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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Buying omeprazole...

32 replies

8dpwoah · 14/07/2021 19:45

I know, I know, don't self-medicate etc. But just like my last pregnancy the dreaded indigestion has reared its head and it's causing me to restrict my diet to things that don't cause it to flare up as much so it's time to move away from the Rennies.

Last time the GP absolutely wouldn't prescribe me omeprazole, just gave me the standard advice and to try Peptac instead of gaviscon (depsite me saying I can't tolerate the liquid antacids, they make me retch).

So in the end I did my research and started buying ranitidine over the counter and was managing very well. However you can't now get ranitidine (😬) so it's either ineffective antacids or going all out on omeprazole. I will tell midwife I'm taking it, and I might try the GP again as I would prefer to have it prescribed properly but I can see why they might resist.

Anyway, getting to my point- where's good to buy it? I got a fortnight's worth from Morrisons for £9 (I think) which is ok if a little steep. I will of course monitor myself and stop taking it the minute I have any problems but now that it's stopping me eating properly and affecting my sleep I'm at the point of stepping up my tactics against the acid!

OP posts:
cookielove · 14/07/2021 19:46

Dr prescribed me omprezole no issue in my last pregnancy. Worked like a charm.

Original poster
8dpwoah · 14/07/2021 19:57

I wish mine were as keen to get me out the door with a bit of paper and a smile on my face 😂
'sleep with your bed tilted up' how is that helping me when I'm in a meeting at 2pm and the post-lunch burn kicks in?!

I'm more annoyed that it turns out ranitidine might be bad for you, that did the job most days for me with the odd Rennies to help. Actually, it was Remegel, but that's been discontinued as well 😭

OP posts:
YelloYelloYello · 14/07/2021 20:02

Woah wait; I take omeprazole daily and the GP just said it would help heart burn and indigestion. Nothing about it being dangerous or anything. Is it a serious drug? Should I be worried?

Superscientist · 14/07/2021 20:07

Could you try going through a different gp or your midwife to get a prescription for the omperazole?

I had no issues getting it prescribed.

reallyalurker · 14/07/2021 20:20

I get it from eBay as the Nexium brand. The cheapest I have found is £8 for 14 tablets of 20mg. I cut them in half as I don't find I need the full dose.

Original poster
8dpwoah · 14/07/2021 20:27

@YelloYelloYello

Woah wait; I take omeprazole daily and the GP just said it would help heart burn and indigestion. Nothing about it being dangerous or anything. Is it a serious drug? Should I be worried?
Oh I wouldn't be worried, you can buy it over the counter after all! It's just that everything tends to come with a 'speak to your GP if...' for pregnancy and breastfeeding but that didn't get me very far last time (I was being sick more from acid than I ever was from morning sickness!) so I've not done the 'right' thing and wanted to make that clear in my OP.

It's all good- most of pregnant friends managed to get it on prescription, I don't think it's particularly exotic. Just bloody expensive!

OP posts:
Souther · 14/07/2021 20:34

Are you sure you got omeprazole from Morrisons???
Or was it esomeprazole.

The only one said to be safe in pregnancy is omeprazole- I'm not sure if you can buy that without speaking to a pharmacist or with a prescription.

Although it might be ok, I think its important to differentiate that esomeprazole is a completely different drug that isnt prescribed in pregnancy

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 20:35

I got it prescribed after a phone consultation/Spanish Inquisition.

He even asked me about my previous drinking habits Hmm I said it’s pregnancy related heartburn! And he says ‘oh yes but it can be down to past bad habits’ made me describe in detail what heartburn feels like before confirming that yes, he thought it probably was heartburn.

Twat. He did prescribe it, grudgingly, and said it was a one-off prescription and I wouldn’t be getting anymore! It’s ran out now but luckily I haven’t been suffering with it much lately.

idontlikealdi · 14/07/2021 20:39

@reallyalurker

I get it from eBay as the Nexium brand. The cheapest I have found is £8 for 14 tablets of 20mg. I cut them in half as I don't find I need the full dose.
eBay seriously?! Where is it being sourced from?

It works out about £1 a day from my local pharmacy.

Souther · 14/07/2021 20:39

@Souther

Are you sure you got omeprazole from Morrisons??? Or was it esomeprazole.

The only one said to be safe in pregnancy is omeprazole- I'm not sure if you can buy that without speaking to a pharmacist or with a prescription.

Although it might be ok, I think its important to differentiate that esomeprazole is a completely different drug that isnt prescribed in pregnancy

Sorry it's just cos when I was pregnant I suffer really badly too. I couldn't find omeprazole in any supermarket and wouldn't take the esomeprazole- just felt the risk was too much.
alexdgr8 · 14/07/2021 20:39

Smidgen,
but that doctor was doing his job properly.
he doesn't know your history in detail, and is being thorough.
he is meant to ask those questions.
and he did prescribe it for you.
why do you abuse him.

