Omeprazole is used to treat certain conditions where there is too much acid in the stomach. It is used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a condition where the acid in the stomach washes back up into the esophagus. Sometimes omeprazole is used in combination with antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) to treat ulcers associated with the infection caused by the H. pylori bacteria.

Omeprazole is also used to treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition where the stomach produces too much acid.

Omeprazole is also used to treat dyspepsia, a condition that causes sour stomach, belching, heart burn, or indigestion.

In addition, omeprazole is used to prevent upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in seriously ill patients.

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

This medicine is available both over-the-counter (OTC) and with your doctor's prescription.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take omeprazole capsules or delayed-release capsules before a meal, preferably in the morning. Omeprazole tablets may be taken with food or on an empty stomach. Take omeprazole powder for oral suspension on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before a meal. For patients receiving continuous feeding through a tube, feeding should be temporarily stopped about 3 hours before and 1 hour after administration of omeprazole powder for oral suspension.

It may take several days before this medicine begins to relieve stomach pain. To help relieve this pain, antacids may be taken with omeprazole, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

If you are taking this medicine to treat an ulcer that is associated with an H. pylori infection, take it together with antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) at the same time of day.

Swallow the capsule and tablet forms of omeprazole whole. Do not open the capsule. Do not crush, break, or chew the capsule or the tablet.

If you cannot swallow the omeprazole delayed-release capsules, you may open it and sprinkle the pellets contained in the capsule on one tablespoon of applesauce. This mixture must be swallowed immediately with a glass of cool water. The applesauce should not be hot and should be soft enough to be swallowed without chewing. Do not chew or crush the pellets.

To use the powder for oral suspension:

      -> Empty packet of powder into a small cup containing 2 tablespoons of water.
      -> Do not use other liquids or foods.
      -> Stir well and drink immediately.
      -> Refill cup with water and drink.

To use the delayed-release oral suspension:

     -> Empty the contents of a 2.5 milligrams (mg) packet of powder into a container containing 5 mL of water.
     -> Empty the contents of a 10 mg packet of powder into a container containing 15 mL of water.
     -> Do not use other liquids or foods.
     -> Stir and leave it for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
     -> Stir well and drink within 30 minutes.
     -> If any medicine remains after drinking, add more water, stir, and drink immediately.

If you are using the delayed-release oral suspension with a nasogastric or gastric tube:

     -> Add 5 mL to a catheter tipped syringe and then add the contents of a 2.5 mg packet (or 15 mL of water for the 10 mg packet).
     -> Shake the syringe right away and leave it for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
     -> Shake the syringe and give the medicine through the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach with 30 minutes.
     -> Refill the syringe with an equal amount of water.
     -> Shake and flush any remaining contents from the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Back, leg, or stomach pain

bleeding or crusting sores on the lips

blisters

bloody or cloudy urine

chills

continuing ulcers or sores in the mouth

difficult, burning, or painful urination

fever

frequent urge to urinate

general feeling of discomfort or illness

itching, skin rash

joint pain

loss of appetite

muscle aches or cramps

pain

red or irritated eyes

redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of the skin

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips, in the mouth, or on the genitals

unusual bleeding or bruising

unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

drowsiness

fast, racing, or uneven heartbeat

mood or mental changes

muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching seizures

nausea

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

trembling

vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Blurred vision

confusion

dryness of the mouth

flushing

headache

increased sweating

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Less common

Body aches or pain

chest pain

constipation

cough

diarrhea or loose stools

difficulty with breathing

dizziness

ear congestion

gas

heartburn

loss of voice

muscle pain

nasal congestion

runny nose

sneezing

unusual drowsiness

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

It is important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood, urine, and other laboratory tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. If your or your child's condition does not improve, or if it becomes worse, check with your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you or your child have Asian relatives, such as Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Taiwanese. You may need a lower dose of this medicine to treat erosive esophagitis.

Do not use omeprazole if you are also using medicines containing rilpivirine (Edurant®, Complera®). Using these medicines together may cause unwanted side effects.

This medicine is sometimes given together with other medicines to treat ulcers. Be sure you understand about the risks and proper use of any other medicine your doctor gives you or your child together with omeprazole.

Omeprazole may cause a serious type of allergic reaction when used in patients with conditions treated with antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has itching, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you or your child are using this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child has a fever, joint pain, skin rash, swelling of the body, feet, or ankles, or unusual weight gain after receiving this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem called acute interstitial nephritis.

Taking this medicine for a long time may make it harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12. Tell your doctor if you or your child have concerns about vitamin B12 deficiency.

Serious stomach conditions may occur while taking this medicine alone or together with antibiotics. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child is having more than one of these symptoms: abdominal or stomach cramps, bloated feeling, watery and severe diarrhea which may also be bloody sometimes, fever, nausea or vomiting, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may increase your risk of having fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine. This is more likely if you are 50 years of age and older, if you receive high doses of this medicine, or use it for one year or more.

This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). This is more likely to occur if you are taking this medicine for more than 1 year, or if you are taking this medicine together with digoxin (Lanoxin®) or certain diuretics or "water pills". Check with your doctor right away if you have convulsions (seizures), fast, racing, or uneven heartbeat, muscle spasms (tetany), tremors, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Cutaneous or systemic lupus erythematosus may occur or get worse in patients receiving a PPI. Call your doctor right away if you have joint pain or a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse when exposed to the sun.

This medicine may increase your risk for fundic gland polyps (abnormal tissue growth in the upper part of your stomach). This is more likely if you are receiving this medicine for more than 1 year. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor, or unless told to do so by your doctor.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription (eg, atazanavir, nelfinavir, Reyataz®, Viracept®) or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.