprazole is typically taken for around four to five days without medical advice.

If symptoms continue beyond this period, you should speak to your GP. Ongoing symptoms may indicate an underlying condition that needs further investigation.

The most suitable alternative depends on your symptoms and medical history. Other proton pump inhibitors, such as lansoprazole, may be appropriate in some cases.

Lifestyle changes, including avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals, and maintaining a healthy weight, may also help reduce acid reflux. However, these changes alone may not be sufficient for people with more severe symptoms.

Antacids such as Gaviscon can be taken with Omeprazole, but they should be taken at least two hours after your Omeprazole dose.

If you find that you need to use antacids regularly while taking Omeprazole, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Other heartburn treatments should not be taken alongside Omeprazole unless advised by a healthcare professional.

Patient Information Leaflet 

SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS Omeprazole

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1382485/

https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(00)70149-1/fulltext

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/

In order to achieve the best results and a reduction in gastric acid, the best time to take Omeprazole is critically important. Omeprazole capsules are a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI), which reduces the amount of acid in your stomach. 

Follow the 30-minute rule 

The best time to take Omeprazole is 30 to 60 minutes before your first meal. This allows the Omeprazole tablets time to circulate in your system before the acid pumps are activated by food.

Maintain consistency

While Omeprazole gastro-resistant capsules can lead to relief being felt within hours, they can take 2 to 3 days of use to reach full effectiveness. 

How to administer Omeprazole capsules

Be sure to swallow the Omeprazole tablet whole with water. Do not crush or chew the tablet, as this destroys the enteric coating designed to protect the medicine from stomach acid.

Omeprazole:

Primary use: The prevention of frequent heartburn

Duration: Up to 24 hours of acid suppression

Mechanism: Stops acid production at the source within the body

Best For: Chronic acid reflux, GERD, and Ulcers

Lansoprazole:

Primary use: Immediate relief of symptoms of heartburn

Duration: 2–4 hours of relief from heartburn

Mechanism: Neutralises existing stomach acid

Best For: Occasional indigestion after meals

If seeking an alternative to Omeprazole capsules, the most suitable option depends on your symptoms and medical history. Other proton pump inhibitors, such as lansoprazole, may be appropriate in some cases. When comparing Omeprazole vs Lansoprazole, the two medications have largely the same purpose; Lansoprazole is generally considered to act faster and be more potent. 

PPI medication should never be taken alongside other PPI medication. For example, Omeprazole should never be taken concurrently with Lansoprazole, regardless of dosage.

Omeprazole is generally considered to be the preferred PPI for consumption during pregnancy.