Amichelle84 · 14/07/2021 20:40

I'd probably question the GP and ask why they won't, lay it on thick and say it's stopping you from sleeping and you need to rest...

Failing that I'd ask my midwife to prescribe it.

Souther · 14/07/2021 20:41

@reallyalurker

I get it from eBay as the Nexium brand. The cheapest I have found is £8 for 14 tablets of 20mg. I cut them in half as I don't find I need the full dose.
Nexium is esomeprazole not omeprazole.

Esomeprazole isnt found to be safe in pregnancy. There isnt enough evidence.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 20:43

‘Abuse’ Grin come now.

Well potentially because, I’d already described it in detail online to get the call in the first place. Because I’d not slept for heartburn for three nights, had tried everything over the counter I could and I wanted someone to just believe what I was telling them and help me without giving me the third degree about it, and not make me feel like he was giving me the moon on a stick by bestowing a prescription on me.

HalloHello · 14/07/2021 20:45

Ask your mdiwife, mine just asked the GP to prescribe me Omeprazole and then brought the prescription round the next morning! No reason for them not to prescribe.

SuccessfullySaved · 14/07/2021 20:45

Ive been taking it for years and took it all through my pregnancies, no one ever said there was any risk?? Did anyone say why they didnt want to prescribe it?

SmidgenofaPigeon · 14/07/2021 20:46

Maybe it’s expensive

Original poster
8dpwoah · 14/07/2021 21:28

@Souther

Are you sure you got omeprazole from Morrisons??? Or was it esomeprazole.

The only one said to be safe in pregnancy is omeprazole- I'm not sure if you can buy that without speaking to a pharmacist or with a prescription.

Although it might be ok, I think its important to differentiate that esomeprazole is a completely different drug that isnt prescribed in pregnancy

Oh...oh shit. You're right, it is, although I thought I saw some omeprazole next to it, perhaps not.

Oh well. DP gets indigestion so he can eat that and I'll have to try again with the GP I guess. I've taken one earlier tonight but I'm sure as a one-off it won't be a problem.

I'm really glad I started this thread now and thank you @Souther for spotting my mistake! Going back to my opening line, maybe best not to self-medicate!

OP posts:
Crazycatlady2016 · 14/07/2021 21:28

I take 20mg of omeprazole daily and have done for quite some time. GPs don’t like you to be on it for too long as it is known to cause cancer, however nothing else works for me sadly, so I guess at the moment, the benefit outweighs the risk. I am currently TTC and discussed all of the medication I’m on to ensure it’s safe. They fully reassured me that omeprazole is safe to take throughout pregnancy and is often prescribed to pregnant women, so I’m not sure why your GP won’t prescribe it. I get two months worth on one prescription, so far cheaper than you can buy it over the counter!

SingingInTheShithouse · 14/07/2021 21:31

Be careful as it causes problems with vitamin B12 & B12 is very important in pregnancy

Original poster
8dpwoah · 14/07/2021 21:39

For those asking why GP wouldn't prescribe, I couldn't figure it out. I was having the most low risk pregnancy going and hadn't ever actually asked them for anything at all before, my pregnancy booking appointment was my very first one at the surgery! I certainly didn't pick up any alarm bells, it was more a tough, get on with it sort of thing.

This time they were happy for me to have aspirin on prescription! But I said it was much easier for me to pick it up while shopping and save the NHS a few quid a month.

I'll ask midwife next week and go from there I think, wonder how many boxes of gaviscon I'll get through in the meantime 😂

OP posts:
Superscientist · 15/07/2021 16:08

You definitely can get gaviscon on prescription so ask about that if you are taking that - it might help you jump up to omperazole as required.

Really highlight the impact the reflux/heartburn is having on your wellbeing. I got the omperazole prescribed when my heartburn meant I was unable to consume any fluids although I was fine with food. Similarly I got antiemetics prescribed in my first trimester because of the tole of pregnancy sickness was taking on my wellbeing - it was trashing my physical health too but the gp didn't ask too much about that.

Puppysharness · 15/07/2021 16:27

Omeprazole is fine in pregnancy, but I think you need a prescription. If your GP is being hard work, print out the NHS guidelines which say it’s fine and read them to the GP. This is what I did and I got the prescription (after first being patronised….) yes it is not the same as esomeprazole.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/

Dizzy1234 · 15/07/2021 16:31

Try Oxford online pharmacy, you'll pay over the odds £20 for 84 tablets but worth it if you're desperate.
It's a cosher site, I use them all the time

Peachi82 · 15/07/2021 18:20

My dad had oesophagus cancer and this can be hereditary and caused by heartburn. GP prescribed it very quickly when he heard the story. I needed less than a box though, didn't take it every day, just when I had a really rough time.