Omep®
introduction
Omep® is a very effective drug for the treatment of diseases that are caused by acidic stomach acid. These include esophagitis and the common heartburn.
The active ingredient in Omep® is omeprazole. Omep® is a drug belonging to the group of proton pump inhibitors (proton pump inhibitors = PPIs).
So if you burp sour or suffer from a burning pain in the stomach region after eating or at night, proton pump inhibitors such as Omep® are a good medication that provides quick and long-lasting relief.
How Omep® works
You take Omep® as a gastric acid-proof capsule. This is then not broken down by the gastric acid in the stomach and reaches the intestine undamaged. There the active ingredient (omeprazole) is absorbed and swims in the blood to the cells that produce stomach acid in the stomach. So-called proton pumps (acid pumps) are inhibited by Omep® in these cells.
As a result, less of the strongly acidic gastric juice is produced. Since the heartburn is caused by irritation of the inside of the esophagus by this gastric juice, relief is created.
The reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus is called reflux. When the effects of Omep® stop gastric acid from entering the esophagus, the inflammation of the mucous membrane heals and the symptoms disappear.
How is Omep® taken?
Omep® is usually sold as a capsule containing 20 mg of active ingredient. These tablets are then taken once or twice a day with a glass of water or with food.
It is important to swallow the tablets safely. If the tablet is damaged, the active substance is broken down by the stomach acid and the medication becomes ineffective.
You should start taking Omep® for a maximum of 14 days; if there is no improvement, you should discuss the next steps with a doctor. For some diseases a longer intake may be necessary.
Dosing of Omep®
The appropriate dosage of Omep® can vary from person to person and depends on the patient's age, gender and comorbidities. In addition, the dosage of Omep® also differs for the various diseases for which it is to be taken.
The usual dosage is in the range of 10 to 40 mg daily for a period of usually four to eight weeks. In rare cases, up to 60 mg per day can be prescribed.
In children, the dosage must be determined individually depending on body weight. In any case, the prescribing doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage and this should be strictly adhered to.
Side effects of Omep®
Due to the mechanism of action, acid production in the stomach is downregulated. This makes the environment in the stomach less acidic.
Since bacteria in the stomach that were ingested with food are destroyed by gastric acid, therapy with Omep® slightly increases the risk of infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
Furthermore, like any medication, Omep® can have side effects that may occur, but are by no means observed in every patient.
About ten percent of patients experience gastrointestinal side effects when taking Omep®. That is, patients have abdominal pain with diarrhea or constipation and / or gas. Nausea with vomiting can also occur.
Another commonly observed side effect is headache, which can be accompanied by tiredness and dizziness. Sleep disorders are also possible.
The side effects mentioned up to now usually decrease with longer use.
In addition to these side effects, there are other, much rarer side effects that only occur in one percent of patients:
- Itching of the skin, rash with sensitivity to light
- Visual disturbances: the patient sees blurred or he sees veils. These visual disturbances are not permanent and vision usually returns to normal
- Hearing disorders such as tinnitus
- Taste disorders
- general malaise
- Swelling of the ankles and feet
- Changes in liver enzymes
In general, these side effects are reversible, i.e. they recede when you stop taking the drug. There are also a number of other side effects, but they are very rare. They are therefore not listed here, if you are interested they can be found in the package insert.
Contraindications for taking Omep®
If one of the following points applies to a patient, Omep® must not be taken!
Omep® must not be used if a allergy against omeprazole (Active ingredient in Omep®) or against another ingredient of the capsules is known. In addition, Omep® must not be used if you have already had allergic reactions to another proton pump inhibitor, such as pantoprazole.
Furthermore, Omep® must never be taken if the patient is taking a drug that Nelfinavir contains (medicines used to treat a HIV infection).
If a patient is taking other medications, this must be clarified with the attending physician before using Omep® various interactions of different drugs are known with Omep®.
Can OMEP be used during pregnancy?
In most cases, Omep® can also be safely taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, a doctor should be consulted beforehand or he should be informed about the presence of pregnancy if he prescribes Omep® or another medication.
