Buying omeprazole...

[8dpwoah]

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!

Thanks for all your replies guys, I'm happy to announce I'm now the proud owner of two boxes of omeprazole, this doctor didn't even flinch. I think explaining that I had previously got on ok with buying ranitidine over the counter and was now a bit stuck for a go to when the gaviscon didn't work helped. It's a good job it was a phone appointment or I'd have kissed him to be honest 😂

I just want to clear something up omeprazole and esomeprazole are the same drug. Lots of things in nature have two forms that are symmetrical to one another just look at your hands or feet. This also applies to proteins in your body and also pharmaceuticals. Try to imagine putting a pair of gloves on to the wrong hand depending on the gloves they may fit fairly ok or really not ok. Like gloves it is better to have a drug that is matches the shape of the protein you want it to bind too.
Omperazole is like having both gloves - one will fit snugly and comfortably the other won't quite be right. Esomeprazole only has the glove that fits snugly.
A trick the pharmaceutical industry does to extend their patents of a drug is to initiate release the version that has both forms and then as the patent for this drugs comes to the end of its life they release the single active form.

It is highly unlikely that if the medication that has both forms is safe that the single form won't be safe. The other way around this not necessarily true - this was seen with thalidomide - one form was therapeutic and the other was harmful. What they didn't realise was the body could turn the therapeutic form into a mixture of the therapeutic and harmful forms which led to the horrendous birth defects.

@Superscientist that's really interesting! So the current 'don't use' message for esomeprazole is because it's newer on the market, so the lack of data thing again?

You can’t buy omeprazole otc I don’t think. Esomeprazole can be bought but is a different drug. Nexium is esomeprazole.

You can get it from Boots.. not sure if strength is high enough tho!

www.boots.com/boots-acid-reflux-20mg-gastro-resistant-tablets-14-tablets-10288408

Do you know I never even thought to look in Boots 🤦 that is the same strength as I've been prescribed though!

@SingingInTheShithouse

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

I'm not pregnant but have been prescribed high dose omeprazole for stomach ulcers. It's improved things for me to quite a major extent but I am concerned about the effects on things like B12 production. Is there anything I can take to supplement B12?