Requires Prescription: Yes

Generics: Omeprazole + Sodium Bicarbonate

Used For: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

How It Works: Omeprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, inhibits gastric acid secretion by irreversibly blocking the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system in the gastric parietal cells. This process prevents both basal and stimulated acid secretion, regardless of the stimulus. Sodium bicarbonate helps neutralize stomach acid, providing additional relief.

Usage and Safety:

Dosage: Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for the proper dosage of Omeprazole and Sodium Bicarbonate.

Side Effects:

Common:

Central Nervous System: Headache

Gastrointestinal: Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, flatulence

Uncommon:

Central Nervous System: Dizziness, paraesthesia, somnolence, insomnia, vertigo

Hepatic: Increased liver enzymes

Skin: Rash, pruritis, urticaria

Other: Malaise

Rare:

Central Nervous System: Reversible mental confusion, agitation, aggression, depression, hallucinations (mainly in severely ill patients)

Endocrine: Gynecomastia

Drug Interactions: Potential interactions include:

Ketoconazole, Itraconazole

Diazepam

Citalopram, Imipramine, Clomipramine

Phenytoin

Atazanavir, Digoxin, Clopidogrel

Posaconazole, Erlotinib, Saquinavir

Tacrolimus

Methotrexate

Clarithromycin

CYP2C19 or CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers (e.g., rifampicin, St. John’s Wort)

Indications: Omeprazole is indicated for:

Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Erosive reflux esophagitis

Long-term management of healed esophagitis to prevent relapse

Symptomatic relief of GERD

When Not to Use: Contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation or substituted benzimidazoles. Not to be used with nelfinavir.

Precautions:

Precaution: Symptomatic improvement with omeprazole does not rule out the presence of gastric malignancy.

Warnings:

Atrophic Gastritis: May occur occasionally in long-term gastric corpus biopsies from patients treated with omeprazole.

Sodium Bicarbonate Caution: Use with caution in patients with Bartter’s syndrome, hypokalemia, respiratory alkalosis, and issues with acid-base balance. Long-term use with calcium or milk may lead to milk-alkali syndrome.

Sodium Content: Omeprazole powder for oral suspension contains sodium from sodium bicarbonate, which should be considered for patients on a sodium-restricted diet.

Additional Information:

Pregnancy Category: Consult your physician before using this medication if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Storage: Store at room temperature, away from direct light and heat.