Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is a combination medicine used in adults to treat heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate can also be used to lower the risk of stomach bleeding in patients who are in the intensive care unit (ICU).

omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may also be used to treat certain types of ulcers and help heal erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may also be used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Never use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate in larger amounts, or for longer than prescribed.

Do not change your dose or stop using this medication without your doctor's advice. Avoid medication errors by using it exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Take on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal.

Take with a full glass of water.

Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

Shake the oral suspension (liquid). Measure a dose with the supplied measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Read and carefully follow instructions for mixing and taking the powder packets. The oral suspension and powder packet can also be given through a feeding tube. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate can affect the results of certain lab and medical tests. Tell any doctor or laboratory staff that you are using omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse after using the medicine for the number of days prescribed. You may need medical tests.

This medicine can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Store the capsule and powder packets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Store the oral suspension in the refrigerator. Do not freeze and protect from light. Throw the medicine away after 30 days, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Long-term use of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may increase your risk of serious side effects. Talk with your doctor about this risk.

omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate can cause kidney problems or new or worsening symptoms of lupus. Tell your doctor if you have: pain in your side or lower back, painful urination, blood or pus in your urine, joint pain, or a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight.

This medicine can cause diarrhea. Tell your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Some drugs should not be used with omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

You should not use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• an allergy to any other stomach acid medicine such as lansoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and others.

Some drugs should not be used with omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Your treatment plan may change if you also use any medication that contains rilpivirine.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• any allergies or medical conditions;
• congestive heart failure;
• problems with acid-base (pH) balance in your body;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low blood levels of calcium, potassium, or magnesium);
• taken medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection;
• if you are on a low-salt diet;
• liver disease; or
• a kidney disorder called Bartter's syndrome.

You may be more likely to have a broken bone while using omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Long-term use of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may increase your risk of serious side effects including stomach polyps. Talk with your doctor about these risks.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• sudden pain or trouble moving your hip, wrist, or back;
• confusion, dizziness or lightheadedness;
• a seizure;
• low blood magnesium--dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling;
• kidney problems--pain in your side or lower back, painful urination, blood or pus in your urine;
• new or worsening symptoms of lupus--joint pain and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight; or
• vitamin B12 deficiency--shortness of breath, feeling lightheaded, irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness, pale skin, tiredness, mood changes.

Common side effects of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may include:

• headache;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, gas; or
• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Usual Adult Dose for Duodenal Ulcer:

Omeprazole 20 mg orally once a day-Duration of therapy: 4 weeksComment: If patients are not healed after 4 weeks, treatment for another 4 weeks may be considered.Use: Short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer

Usual Adult Dose for Gastric Ulcer:

Omeprazole 40 mg orally once a day-Duration of therapy: 4 to 8 weeksUse: Short-term treatment of active benign gastric ulcer

Usual Adult Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Omeprazole 20 mg orally once a day-Duration of therapy: Up to 14 days (Over-the-Counter [OTC] formulations); Up to 4 weeks (prescription formulations)Comments:-The OTC formulation course of treatment may be repeated every 4 months as necessary.-The full effect of treatment may not be reached for up to 4 days.Uses:-Treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) without esophageal erosions (prescription formulations)-Treatment of frequent heartburn occurring at least 2 days a week (OTC formulations)

Usual Adult Dose for Erosive Esophagitis:

Treatment: Omeprazole 20 mg orally once a day-Duration of therapy: 4 to 8 weeksMaintenance: Omeprazole 20 mg orally once a dayComments:Controlled studies for the efficacy in treatment of erosive esophagitis did not extend beyond 8 weeks.-An additional 4 to 8-week course of therapy may be considered in patients with a recurrence of erosive esophagitis or GERD symptoms after initial treatment.-Controlled studies for maintenance therapy did not extend beyond 12 months.Uses:-Short-term treatment of erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy-Maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis

Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage:

Oral suspension: Omeprazole 40 mg orally, followed by 40 mg 6 to 8 hours later, and 40 mg orally once a day thereafter-Duration of therapy: 14 daysComment: Controlled studies did not extend past 12 months.Use: Reduction of risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients

Take the medicine as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take two doses at the same time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Do not change the amount of salt in your diet unless your doctor tells you to.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before using over-the-counter medicines that may contain ingredients similar to omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

Ask your doctor about calcium sources in your diet. Getting too much calcium while taking omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may cause harmful side effects.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines together. Some drugs can change the levels of other drugs in your blood, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you are currently taking. Many drugs can affect omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate, especially:

• warfarin, clopidogrel;
• digoxin;
• methotrexate;
• rifampin; or
• St. John's wort.

This list is not complete, and many other drugs may affect omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.