Omeprazole (Systemic)
Brand Names : Prilosec, Losec
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For omeprazole, the
following should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction to omeprazole. Also tell your health care professional if
you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.
Pregnancy - Studies have not been done in humans. However, studies
in animals have shown that omeprazole may cause harm to the fetus.
Breast-feeding - Omeprazole may pass into the breast milk. Since
this medicine has been shown to cause unwanted effects, such as tumors and
cancer in animals, it may be necessary for you to take another medicine or
to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks
and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.
Children - There is no specific information comparing the use
of omeprazole in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use
of omeprazole in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
omeprazole, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:
-
Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or
-
Diazepam (e.g., Valium) or
-
Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin) - Use with omeprazole may cause high
blood levels of these medicines, which may increase the chance of side effects
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of omeprazole. Make sure you tell your doctor
if you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Liver disease or a history of liver disease - This condition
may cause omeprazole to build up in the body
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