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PRILOSEC
PRILOSEC ONLINE
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine
must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision
you and your doctor will make. For omeprazole, the following
should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to omeprazole. Also tell your
health care professional if you are allergic to any other
substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in
humans. However, studies in animals have shown that omeprazole may
cause harm to the fetus.
Breast-feeding—Omeprazole may pass into the
breast milk. Since this medicine has been shown to cause unwanted
effects, such as tumors and cancer in animals, it may be necessary
for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during
treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of
the medicine with your doctor.
Children—There is no specific information
comparing the use of omeprazole in children with use in other age
groups.
Older adults—Many medicines have not been
studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be
known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger
adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in
older people. There is no specific information comparing use of
omeprazole in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines
should not be used together at all, in other cases two different
medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.
In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other
precautions may be necessary. When you are taking omeprazole, it
is especially important that your health care professional know if
you are taking any of the following:
 | Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or
| Diazepam (e.g., Valium) or
| Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin)—Use with omeprazole may cause
high blood levels of these medicines, which may increase the
chance of side effects |
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Other medical problems—The presence of other
medical problems may affect the use of omeprazole. Make sure you
tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems,
especially:
| Liver disease or a history of liver disease—This condition
may cause omeprazole to build up in the body |
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take omeprazole capsules immediately before a meal,
preferably in the morning. Omeprazole tablets may be
taken with food or on an empty stomach.
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 has told you not to use them.
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.
Take this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if
you begin to feel better. Also, keep your appointments with
your doctor for check-ups so that your doctor will be better able
to tell you when to stop taking this medicine.
Dosing—
The dose of omeprazole 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 omeprazole. If your dose is different, do not change
it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
| For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets):
| To treat dyspepsia:
| Adults—20 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for
four weeks. Patients may respond adequately to 10 mg
once daily, so individual dose adjustment may be
considered.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
| Adults—20 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for
four to eight weeks. Or your doctor may tell you to
take 40 mg a day for certain conditions. Also, your
doctor may want you to take omeprazole for more than
eight weeks for certain conditions.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| To treat conditions in which the stomach produces too
much acid:
| Adults—60 mg taken once a day. Your doctor may
change the dose as needed. Your treatment may be
continued for as long as it is needed.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| To treat duodenal ulcers:
| Adults—20 mg taken once a day. Or your doctor may
tell you to take 40 mg a day for certain conditions.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| To treat gastric ulcers:
| Adults—40 mg taken once a day for four to eight
weeks.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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| To treat ulcers related to infection with H. pylori:
| Adults—40 mg once a day, taken along with
clarithromycin 500 mg three times a day, for the first
fourteen days. For days 15 through 28, omeprazole 20
mg taken once a day.
| Children—Use and dose must be determined by your
doctor. |
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Missed dose—
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as
possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip
the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do
not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
| Keep out of the reach of children.
| Store away from heat and direct light.
| Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in
other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to
break down.
| Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of
children. |
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Precautions While Using This Medicine
It is important that your doctor check your progress at
regular visits. If your condition does not improve, or if it
becomes worse, check with your doctor.
Side Effects of This Medicine
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 as soon as possible if any of the
following side effects occur:
| Rare
| Back, leg, or stomach pain; bleeding or crusting
sores on lips; blisters; bloody or cloudy
urine; chills; continuing ulcers or sores in
mouth; difficult, burning, or painful urination;
fever; frequent urge to urinate; general
feeling of discomfort or illness; joint pain;
loss of appetite; muscle aches or cramps ;
pain; red or irritated eyes; redness,
tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of skin;
skin rash or itching; sore throat ; sores,
ulcers, or white spots on lips, in mouth, or on genitals;
unusual bleeding or bruising ; unusual tiredness or
weakness |
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| Symptoms of overdose
| Blurred vision; confusion; drowsiness;
dryness of mouth; fast or irregular heartbeat;
flushing ; general feeling of discomfort or illness;
headache; increased sweating; nausea |
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Other 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. However, check with your doctor if
any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:
| More common
| Abdominal or stomach pain |
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| Less common
| Back pain; chest pain; constipation;
diarrhea or loose stools ; dizziness; gas;
headache; heartburn; muscle pain; nausea
and vomiting; skin rash or itching; unusual
drowsiness; unusual tiredness |
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Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some
patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
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