Scott Weaver
Updated at: August 30, 2024 · 5 min read
What are the side effects of long term use of Omeprazole?
Omeprazole’s effects on the body can vary from person to person. The after effects on the gastrointestinal area are often associated with constipation and diarrhoea. The side effects noted such as constipation and nausea often appear in almost half of the patients being treated with this medication. Another common adverse effect that is noted is flatulence. There are many patients who would, however, use Omeprazole and not experience any single side effect.
Adverse medical effects to the hepatic system are something that one should not ignore when you are under treatment with Omeprazole. These side effects on the hepatic system can boost the levels of bilirubin and transaminases in the body. If this continues for more than 5 days it can be fatal and cause patient to have fatal fulminate hepatic failure. This oversight can lead to death in as little as one week of being left untreated.
When you intend to take Omeprazole for your stomach problems, always ask your doctor about it. If you experience any side effects, immediately seek medical assistance.
Patients using Omeprazole who would suffer from depression also experience insomnia, anxiety, nervousness and hallucinations. Some of them also experience nightmares. Some of the side effects that were noted were very trivial that they do not require any further treatment or medication.
The adverse effects of Omeprazole
Even though this is a generic medicine for the treatment of heartburns and acid reflux, it must be used with the right medical prescription from your doctor. Like any other drug, Omeprazole can cause some side effects although not everyone experiences them. Here are some of the most common side effects of Omeprazole:
Omeprazole side effects occur due to the mechanism of the drug’s execution and treatment. All medicines have adverse effects, and Omeprazole’s side effects can occur although they are not deemed fatal for the patient involved.
What is Omeprazole?
Omeprazole is a generic medicine that is used to treat a lot of stomach ailments ranging from ulcers, heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, and more. This medication is useful in treating acid problems as it effectively blocks the production of acid in the stomach area. This can arrest the symptoms of acid reflux and help treat the condition.
Acid reflux and stomach problems
Acid reflux and stomach problems should not be ignored. When not treated in a timely manner, they can lead to major health consequences. It is strongly recommended that you take care of the problem the moment you feel symptoms. Omeprazole is a great medication for the treatment of acid reflux, stomach problems, and heartburn. Many people rely on Omeprazole for quick relief and management of hyperacidity. It is normally taken early in the morning, on an empty stomach to manage the production of stomach acids.
PPI: Last line of defence
The PPI or proton pump inhibitors are regarded as our last line of defence as against gastrointestinal problems, heartburns, acid reflux, and GERD. This can be caused by the excessive production of acid in the stomach walls that makes its way back up to the person’s oesophagus area. As the acid found on the stomach walls are eroded easily, PPI or proton pump inhibitors work their way to help reduce the acidity of these substances. Patients experience side effects when taking Omeprazole as it works to help raise the body’s pH around the stomach and help fight off the culprits. The PPI or proton pump inhibitors aid in creating H anions on the body. The side effects occur when the H anions on the body is no longer produced, thus converting the stomach to become ‘Hypochloridic’. This is the terminology used when you have low acid substances in your stomach.
Omeprazole as PPI
Omeprazole is a PPI or Proton Pump Inhibitor. PPIs are a classification of drugs that can help reduce the levels of gastric acid that is being produced inside the walls of the stomach. The PPI or proton pump inhibitors actively block hydrogen potassium ATP. Hydrogen potassium ATP is a type of enzyme is often found in the gastric parietal cells. The most popular of all the PPI or proton pump inhibitors is the medicine Omeprazole.
Given the minimal side effects of using Omeprazole for a short period, it can be considered a wise move to take. However, if you start feeling the more serious symptoms such as depression or hallucinations, it may be time to stop and consider making drastic changes to your lifestyle. Excessive consumption of coffee and other acidic and fatty food can trigger GERD attacks,so you may want to lay low on these for a while.
Sources
More Information
Related Blog Posts
Here to help you
Our Customer Service is available Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999. Visit our help section
