omeprazole

Life Forty Years Back

Omeprazole is a widely prescribed ‘proton pump inhibitor’ drug for treating peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease popularly known as ‘GERD’, laryngopharyngeal reflux popularly known as ‘LPR’, dyspepsia and Zollinger–Ellison syndrome. Some 40 years back problem occurring with inappropriate levels of gastric acids were very problematic because the treatments were very limited. Lots of people, at that time, were devoid of proper treatment and their problems from gastric acids were very painful and serious. Heartburn and Peptic Ulcers were very common and they were life threatening if untreated. The commonly used treatments of that time were ‘administration of gastric acids’ and ‘operation’. Administration of gastric acids gave only temporarily relief where as operation was done then a part of the human stomach was removed and nerves to the stomach were re-sectioned. This was very dangerous and lots of size effects were associated with it.

                             CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF OMEPRAZOLE COMPOUND


Major Development

The major development was done by pharmaceutical company ‘Astra’ in this field to find a drug which can stop this gastric acid production. It was able to find a drug which gives long lasting relief from gastric acids problem. That drug was launched in 1988 by the name of Losec in Europe and by the name of omeprazole in USA. This was the boon for mankind who were suffering with high gastric acids secretion by the stomach. Today it is sold under different name by different pharmaceutical companies some of them are Zegerid by Santarus, Prilosec OTC by Procter & Gamble, Omez by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratory, etc. The patent of omeprazole expired in 2001 which let large no of pharmaceutical companies introducing their own generic version of this drug. It comes in both tablet and capsule form with strengths 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg.

                                                           OMEPRAZOLE OTC

Using Omeprazole

Take omeprazole before your meals; do not take it more than what is prescribed for you. A 14 day course is prescribed by the doctors for patents who have to take one capsule/tablet daily. During this 14 day course your symptoms of heartburn and other problem arising with gastric acid secretion will improve slowly until they are fully cured. Follow a 4 month gap before starting a new course of omeprazole. It is always advisable that you take omeprazole as advised by your doctor. Tell your doctor all the things from which you are suffering and the different diseases which you are undergoing treatment. This is because omeprazole can give bad effect to the bodies suffering for liver, kidney and heart diseases. If you have low magnesium level in your blood then the doctor will not advice you this drug.

Side Effects Associated With Omeprazole

People using omeprazole can have side effect too therefore if you have any of the given side effect then stop taking this drug and tell it about this to your doctor. Some of the associated side effects of this drug are –

1. Bloody and black stools

2. Nausea

3. Difficulty in breathing

4. Diarrhea

5. Unexpected weight loss.

6. Rashes in the skin

7. Chest or stomach pain.

In fact if you see any unexpected change in your body, report this to your doctor immediately.

 

OMEPRAZOLE SIDE EFFECTS

Storing Omeprazole

The drug should be stored in a cool and dark place. The temperature of storage area should not be more than 30 degrees else the medicine compounds may get damaged. Always check its label to find out if the medicine is expired or not. Never use an expired medicine and always keep them away from children as they may accidentally eat the medicine. Omeprazole has been placed in OTC medicine category so you can also use it without a doctor’s prescription.