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We want you to live a healthy, long and happy life! And much of this is achieved by making sure our stomachs are calm, especially when we have eaten heavy foods. For this reason, we welcome you to Monederosmart and invite you to learn all about omeprazole.
Omeprazole is primarily used to treat heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux, making it a must-have product for people who suffer from these conditions or who expose their digestive system to unusual situations, such as fast food.
The uses of this drug should be well understood before taking it, so today we are going to talk you through it and show you the top omeprazole options on the market today. Stay tuned!
Contents
Summary
- Omeprazole is a medicine used to combat gastro-oesophageal diseases and prevent their immediate recurrence. Depending on the condition, it can be used with or without a prescription.
- Omeprazole comes in two forms: capsules and injectable. Each is used in very specific circumstances that must be determined by a gastroenterologist.
- Before purchasing your omeprazole capsules, it is important to know how many tablets are included in your container, the type of container they are contained in, the age of the user who will be taking them, the type of prescription and the concentration of each unit.
The Best Omeprazole: Our Picks
Buying guide: What you need to know about omeprazole
Omeprazole is an ally of healthy digestion. That's why it's important to know all about it before you start using it. In this space we talk to you about its advantages, its characteristics and the types you can find.
What is omeprazole and what are its advantages?
This is one of the medicines that is recommended to have on hand in any home or office, thanks to its fast action and ease of acquisition. That is why we show you below the main advantages you will have by possessing it.
Omeprazole capsules or injectable - what should you look out for?
Capsules. This presentation will be the easiest to find in any pharmacy you visit, and is the one you can buy without a prescription (unless it is a large dose). Since it can be taken orally, it is the preferred form because of its convenience of use.
The usual concentration is 20 mg, but you can also find 10 mg and 40 mg. It is often used in cases of heartburn, indigestion, gastritis, reflux, sourness and other conditions, so it can be taken preventively before you experience symptoms.
Injectable. Injectable omeprazole is available as a powder to be dissolved in a solution. This is not usually used preventively, as it is more invasive and uncomfortable to use. The usual presentations are between 20 mg and 60 mg.
It should be medically indicated, and is mainly used for non-malignant gastric ulcer, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and when the drug is not available in oral form.
| Capsules | Injectable | |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience of use | Convenient | Less convenient |
| Usual strength | 10 mg to 40 mg | 40 mg to 60 mg |
| Use | Preventive and curative | Curative |
| Usual indication | Heartburn, indigestion, gastritis, reflux, heartburn, among others | When oral route is not available, gastric ulcer, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, among others |
| Prescription | Necessary in some cases | Necessary |
What are the contraindications of omeprazole?
Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although there are studies that indicate that this drug would not cause negative effects on the foetus, it is recommended to avoid its use during pregnancy. Likewise in the case of breast-feeding, unless it is absolutely necessary to be prescribed by a doctor.
Hypersensitivity. If the patient has had allergies or hypersensitivity to this medicine in the past, it is recommended that it be avoided at all costs in order to rule out and prevent any adverse reaction.
Nelfinavir. Nelfinavir is an antiretroviral drug used mainly in HIV cases, and it has been shown that the use of omeprazole during the use of this essential drug could decrease its effectiveness, so it is recommended to avoid it.
Children. Most forms of omeprazole are not suitable for use in children, so it is important to check with a paediatrician about the options available for infants and to ensure that the dose is safe for children.
What mistakes should I avoid when taking omeprazole?
Long-term use. Although you can find it without a prescription, it is important to have professional guidance to indicate the maximum time you can take it, depending on your particular case. Lighter treatments will only require a small dose for 4 days.
Consumption every time you eat a heavy meal. Although omeprazole allows you to prevent the effects of heartburn and indigestion when you eat certain foods, it is important that you do not take it indiscriminately, but that you consult your specialist beforehand as to whether this is the option for you or whether it is preferable to opt for another option.
Consumption with all meals. The ideal way to ensure a positive effect of omeprazole is to take it half an hour or an hour before your meals. When you eat, your stomach produces acid, so the effect of the medicine may be lost, and if you take it after eating, it will not be able to reduce the appearance of acid.
Dissolve it in water or take it with another liquid. Omeprazole may lose its properties when dissolved in water or taken with liquids such as juices, soft drinks and the like. It is best consumed in tablet form by swallowing it with a little water.
Combine with other medicines. Although omeprazole may be indicated for use before other medications, it is important to check with your doctor first. Certain medications for HIV, clotting disorders, epilepsy and depression may be less effective when taken with omeprazole.
