Omeprazole: What is it? Uses, Dosage, Side Effects and Interaction

It is a proton pump inhibitor that inhibits gastric acid secretion by irreversibly blocking the enzymatic system of adenosine triphosphatase.

It is not very common that today a person does not know how to be briefly for what or what is Omeprazole.

Considering that the world population, perhaps once in his life, has suffered from acidity for whatever reason, it requires him to go to a specialist who will most likely prescribe this gastric protector.

Applications

As an excellent gastric protector that is, omeprazole is a medicine that is used under conditions in which the inhibition of gastric acid secretion can be beneficial, including the syndromes of aspiration, dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease.

But also all those diseases due to peptic ulcer and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

According to some laboratories, an alternative to Omeprazole is the medicine called Esomeprazole, which is nothing more than an isomer of Omeprazole that has been widely used in recent years.

Dose

Doses of Omeprazole may need to be reduced in patients with hepatic insufficiency.

 

The drug has been determined in the formulation and biological fluids by a variety of methods, such as those presented below:

  • The spectrophotometry.
  • HPLC with UV detection.
  • Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.
  • GERD indications/maintenance of healing in erosive esophagitis.
  • Duodenal ulcers (with or without anti-infectives for Helicobacter pylori).
  • The short-term treatment of active gastric benign ulcer. Pathological hypersecretory conditions, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
  • The reduction of the risk of GI bleeding in critically ill patients.

Therapeutic effects: Decreased acid accumulation in the gastric lumen with decreased gastroesophageal reflux. Healing of duodenal ulcers.

Pharmacokinetics Absorption: absorbed quickly after oral administration; The immediate-release formulation contains bicarbonate to prevent acid degradation.

Distribution: good distribution in gastric parietal cells.

Protein binding : 95%.

Metabolism and excretion: metabolized mainly by the liver through the cytochrome P450 system (mainly CYP2C19 isoenzyme, but also the CYP3A4 isoenzyme) (the CYP2C19 enzyme system exhibits genetic polymorphism; 15-20% of Asian patients.

3-5% of Caucasian and black patients may be slow metabolizers and may have significant concentrations of pyrazole and an increase in adverse effects).

The inactive metabolites are excreted in the urine (77%) and the feces.

Half-life: 0.5 – 1 h (liver disease qin at 3 h).

Contraindications and Precautions 

Breast-feeding: Stop taking Omeprazole or stop breastfeeding.

Use with caution in liver disease (a dose may be necessary).

Side effects

  • Dizziness
  • Drowsiness.
  • Fatigue.
  • Headache.
  • Weakness.

Interaction

The CYP450 enzyme system metabolizes omeprazole. It can compete with other agents metabolized by this system. as well as the metabolism and side effects of antifungal agents, diazepam, digoxin, flurazepam, triazolam, cyclosporine, phenytoin, saquinavir, tacrolimus, and warfarin.

Also, with Maypabsorption of medications that require acid pH, including ketoconazole, itraconazole, ampicillin, iron salts, and digoxin.

However, Omeprazole is a very versatile medicine that can even be used together with drugs or natural remedies to counteract the effects of this or that disease or condition.

Taking a pill of Omeprazole with, for example, chamomile tea can help considerably reduce heartburn and gastric reflux in general.