PRILOSEC

Who is Prilosec for ?

Omeprazole is used to prevent ulcers and to treat other conditions where the stomach produces too much acid. It decreases the amount of acid made in the stomach. this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors decrease the amount of acid in the stomach. Acid in the stomach is produced by the gastric acid pump. Omeprazole binds to this pump and blocks the secretion of acid into the stomach. Decreasing stomach acid can help ulcers to heal and reflux, or heartburn symptoms to subside.

When should I be careful taking Prilosec ?

Before taking omeprazole,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to omeprazole or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially ampicillin, clarithromycin (Biaxin), diazepam (Valium), iron, ketoconazole (Nizoral), phenytoin (Dilantin), warfarin (Coumadin), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking omeprazole, call your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.

Side Effects

Although side effects from omeprazole are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache
• diarrhea
• constipation
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• stomach pain
• cough
• cold symptoms
• dizziness
• mild rash

If you experience the following symptom, call your doctor immediately:

• severe skin rash with swelling and peeling