Of course, omeprazole has entered your life. Either because your doctor prescribed it, someone close to you took it, or a close person recommended it to get you through days of intense binge eating. Its use has become common because, in addition to relieving annoying stomach ulcers, the drug helps relieve reflux problems and protects the stomach from aggressive medications such as antibiotics and other medications. Still, many people end up consuming it more often than prescribed because it allows them to eat or drink with gusto without suffering some of the consequences, such as heartburn or bloating.
This popularity made it the seventh most commonly used compound in Chile, behind paracetamol, aspirin and other long-term drugs and ahead of ibuprofen and vitamin C, according to the 2016-17 National Health Survey. It is not difficult to see that it is sold unofficially in free markets or street trades, and can be bought and ingested like an antacid. but it is not the truth. Like any other drug, omeprazole has contraindications and associated risks if taken without supervision, including polyps, intestinal infection, or acute gastroenteritis.
Technically, omeprazole “is a proton-pump inhibitor drug that blocks the production of stomach acid,” explains Freddy Squella, a gastroenterologist at Clínica INDISA. By blocking an acid-producing enzyme in the lining of this organ, omeprazole helps relieve symptoms such as heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux, and stomach ulcers.
Therefore, it is often prescribed for people with excess stomach acid. “For example, reflux esophagitis or gastroesophageal reflux,” added Squealer, who is also a professor at the Andres Bello College of Medicine in the US. “It is also used when there is a wound in the stomach, such as an ulcer or gastritis.”
Another situation where omeprazole is often prescribed is after gastrointestinal bleeding, “which may be eradicated with concurrent antibiotics.” Helicobacter pylori”. Here’s another use for it: changing the pH so antibiotics work better. Helicobacter pylori inhabits the human stomach lining and is associated with various gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcer and gastritis.
Have you seen someone at the pharmacy (if not yourself) order omeprazole or other medicines from home more than once Prazol No Prescription “All medicines must be prescribed by a doctor,” said José Daniel Mendoza, a gastroenterologist at Pulso Salud. It’s a crazy phrase, but one that’s essential to avoid unwanted repercussions. “Sometimes it is the pharmacist himself who recommends taking the drug without knowing whether the patient has a history of significant pathology”, he commented.
The problem with omeprazole is that it’s used by people who don’t have the disease so don’t need it. “There’s a myth that if I’m going to eat more than usual, or drink more alcohol, I’m going to use this drug Prazol It makes me feel better,” Squealer said. “It’s true that its use blocks the production of stomach acid, and in the face of severe dietary violations we feel less acid, but one has to take into account that gastric emptying may be slower . So, while we don’t experience heartburn, we feel like we’ve eaten more, for longer, because the food stays in the stomach longer. “He analyzed.
“Taking omeprazole before drinking alcohol may reduce the risk of later stomach irritation,” adds Gabriel Skorka, medicinal chemist and Farmex manager. Although While this seems to work for people prone to heartburn or gastritis, “excessive alcohol consumption is inherently harmful and should not be justified with omeprazole,” he says. Yes, people think differently: Every September, Farmex observes a sharp increase in demand for omeprazole. “In 2022, our sales of this drug will increase by an average of 300% per month,” he noted.
“A big problem with self-medicating omeprazole is that, by relieving certain gastrointestinal symptoms, it often ends up masking the symptoms of serious illness,” said Mario Rowe, a scholar at the Andres Bello University’s Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy. Mario Rodríguez commented. . One of the most serious cancers is stomach cancer.
It’s not that omeprazole creates it, but it hides or camouflages it, “so it can delay diagnosis or can interfere with the effects of other drugs.”
A study by the University of Hong Kong and the Department of Pharmacology and Medicine at UCL has demonstrated a link between long-term use of omeprazole or similar drugs and the risk of stomach cancer. Still, the doctors interviewed by Práctico were less alarmist: their situation was rather isolated and not universal.
“wear Pyrazoles It doesn’t mean that people are at high risk for stomach cancer,” Squella explained. “The research shows there is a risk, but it’s very small and in a well-defined population. ” According to INDISA clinic experts, long-term use Pyrazoles It reduces the production of stomach acid, which triggers an overproduction of the hormone gastrin to compensate for this. This can lead to hypergastrinemia, which eventually stimulates growth in specific parts of the stomach.
“In these cases, what we usually see is the appearance of fundic gland polyps, which are usually benign and disappear after the drug is discontinued,” he details.
This does not mean that omeprazole and other prazoles have multiple side effects and require regular monitoring. “That’s why it’s important to always use it at the lowest possible dose and for the shortest possible time,” Squealer said. If a specialist instructs its consumption permanently, “endoscopic control must be in place to ensure that there are no complications.”
In general, each drug has some side effects or associated contraindications. In the case of omeprazole, Squilla said it is always contraindicated in patients with declared allergies. Mendoza also mentioned hypomagnesemia, a loss of magnesium in the body, as a possible side effect of long-term omeprazole use, as both short- and long-term effects. What are the consequences? Development of neuromuscular and gastrointestinal disorders.
If a patient does not undergo endoscopy and overdoses with omeprazole over a long period of time, with permanent acid blockade, “we may be at risk for diseases such as intestinal infection, acute gastroenteritis, or intestinal bacteria.” Overgrowth. This reduces the disinfection of the gut,” Squealer added.
Gastroenterologists do not recommend omeprazole for patients with nutritional gastritis “who already suffer from hypochlorhydria, which is when the stomach doesn’t produce enough hydrochloric acid.” This can interfere with normal digestion of food and is associated with indigestion, bloating and Symptoms such as stomach upset. “When someone with hypochlorhydria has a stomach infection, an acid block can make it more difficult to treat,” he says.
One of the most serious adverse effects Rodriguez mentioned was vitamin B12 deficiency, a nutrient that requires acidity to be absorbed by the stomach. “This can increase the risk of fractures or bone damage, anemia, gastric polyps, interstitial nephritis, and electrolyte imbalances.” In the short term, omeprazole can lead to a greater risk of intestinal infection and even pneumonia, “because it alters the gastric pH in the stomach, and pH in the stomach is protective for our entire body.”
If your doctor has prescribed omeprazole, there is not always a time and situation when it is OK to arrive and take the medication. In order for them to have their intended effect and not cause adverse reactions, they should be avoided, Squealer said. Stimulants, such as alcohol, spicy foods, and garlic, “in addition to avoiding foods that cause bloating, such as onions or products high in saturated fat.”
You should also be aware of other medicines you are taking. Because it alters the pH of the stomach and is an enzyme inhibitor, it is important to warn doctors who prescribe omeprazole. “It is very important to report all medications and supplements you are taking because omeprazole may interact with other medications and affect their absorption or efficacy,” warns Skorka.
“You must follow your doctor’s instructions,” the Farmex manager noted, but in general, “take it before breakfast, at least 30 minutes before eating, to maximize its effectiveness, as it works better on an empty stomach.”