Before looking at the side effects of omeprazole – what kind of drug is it and what is it used for?
Omeprazole is within a class of medication termed protein pump inhibitors (PPIs) – these act by irreversible inhibition of the stomach’s acid production mechanism and are effectively the most potent inhibitors of gastric acid secretion available.
This type of drug is used to inhibit gastric secretion of acid which has a vital role in the digestive process – this being an attempt to “treat” such conditions as acid reflux, peptic ulcer and heartburn. The assumption is that “excess” acid is a causative factor as opposed to aggravating these conditions, which usually have different underlying causes (see our article on helicobacter pylori)
You may think that chemically inhibiting such a vital process would have health and well-being consequences – and you would be absolutely right.
Taking omeprazole – particularly long-term – may result in a number of unpleasant side effects.
(Source UK NHS)
Common side effects of omeprazole
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain
• Flatulence
It’s interesting that for a drug designed to solve a gastro-intestinal problem, pretty much all of the more common side effects of omeprazole are disturbances of the gastro-intestinal tract.
Go figure…
Less common and serious side effects of omeprazole
Let’s now look at the less common, however serious side effects of omeprazole. Bear in mind that this drug is designed to “treat” peptic ulceration, heartburn and gastric reflux – it clearly makes sense to weigh the risks against any possible benefits – particularly as there are natural ways to treat all of these conditions.
These side effects include the following:
• If your skin and eye whites become yellow and you have exceptionally dark urine – these are possibly indicative of jaundice caused by liver damage
• Joint pain in conjunction with red skin rashes – especially arms, nose or cheeks. These may be symptoms of the autoimmune disorder subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
This condition is dangerous, even life-threatening
• An inflamed bowel indicated by severe or persistent diarrhoea
• Severe allergic reaction – even anaphylaxis
Long-term potential side effects
• Reduced levels of blood magnesium
• Bone fractures
• Infections of the gut
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Increased risk of stomach cancer
Given the raft of unpleasant side effects associated with this particular medicine, it begs the question – why does the pharmaceutical industry persist with its supply globally.
The following statement from a recent report may shed some light on this matter:
“The global omeprazole market size was valued at $2.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $3.3 billion in 2028, with a CAGR of 4.02% during 2022-2028.”
You can see why it is not in the interests of Big Pharma to even acknowledge the possibility that there are natural ways to treat peptic ulcers, heartburn and gastric acid reflux.
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