20 Unexpected Facts About Omeprazole That Will Blow Your Mind
3. Side Effects Of Omeprazole
Adults who use omeprazole could experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and gas. Children taking this medicine might develop a fever in addition to these side effects. Omeprazole may also cause more serious side effects for some patients. For example, blood tests could show low magnesium, especially if the patient has taken omeprazole for more than three months. Potential symptoms of reduced magnesium include seizures, fast heartbeat, spasms of the hands and feet, muscle weakness, and dizziness. Using omeprazole for more than three years might lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency too. Patients with this nutritional deficiency typically experience signs such as numbness in the hands and feet, poor muscle coordination, menstrual changes, and nervousness. This medication could also cause kidney damage, and patients with this side effect often have urinary changes and pain in the side and back.
Individuals who use omeprazole have a higher risk of wrist, hip, and spine fractures, and the medication could lead to severe diarrhea and inflammation of the stomach lining. Patients with an inflamed stomach lining usually report symptoms such as weight loss, stomach pain, and vomiting. The medication has been associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus, and this might trigger blood clots, weight loss, fever, fatigue, and heartburn. Some patients taking omeprazole develop cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which leads to the formation of a red, raised, and scaly rash on the body. The rash can sometimes be purple, and it may also form on the nose.
4. Precautions To Remember
Before using prescription omeprazole, patients should inform their healthcare team about all medications they take, including St. John's wort, anticoagulants, and diuretics. The physician may need to adjust the patient's dose of these medicines if omeprazole is added, and they might also recommend frequent follow-up appointments for monitoring. Patients who take rilpivirine are typically advised not to use omeprazole. Since the proton pump omeprazole inhibits is stimulated by food, patients need to take this medicine on an empty stomach, and ideally with a full glass of water. It is safe for patients to continue their normal diet while taking omeprazole. If a dose is missed, the patient should take the missed dose as soon as they remember. However, if it is only a few hours before the next scheduled dose, the missed dose should be skipped. Taking two doses at once could increase the risk of side effects. Patients who use nonprescription omeprazole should let their doctor know if they have experienced heartburn for more than three months and if they have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, difficult or painful swallowing. These symptoms might be signs of a more serious medical problem that cannot be treated with nonprescription omeprazole. In addition, patients should let their doctor know if they have ever had a vitamin B12 deficiency, low magnesium levels, or liver disease.
