Omeprazole

jinglbellsfrock... there is nothing wrong in having informative or helpful links on gransnet ...no one is out to sell anything as Omerprazole is a prescription only drug therefore can not be bought over the counter....

I worked at a surgery for many years and agree that Omeprazole is over prescribed Jenty. However, I must stress how important it is when used in conjunction with medication such as Ibuprofen.

It was a diabolical link. They are selling hydraclauric acid. Amongst many other things. Links should have a bit of science behind them.

Actually Omeprazole is no longer prescription only. It can be bought in Boots and Lloyds, and from fully certified online chemists.

I expect if you Google you will find the 'science' behind Omerprazole which most of us wouldnt clearly understand but the thread is about the side effects...

I imagine if you investigate all drugs, prescription and otherwise, there won't be any without some side effects. Not everyone experiences side effects and you have to weigh up what is the best option, suffering the medical condition, or medication side effects. I have been prescribed Omeprazole for ibuprofen induced gastritis for years, but only take infrequently. Anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen also have an increased heart risk, but can be a godsend for arthritis sufferers. I don't know whether it's coincidence, but since reducing carbohydrates in diet I need omeprazole much much less, (and I do not use ibuprofen).

Watermeadow - interesting comment. My gastro Consultant told me to take it every day for AMAG (AutoImmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis, bit of a mouthful!, related to having Pernicious Anaemia) Was fine at first and it did relieve my stomach acid pain but now having IBS type symptoms so wondered if Omeprazole was the cause.
Rascal I have regular gastroscopies, not pleasant but necessary. Btw, my tablets are white not yellow.
Anyone have, or ever heard of AMAG?! Even my GP hadn't seen anyone with it before. Very frustrating as there's not a lot of help or info about it. Medics just keep dishing out pills and not help adjusting to different lifestyle. It's just trial and error with tablets and food.

PS. Have just seen your comments Lazigirl, your condition seems similar to mine even if caused by something different. Interesting about cutting out carbs. I've been running a thread on the Health forum about porridge which has brought up some great comments. Do you have to avoid alcohol and coffee? I have cut them out now for 2 years.

My tabs are white too. I don't read the side effects incase they give me ideas!

Side effects.... YES! Advised by pharmacist to stop them and return to Doc.

I don't think they were initially meant to be used long term. And, when they became cheaper it cost less to prescribe them with certain medications than it was to provided those medications with an ec coating. Which still doesn't mean that some people do need to take them, the good outweighing the bad. Someone I know took Nexium instead; it was a lot more expensive and she had to fight to get it but it was all she could tolerate.

According to the Pharmacist they are the 'go to' medication. I'm sure they are fine for those who can tolerate them sadly, I don't seem to be able to.

I'm the same as you Jenty - I was on Ompeprazole then it stopped working and I went onto Lasoprazole then it stopped working, then I decded enough was enough and came off. After 16 years it wasn't easy and I still have heartburn some days but I use Gaviscon now instead.

like you fumunchu Ive always a bottle of gaviscon to hand if needed...Im getting less acid indigestion now than what I was when I was taking omerprazole...

annodomini it sounds like an awful lot of stuff. What else has been tried? Separating sweet things from other foods. eat your desert 2 hours after lunch eg. And no fresh baked bread.
try eating rusks or crispbread.

What helped me was to raise the bedhead say- 8 inches or 20 cms. that helped me the most.That means the whole bed is on a slight slope. I no longer take OMEP just occasionally a Rennie if I've been out.

MargaretX- maybe I'll try sleeping uphill. My discomfort is only at night and I can't understand why it stops as soon as I get up, must be to do with gravity.