Omeprazole OTC

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider before taking this drug if you have:

Any signs of bleeding in the digestive tract, such as blood in the stool, unusually dark stool, or vomiting blood
Have had heartburn for over three months (this may be a sign of more serious conditions)
Have heartburn with lightheadedness, sweating, or dizziness
Chest pain, shoulder pain, shortness of breath, or other signs of a heart attack
Wheezing, especially with heartburn
Unexplained weight loss
Nausea or vomiting
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
Liver disease.

Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:

Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant (see Prilosec and Pregnancy)
Breastfeeding (see Prilosec and Breastfeeding).

Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you currently take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Click Precautions and Warnings With Omeprazole for more information, including information on who should not take this drug.)

Omeprazole OTC Alternatives

For most people, omeprazole OTC is quite effective at treating GERD, ulcers, or other digestive problems. It is also generally well tolerated. However, side effects can occur or the medicine may not work as well as needed. In these cases, your healthcare provider may recommend an alternative. Some examples of substitute medications include:

H2 blockers
Antacids or foaming agents
Other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Other alternatives include dietary changes (see GERD Diet) and surgery (for more serious problems).

(Click Prilosec Alternatives to learn more about the alternatives to omeprazole OTC. Click Treatment Options for GERD to learn other ways of managing this condition.)

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