What is Prilosec?
Prilosec is a medical product which regulates an acidity of the gastric acid. Itihas Omeprazole. This ingredient differs by the high efficiency in the treatment of the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other diseases conditioned by the excessive amount of the gastric acid.
Using Prilosec accelerates healing of the erosive esophagitis (an affection of esophagus caused by the gastric acid) and treats ulcers of stomach and duodenum. The use of the drug with antibiotics gives an intensive effect in the treatment of the gastric ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori within 10 days.
The mechanism of the action of Omeprazole consists in the inhibition of proton pump. It is a pump that synthesizes a hydrochloric acid and regulates an acidity of the gastric acid. In case of the dysfunction of this pump, an excessive production of the hydrochloric acid happens, so that diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract accompanied by heartburning, stomachache, digestion disorder, bloating, and others appear.
Who should take Prilosec?
Prilosec may be used by patients who have the following diseases because of the high acidity of the gastric acid:
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
- Stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer
- Reflux esophagitis
- Mendelssohn’s syndrome
How to take Prilosec?
It is better to take Prilosec capsules in the morning with enough water, 10 minutes before meals. Do not chew the capsules.
In case of an outbreak of the ulcer disease, reflux esophagitis, it is necessary to take the drug once per day in the dose of 20 mg. Patients with severe course of reflux esophagitis should take 2 capsules of Prilosec 20 mg per day. The capsules are usually used in the morning and evening (before supper) with the interval 8 hours.
If Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, the maximal daily dose of Prilosec 60 mg (20 mg 3 times per day) is prescribed.
The treatment is continued within 3-6 weeks regardless of a diagnosis, and then a medical examination is needed in order to detect the further recommendations.
Patients with ulcer of stomach are prescribed Prilosec with anti-inflammatory products in order to prevent an outbreak during the use of NSAIDS.
What are side effects?
If you have just started taking Prilosec, the side effects such as dry mouth, diarrhea/constipation, bloating, or dizziness may appear within the first 3-5 days.
The side effects may be caused by the high sensitivity to Omeprazole and overdose. In case of the overdose, the side effects are more intensive: urticaria, vomiting, tachycardia, and sleepiness. If the symptoms of the overdose appeared, seek for a medical aid as soon as possible.
- If chronic dysfunction of liver/kidneys, the use of Prilosec is contraindicated
- If pregnancy occurred during the treatment, the use of the drug is stopped. Consultadoctor. If a doctor allows taking the drug, the treatment may be continued in the minimal daily dose but for a short period
- Before starting the therapy, make sure that you do not have malignant tumors in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The use of Prilosec may conceal the symptoms of the cancerous tumors.