Omeprazole - what side effects have you had?

[ToLiveInPeace]

Interested to know of your experiences, please.

I had no side effects when I took it, but My dd was on it for about a year, she had numerous fits...which stopped once she came off it (reflux stopped once she reached 12 months. ) another relative took it for years and now has glaucoma, which is apparently a very rare side effect if used long term.

direct side effects are minimal if any
BUT
acid reduction prevents reduces absorption of vitamins and minerals
So secondary side effects are many but some specifics are
B vits particularly B12, vit D3 and magnesium but others too

Blimey, I have to take Omeprazole so I don't get side effects from a second medication

I felt dire on it,I only took one tablet-wouldn't take anymore. Really weird feeling, like impending sense of doom,very dramatic.

It reduced my vitamin and mineral absorption. My folate level was almost non existent and I’m now also on b vitamins.
I stopped it once I knew that was what was causing my extreme tiredness.
The acid reflux was horrendous.
Was put on it for a hiatus hernia but the tiredness was killing me

I've been on it for years and I thought with no side effects. But I do suffer extreme tiredness and a pp had mentioned that . Hmmm.. will have to think about this.

aliensprig That's interesting. My TSH was 8.9 at the last test, yet my GP refuses to treat me until it reaches 10 plus.

I'm on Omeprazole to take along side Naproxen for arthritis.

No side effects here either - although I was warned that long term usage can increase possibility of osteoporosis (been on it 16 years already and am 43).

Thanks everyone... glad it helps most of you. I had a horrendous reaction to another drug a few months ago so I'm wary. I used to take omeprazole occasionally then started using it daily. Since then, I've developed a wandering pain and extreme bloating. I'm awaiting endoscopy results and my GP has increased my omeprazole further but I'm having various other niggles now too. Hard to figure out what's what.

I also have osteopenia due to coeliac disease, so I really don't want to be on it long-term.

Bloating could be SIBO. PPI use is often linked to that.

This link might be helpful

SIBO is often associated with coeliac disease as well.

Crunchymum me too!

Melmo interesting about the malabsorption- I've been on it for years and had unexplained low ferritin a few years ago.

I was on it for several years. Although it helped with the original problem, I experienced definite side effects.

These main ones were:
Chronic low ferritin.
Hairloss
Itching - especially scalp

Came off it in the end and all symptoms improved.

None.

Lansoprazole was a bugger, though. HVe me horrible churning guts.

Ds takes it and I was going to say no side effects but he sleeps a lot. Not sure if it's because he's 13 or it's the Omeprazole.

Weight gain
Loose motions
Painful gums
Rebound reflux for a few days when it stopped, which quickly settled

I discussed weaning off lanzoprazole with my GP. I took ranitidine twice a day and gaviscon tablets. Over time I reduced the ranitidine to once a day after dinner and gaviscon in the day if required. Now I wait to see the effect of dinner and if I am getting acidy I take a ranitidine before bed.

Occasionally reflux wakes me and I get up and take ranitidine and if it's vicious crunch down some gaviscon for immediate relief as the 2 can be taken together.

I found PPIs also annoying due to having to take them an hour before food.

I no longer drink red wine or fizzy plonk (champagne is ok though weirdly but rarely drink that because price!) I reduced tomatoes in food although still have occasionally, I never have OJ and have. It right back on other acidic fruits. It's trial and error on acid causing foods. My GP friend swears that chilli cannot cause reflux. It o disagree!!

I must admit I’d like to wean off the Omeprazole especially because of the risk of osteoporosis from long term use. I’m already at increased risk of that because I had an earlyish menopause due to Breast Cancer. Hmmm..

If you take it long term you should also take b12 supplements because low acid inhibits absorption of b12 and that can cause crushing fatigue, nerve problems, brain fog, palpitations, breathlessness etc etc.

Ds (9) is on lansoprazole, and dd2 (12) on omeprazole. Paed advised a drug break every year, dd2 has managed to come off omeprazole, but with ds his reflux symptoms get very bad when he try to stop it.

None at all.

Constipation.

None

I became vitamin b12 deficient and had symptoms associated with the deficiency but not the omeprazole itself (as stomach acid is required for b12 absorption)

you also get rebound stomach acid production if you stop taking it (so overproduction) and it makes you feel worse until your acid levels adjust again once you come off it completely