How long prilosec can take

This condition is a serious bacterial infection that can lead to hospitalization and be fatal. Some studies report that PPIs may increase the risk of bone fractures. Healthcare providers should therefore prescribe the lowest effective dosage and limit its use to the shortest possible duration. People taking omeprazole for long periods of time may become deficient in some vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B and magnesium.

Some drugs may interact with omeprazole. People should tell their doctor which medications they are already taking. Omeprazole may interfere with the action of some antiretroviral drugs. However, researchers have not consistently reported this effect. Doctors should closely monitor people taking antiretroviral drugs and omeprazole together to ensure that the combination is safe. However, people should not use rilpivirine and rilpivirine-containing antiretrovirals at the same time as taking omeprazole.

People taking warfarin to prevent blood clots should use omeprazole with caution because the combination can increase their risk of bleeding.

They may need more frequent blood testing to make sure that the dosage of warfarin is appropriate. Some doctors have reported higher methotrexate levels in people taking high dose methotrexate with omeprazole. These people must provide frequent blood samples so that their doctors can detect rising levels. Also, some researchers have suggested that omeprazole interacts with clopidogrel. Taking a high dosage of omeprazole can reduce the levels of clopidogrel in the blood, putting people at risk of blood clots.

People taking phenytoin or digoxin and omeprazole together may be at risk of toxicity. Doctors will monitor blood samples of phenytoin or digoxin closely when both drugs are required. Some drugs need exposure to an acidic environment before the intestine can absorb them.

By reducing the acidity of the stomach contents, omeprazole may interfere with the following drugs:. Existing research does not demonstrate that omeprazole is harmful during pregnancy. Studies from Sweden and Denmark showed that the chance of birth defects in women using omeprazole was similar to the usual birth defect rate in the population. Researchers have found limited evidence to suggest that omeprazole is present in breast milk.

The effects of infant exposure to omeprazole are also unclear. The cost of omeprazole depends on the strengths. The table below provides the prices of each form and strength of 30 days of omeprazole taken once daily.

Other acid suppressing medications include the histamine2 receptor blockers H2 receptor blockers. These medications also reduce stomach acid but use a different pathway than PPIs. H2 receptor blockers typically work more quickly than PPIs, but their effects only last for 4—10 hours. Omeprazole is an effective medication to reduce acid levels in the stomach and treat a variety of stomach related conditions.

People can also use OTC omeprazole to treat frequent heartburn. People typically tolerate omeprazole well, but there are some risks when they use it for long periods of time. 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. 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. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug. Acid reducers may interact with certain prescription drugs. Prilosec and Prilosec OTC are different in indication and dose form. Prilosec OTC is indicated for the treatment of frequent heartburn heartburn that occurs two or more days per week. Prilosec is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of many other acid-related conditions.

However, the omeprazole active ingredient in Prilosec became available over-the-counter in in the form of Prilosec OTC.

Omeprazole magnesium, the active ingredient in Prilosec OTC, is equivalent to the active ingredient in Prilosec to treat frequent heartburn.

Please follow the dosing instructions on the package or as directed by your physician. Prilosec OTC is in the strongest class of frequent heartburn medicines available over-the-counter. It blocks frequent heartburn before it begins with one pill a day for 14 days. If you are a frequent heartburn sufferer , you don't have to wait until you have heartburn symptoms to take Prilosec OTC.

It begins working on the very first day of treatment, and with one pill each morning for 14 days you can get zero heartburn. As with any OTC drug, it is important to read and follow all label directions.