Omeprazole is a medicine commonly used to reduce the amount of acid made by the stomach. It is frequently indicated for diseases such as heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux, and treatment of ulcers.
Do you want to know how long it will take for those annoying symptoms to disappear? In this FastlyHealarticle, you will find the answer to the question: ” How long does omeprazole take effect? “and practical tips to make this medication give you even better results.
Table of Contents
What is omeprazole for
Omeprazole is a drug commonly used to decrease stomach acid production. It is indicated in different diseases, such as:
- Acidity.
- Gastroesophageal reflux.
- Esophagitis.
- Gastric ulcer.
- Úlcera duodenal.
- Helicobacter pylori infection.
- Zollinger Ellison disease.
dose of omeprazole
Most scientific studies conclude that the adequate daily dose of omeprazole should not exceed 20 mg.
This is sometimes different in medical practice. In some severe cases, this dose can be increased to 40 mg daily, but it is advisable not to maintain this practice for a long time since numerous adverse effects have been associated.
How long does omeprazole take to work?
Omeprazole acts directly on gastric acid-producing cells. The tablets contain a coating that prevents the acid from inactivating the medication. The drug must first be digested and absorbed so that it can then act at the stomach level.
The effects that are achieved when omeprazole works are:
- Decrease the amount of gastric acid.
- Decrease the amount of acid that returns to the esophagus or throat from the stomach.
- Reduce symptoms such as inflammation, hoarseness, feeling that “something” rises to the throat, pharyngeal pain, secretions, and cough.
- Decrease abdominal pain.
- Reduce the possibility of ulcers worsening.
All these effects are not immediate. Omeprazole reduces acid production a few hours after the first ingestion, but the maximum impact can be seen from the fourth day.
This does not mean that there are no more symptoms from that moment, but that the discomfort may begin to decrease. The time in which symptoms improve depends on the severity of the pathology and what other measures are taken simultaneously.
Generally, it takes at least three months of treatment to see improvements in problems like gastroesophageal reflux or heartburn.
In cases of duodenal ulcer, symptoms may be partially diminished after two weeks of treatment, while a gastric ulcer requires at least four weeks to see some effects.
Other much-needed measures
As we have mentioned, omeprazole can affect some symptoms you are suffering from. Still, you must understand that this medication, and other similar ones indicated to reduce acidity, cannot be taken for a long time.
Scientific papers supporting this type of medication suggest that omeprazole should not be taken for more than a year. So what happens when you spend a year taking these drugs, and you have to stop? If you did not improve those habits that led your body to produce more acid than usual, you will suffer from heartburn again or suffer other more complicated disorders for not having gone to the real cause of your problem.
Added to this is the list of possible side effects that occur after taking omeprazole for so long, such as:
- Allergy and skin problems.
- Joint and muscle pain
- Headache.
- Insomnia.
- Vertigo.
- Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.
- Liver disease.
- Blood diseases, among others.
What to do to avoid taking so much omeprazole?
If we consider that omeprazole only covers some symptoms but does not solve the root problem, that is when we must think about what to do to improve the cause for which we suffer from heartburn indeed.
Some of these tips can be useful to maximize the effect of omeprazole and, even better, solve your heartburn from its cause.
Improve your diet
Frequent consumption of processed foods, meats, bakery products with white sugar and flour, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and coffee is one of the most common causes of poor digestion and heartburn.
By eating more whole grains (especially rice), seasonal fruits and vegetables, and legumes as your primary source of protein, you’ll get everything your body needs and help it digest properly.
Avoid very spicy, acidic, and fermented foods. Although lately the consumption of this type of food has been considerably promoted, they are not suitable for everyone and less for you while you suffer from this imbalance.
Avoid dairy, especially yogurt and cheese. You can ingest tiny amounts of well-sourced milk if you tolerate it.
Combine food well
You can have a rich diet in healthy products, but they can hinder your digestion if you combine them improperly. It is better than:
- Eat the fruit half an hour before meals.
- Wait 4 to 6 hours to eat a new meal. It’s widespread to be told to eat every 2 hours, but you’re only causing more indigestion. If your dishes are balanced and with adequate amounts, you should give your body enough time to digest them.
- A balanced word should contain 50% of whole grain, 25% a type of protein, and the remaining 25% of some seasonal vegetables, preferably something cooked.
Incorporate ghee into your diet
Ghee or clarified butter does not act as an acid inhibitor like omeprazole but helps those who have an imbalance to regain their health.
Try to incorporate it into all your meals. At least a couple of teaspoons a day will help you feel much better.
Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
Unfortunately, the imbalance you suffer from is increased by alcohol and tobacco. Reducing and, better yet, avoiding its consumption will bring you great benefits. If you want to get different results, you should try other alternatives.
Practice moderate exercise
It is known that regular exercise is beneficial for health, but people who tend to have heartburn can make it even worse with excessive movement.
And how do you know when enough is enough? According to Ayurveda, you should only exercise up to half of your physical capacity. This happens in your body when you have already started to sweat. When that happens, take a short break and get back to business. It is essential to know your body to find the moderation you need.
Control your emotions
Poorly controlled anger and stress are significant causes of heartburn. Bitterness, anger, disagreement, seeing the error, or permanent deficiencies predispose the stomach to secrete more acid than average.
It is not about suppressing emotions because that also hurts. Instead, it is learning to accept what you cannot change, be thankful for all the good in your life (even if it is just breathing) and learn to dominate yourself.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to How long does Omeprazole take effect? We recommend that you enter our category of Medication and medical tests.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.