
Precautions
Talk to your doctor for directions meant for you...they'll know better than the packaging. Taking Prilosec OTC beyond 14 days is not recommended, perhaps because in Prilosec's early research its long-term use in rats produced increased rates of gastrointestinal cancers.
Why can you only take Prilosec for 14 days?
Frequently asked questions
- What foods should I avoid when taking omeprazole?
- When's the best time to take omeprazole: before or after a meal?
- Nexium vs Prilosec: What's the difference between them?
Why to use Prilosec for only 14 days?
Use the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time appropriate to the condition being treated. Administer on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before a meal. Do not crush or chew tablets or capsules.
What time of day is it best to take Prilosec?
Your doctor will take steps to ensure Prilosec OTC is not masking any potentially serious underlying conditions behind your frequent heartburn, and determine if Prilosec OTC continues to be right for you. Do not take Prilosec OTC for more than 14 days or more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor.
Can you take Prilosec OTC longer than 14 days?

Do I have to take Prilosec for 14 days?
Prilosec OTC is a delayed-release 20mg tablet, taken once a day (every 24 hours) for 14 days before eating. You should not take it for more than 14 days or repeat a 14-day course more often than every 4 months unless directed by a doctor.
Can you stop Prilosec after 14 days?
You may be able to stop taking Prilosec (omeprazole) as soon as two weeks after you start taking it, depending on why you need it. If you are taking Prilosec OTC to treat frequent heartburn (experienced two days a week or more), you should not take the drug for more than 14 days.
How long does a 14 day Prilosec treatment last?
The acid-suppressing effects of Prilosec occur within an hour of dosing, with the maximal effect occurring within 2 hours. Effects last for up to 72 hours.
How long should Prilosec be taken?
To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Adults—20 milligrams (mg) once a day before a meal. Your doctor may want you to take omeprazole for more than 8 weeks for certain conditions.
Can I stop taking omeprazole after 2 weeks?
Sometimes, you might need to take it for longer, even for many years. Some people do not need to take omeprazole every day and take it only when they have symptoms. Once you feel better (often after a few days or weeks), you can stop taking it.
What happens after you stop taking Prilosec?
Rebound acid secretion when stopping When omeprazole is stopped, a common side effect is rebound acid secretion, where the acid secretion in your stomach increases significantly. This should return to normal within 2 weeks.
Is it OK to stop taking omeprazole cold turkey?
Unfortunately, abruptly stopping proton pump inhibitors can cause other problems, such as rebound acid indigestion. In fact, your stomach may produce even higher levels of acid than normal because you've been on a PPI. Many physicians suggest tapering your dose by 50 percent every week.
What is considered long term use of omeprazole?
In a clinical context, use of PPI for more than 8 weeks could be a reasonable definition of long-term use in patients with reflux symptoms and more than 4 weeks in patients with dyspepsia or peptic ulcer.
Can you take omeprazole every day long term?
Keep in mind that omeprazole is only intended for short-term treatment of heartburn, GERD, and other gastrointestinal conditions. Long-term use is only advised for people with rare medical conditions that cause hypersecretion of stomach acid.
What are the dangers of taking Prilosec?
Side effects of Prilosec include:headache,nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,stomach pain,gas,constipation,fever, or.More items...
What happens if you take omeprazole every day?
Bone fractures warning: People who take several doses of a proton pump inhibitor drug, such as omeprazole, every day for a year or longer may have an increased risk of bone fractures. These bone breaks may be more likely to happen in your hip, wrist, or spine. Talk to your doctor about your risk of bone fractures.
Why is omeprazole taken 30 minutes before meals?
by Drugs.com It is usually best to take Omeprazole 1 hour before meals. When omeprazole is taken with food it reduces the amount of omeprazole that reaches the bloodstream.
How does Prilosec OTC work?
Prilosec OTC blocks frequent heartburn by shutting down many of the pumps in your stomach that produce excess acid.
Does Prilosec OTC work right away?
Prilosec OTC starts to work on the very first day of treatment, but may take 1 to 4 days for full effect (although some people get complete relief...
How often should I take Prilosec OTC?
Prilosec OTC is a 14-day regimen that can be used up to three times a year, but not more often than every 4 months. If you need to use Prilosec OTC...
What if I miss a day of heartburn treatment?
If you miss a day, just continue your treatment on the next day.
What do I do after 14 days?
If your frequent heartburn continues or returns after 14 days of treatment, stop use and talk to your doctor. Your doctor will take steps to ensure...
What is GERD?
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is chronic, persistent heartburn, and results from the improper working of the ring of muscle that normal...
If I am taking Prilosec OTC, can I eat the foods that used to give me frequent heartburn?
Yes. Prilosec OTC blocks heartburn before it begins so you can enjoy the foods you love, as a part of a heartburn-friendly diet.*
Can I take Prilosec OTC more than once a day?
No. As part of a course of therapy, take only one pill a day to treat frequent heartburn for 24 hours.* Take one pill a day with a glass of water b...
Can I take Prilosec OTC if I’m pregnant?
f pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a healthcare professional before use.f pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a healthcare professional before use.
I heard medicines with the active ingredient ‘Ranitidine’ contain a probable carcinogen. Should I be...
You can trust in Prilosec OTC as an FDA approved, safe and effective remedy to relieve frequent heartburn symptoms. Prilosec OTC (equivalent to Ome...
Is omeprazole (Prilosec) bad for your kidneys?
