omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate

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Pronunciation: oh ME pray zol and SO dee um by KAR bon ate

Brand: Zegerid, Zegerid OTC

What is the most important information I should know about omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid your stomach produces. Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid that raises the pH in your stomach to keep the omeprazole from breaking down in stomach acid.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is a combination medicine used to treat heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This medicine is also used to treat ulcers and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid production.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to omeprazole or sodium bicarbonate.

This medicine contains sodium bicarbonate, a form of salt. Each capsule contains the equivalent of 300 mg of sodium. Each packet of powder contains the equivalent of 460 mg of sodium. If you are on a low-salt or low-sodium diet, you may not be able to use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Talk with your doctor.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate if you have other medical conditions, especially:

  • kidney or liver disease;
  • heart disease;
  • metabolic or respiratory alkalosis (usually after prolonged illness); or
  • low levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium levels in your blood.

Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole may increase your risk of bone fracture in the hip, wrist, or spine. This effect has occurred mostly in people who have taken the medication long term or at high doses, and in those who are age 50 and older. It is not clear whether omeprazole is the actual cause of an increased risk of fracture.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of antibiotics with omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating a meal. If this medicine is given to a person who is fed through a nasogastric (NG) tube, the feeding should be stopped at least 3 hours before giving the medicine. Do not restart nasogastric feeding for at least 1 hour after giving omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

Take the omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate capsule with a full glass of water. Do not use any other type of liquid or food.

Do not open the capsule or empty the medicine powder from it. Swallow the capsule whole.

To use the powder form, open a packet and pour all of the powder into a small cup with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water. Do not use any other type of liquid. Stir the mixture and drink it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

The 20-mg and the 40-mg forms of this medicine contain the same strength of sodium bicarbonate. Do not use two 20-mg capsules to equal one 40-mg capsule. Do not use two 20-mg powder packets to equal one 40-mg powder packet. If you do not use the exact capsule or powder packet your doctor has prescribed, you may receive too much sodium bicarbonate.

If you use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate for longer than 3 years, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor about how to manage this condition if you develop it.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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

What should I avoid while taking omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Avoid taking this medicine with milk if you use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate long-term.

What are the possible side effects of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
  • stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss;
  • seizure (convulsions);
  • kidney problems --urinating more or less than usual, blood in your urine, swelling, rapid weight gain; or
  • symptoms of low magnesium --dizziness, confusion; fast or uneven heart rate; tremors (shaking) or jerking muscle movements; feeling jittery; muscle cramps, muscle spasms in your hands and feet; cough or choking feeling.

Common side effects may include:

  • headache;
  • mild 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.

What other drugs will affect omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate can change the way your body absorbs or eliminates certain other drugs. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • calcium supplements or iron supplements (including ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfonate);
  • clopidogrel;
  • cyclosporine;
  • diazepam (Valium) or similar sedatives;
  • digoxin, digitalis;
  • disulfiram, Antabuse;
  • a diuretic or "water pill";
  • methotrexate;
  • mycophenolate mofetil;
  • St. John's wort;
  • tacrolimus;
  • warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
  • an antibiotic --ampicillin, clarithromycin, rifampin;
  • an antifungal medicine --ketoconazole, voriconazole; or
  • HIV or AIDS medicine --atazanavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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