Purchasing criteria
Omeprazole is highly effective for many gastro-oesophageal conditions, but it is important to be aware of certain points before purchasing one for your use. Here are the most relevant criteria to check.
Number of tablets
The amount of product included in the omeprazole presentation you have chosen will define how long you will be able to consume it in your treatment. There are 3 models that you can get on a regular basis, depending on your needs.
7 capsules. The regular treatment with omeprazole (depending on the reason and severity) will be 4 or 6 days, so a pack with 7 capsules will be perfect for these cases. Buy it also when you want to keep a small reserve.
14 capsules. If you suffer continuously from gastro-oesophageal problems, you may need a presentation with a larger number of capsules. In that case, the double models will be perfect for consumption and a small backup.
More than 14 capsules. There are 20 and up to 30 capsules of omeprazole. Purchase it in case several people in the household constantly suffer from digestive conditions that merit this medicine, and always make sure that they are consumed within the recommended dates.
Packaging
When looking for omeprazole, you are likely to find 2 presentations of capsules: bottles and blister packs. Each will provide a different experience in terms of convenience, portability, practicality and more.
Bottles. Usually the bottles will allow you to store a larger amount of capsules, and their resistant structure will allow you to reuse them later. It is the ideal option to carry in bags that are crowded with other items, as you will be able to find it in a better way and it will not be damaged.
Blister packs. Medicines in blister packs are usually contained in a thin cardboard box, which tends not to be as resistant to pressure from other items nearby, moisture and other elements. For this reason, buy omeprazole in blister packs when you want to keep it stored at home or prefer a lighter option.
User
We know that the effect of medicines will not be the same in children as in adults, so it is important to take into account the age of the user of the medicine before using it. Take these precautions into account.
Adults. Omeprazole will work perfectly well in most adults (as long as they do not have the conditions listed above in the contraindications). Therefore, you can buy it when your doctor prescribes it or keep it in a cool place if you suffer from digestive problems.
Child. If the person suffering from a digestive condition is a minor, it will be necessary to visit your paediatrician to ensure that the omeprazole is suitable and to know exactly the dosage and specifications that it should have. Once you have the green light from the specialist, you can then apply it under his or her parameters.
Prescription
Omeprazole is a medicine that can be easily found in any pharmacy. However, in some cases, a doctor's prescription will be necessary before you can get access to it. Here we tell you a little about each case.
Non-prescription. It can be used to soothe frequent heartburn (heartburn that occurs at least twice a week) or any other similar condition where your doctor considers it important. In case of an over-the-counter purchase, it is important to know how long the medicine should be taken for.
Prescription. It may be requested in case of gastro-oesophageal reflux in both adults and children, and also to treat the damage generated by this condition or to prevent it. Also in case of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in adults and to treat and combat ulcers in the stomach and intestine.
Concentration
You are likely to find omeprazole from 10 mg up to 60 mg, so it is necessary to know under what circumstances each of these options is suitable for use. We talk about this below.
20 mg or less. This is the lowest dose, and can be used for heartburn and acid indigestion, and in some other cases where it is necessary to reduce the level of acid present in the stomach. The lowest dose is 10 mg.
20 mg to 40 mg. Depending on the severity of a gastric and duodenal ulcer, 20 or 40 mg a day for a couple of weeks may be indicated. Reflux oesophagitis may also fall into this category, depending on medical indication.
More than 40 mg. This dose is usually indicated in cases of gastric duodenal ulcer or reflux oesophagitis. The highest dose may occur with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, usually 60 mg per day (injectable). In some cases, the daily dose could be divided to reach 120 mg daily at the start of treatment.
Manufacturing
This type of medicine, like others, can come in its original branded form or in a generic version, which is marketed after the original patent has expired. If you have had any doubts about its efficacy or reliability, here we help you clear them up.
Branded. After a laboratory develops a curative and effective formula, it will have exclusivity to market it for at least 10 years. These tend to be more expensive, as they need to recoup the investment made in both research and promotion of the product.
The first commercial brand to distribute the omeprazole component was Prilosec, whose original packaging contains 42 tablets in blister packs that can be purchased in pharmacies or online shops.
Generic. After the patent of the original laboratory expires, others will be able to make products with the same active ingredient, so it is possible that the effects will be as effective as the first option. These also tend to be cheaper, depending on the formulation.
You can find generic omeprazole in a wide variety of options, strengths and packaging, at any pharmacy near you, or in online shops. Some versions you will see are Inhibitron, Genoprazole, Losec A-10, Losec A-20 and others.
(Featured Image Source: Marian Vejcik/ 123rf.com)
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