Omeprazole (Prilosec) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that is used to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach and it can be bad for your kidneys...
Can you take an antacid with omeprazole?
You can take an antacid with omeprazole if you are still getting symptoms of indigestion because it can take several days for omeprazole to start w...
Does omeprazole cause cancer?
Long-term use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) acid-suppressing agents, such as omeprazole, has been associated with an increased risk of stomach can...
How to take prilosec?
Take Prilosec exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use Prilosec OTC (over-the-counter) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.
What is Prilosec used for?
Prilosec is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions caused by excess stomach acid. Omeprazole is also used to promote healing of erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid). Prilosec may also be given together with antibiotics to treat gastric ulcer caused by infection ...
How long does it take for prilosec to work?
OTC Prilosec should be taken for only 14 days in a row. It may take 1 to 4 days before your symptoms improve. Allow at least 4 months to pass before you start a new 14-day course of treatment. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.
What drugs can affect omeprazole?
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect omeprazole, especially: digoxin; clopidogrel; methotrexate ; St. John's wort; a diuretic or "water pill"; or. an antibiotic - amoxicillin, clarithromycin, rifampin. This list is not complete and many Other drugs may interact with omeprazole.
Can you take prilosec with antibiotics?
Prilosec may also be given together with antibiotics to treat gastric ulcer caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Over-the-counter Prilosec OTC is used in adults to help control heartburn that occurs 2 or more days per week. Prilosec OTC must be taken as a course for 14 days in a row.
Can omeprazole cause a cold?
If you use omeprazole for longer than 3 years, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor about how to manage this condition if you develop it. Common Prilosec side effects may include: cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat (especially in children); fever (especially in children);
Can you take prilosec for heartburn?
Prilosec is not to be used for the immediate relief of heartburn symptoms. Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency mdical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.
What Is Prilosec?
Prilosec (omeprazole) is a prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that treats stomach and esophagus problems such as acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease ( GERD ), erosive esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease ( PUD ), and heartburn.
What Is Prilosec Used For?
Approved uses of Prilosec vary in its prescription and OTC forms, even though both forms have the same active ingredient.
What Are the Side Effects of Prilosec?
This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A medical professional can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a medical professional. You may report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.
Dosage: How Much Prilosec Should I Take?
The dose of this medicine 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 this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Prilosec?
Prilosec overdose is possible, but symptoms are usually temporary and can be similar to side effects seen with standard dosage.
Precautions
It is important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood, urine, and other laboratory tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
What Other Medications Interact With Prilosec?
Prilosec has many drug interactions, so it is important to share what other medications you are taking with your healthcare provider. Prilosec suppresses acid production in the body, which can interfere with how other medications work.
Can B12 be absorbed by PPI?
B-12's absorption may also be effected by long term PPI use and may be monitored. There are a couple of other things that were looked at, but the point is it has prompted doctors to take a step back and reevaluate long term PPI use.
Can PPI cause osteoporosis?
There have been a couple of studies that show some long term effects of acid-suppression while on a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). One is PPI's can affect the absorption of calcium, this in turn can lead to bone fractures and osteoporosis. B-12's absorption may also be effected by long term PPI use and may be monitored.
What medicine is used to treat prilosec?
When you are taking Prilosec OTC, it is especially important that your health care provider know if you are taking any of the following: • warfarin (blood-thinning medicine) • prescription antifungal or anti-yeast medicines. • diazepam (anxiety medicine) • digoxin (heart medicine) 10.
How long does it take for prilosec to work?
No. Prilosec OTC is not intended for immediate relief of occasional heartburn. Prilosec OTC may take 1 to 4 days for full effect, although some people get complete relief of symptoms within 24 hours.
What is Prilosec OTC used for?
What is Prilosec OTC used to treat? Prilosec OTC is used to treat frequent heartburn. Heartburn occurs when the stomach contents back up and out of the stomach into the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach). Frequent heartburn is when you have heartburn 2 or more days a week.
What does the label on Prilosec tell you?
Most importantly, the label will tell you when you should seek medical attention instead of taking Prilosec O TC. 3.
How to contact the FDA about Prilosec?
If you have further questions regarding Prilosec OTC or any medications, please contact the Center for Drug's Division of Drug Information at: 888-INFOFDA (888-463-6332), or email us at: [email protected] .
Does Prilosec stop acid production?
Both prescription Prilosec and Prilosec OTC contain the same active ingredient, omeprazole, which effectively stops acid production. Prescription Prilosec treats diseases that require diagnosis and supervision by a doctor. Prilosec OTC treats only symptoms of frequent heartburn.
Is Prilosec OTC or prescription?
The FDA is announcing the approval of Prilosec OTC (omeprazole) as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug product. Until today, Prilosec was available only with a doctor’s prescription. FDA originally approved prescription Prilosec in 1989.
Can you take PPI for Barrett's esophagus?
Even so, there are relatively few people who need lifelong medication. Those who do may have a condition such as Barrett’s esophagus, in which PPIs —the most potent medical treatment to suppress stomach acid — are necessary.
Do you need PPI for acid reflux?
The data on this are still not clear. For people with acid reflux (also called gastroesophageal reflux disease), PPIs are usually not needed lifelong.
Is PPI safe for kidney disease?
Early data suggest increased risk of kidney disease and dementia. That risk appears to be small, if it even exists. Long-term PPI use has some risk of side effects and should be used only when there are benefits to PPIs that can’t be obtained with other treatments, including other medications and lifestyle changes.
