Inadequate doctor supervision of medication

The new over-the-counter Nexium Control is Omeprazole.

Annodomini, I did discontinue my 10mgs once a day, for five days. and took a lot of care to eat small frequent quite bland meals. I got acidity worse than ever although avoided reflux. I was swallowing an awful lot of Gaviscon too!

When someone finally fetched my Omeprazole from the pharmacy I took a capsule straight away and have followed that with another daily Omeprazole.

So I think it's very true if one wants to discontinue Omeprazole it has to be done very gradually while taking small frequent meals of food that will not annoy the stomach.

I am sure that any possible bad effects of long term Omeprazole are less of a problem than getting cancer of the gullet so please be very careful not to stop it without being sure that you can do so without refluxes.
BTW I also keep my bed raised at the top end about 8 inches, and go to sleep on my left side.

Just checked and realised that my dosage is 20mg twice a day. I tried to do without it just for a few days and, despite Ranitidine and Gaviscon Advance, the reflux started up again.

My son is 19 and has taken Omeprazole 20mg twice a day for 10 years. He has Sandifer Syndrome and without Omeprazole his life would be unbearable. My only concern is the price as he has the liquid and the cost is eyewatering.
Ignore the pharmacist.

Thanks grans.

My regular pharmacist who supplies my meds forgot to send my Omeprazole last month and I can't easily fetch it as the shop is a long way from home by my mobility scooter. So I thought I'd use the opportunity to take a lot more Gaviscon instead. As predicted by the NHS website stopping Omeprazole suddenly increased the stomach acid. So |Gaviscon after every snack and meal.

Coincidentally last week I had to consult with the gastric consultant for swallowing difficulty (a pouch in lining of upper gullet)and I mentioned I was trying to stop Omeprazole and was taking extra Gaviscon. He didn't object at all but seemed barely interested.

Ignore the pharmacist. If your doctor is prescribing it, it is right for you.

It's rubbish that you can't buy the 10 mgs without a prescription. Boots do their own brand. You can buy 20mg capsules perfectly easily from recognised online pharmacies. You just answer a few online questions, and there you are. Not really necessary though because doctors prescribe them quite easily.

Good advice - the internet is NOT the place. Go back, discuss.

Just wanted to point out that the OP stated it was the "practice" pharmacist which changed her prescription. Lots of GP practices now have a pharmacist on staff who in fact know a great deal more about drugs, interactions etc than the GPs and would have access to all medical records. It was not a "high street" pharmacist.

If worried, return to your GP for an explanation.

Omeprazole was prescribed to me by my GP as I am having to take Ibuprofen for a 'lengthy period' of time.
Apparently Ibuprofen reacts in the stomach of patients of a certain age (and upwards!) so Omeprazole needs to be taken.
Hopefully a 'lengthy period of time' will not be for too much longer but I would agree with other posters - if in doubt check with a different GP?

When I asked my doctor to up my dose of omeprazole to 20mgs from 10, he asked, "is that enough?" I said yes, but I wish I had gone for a higher dose now.

has not had!!

high dose!

Pharmacists are usually very helpful, but you should check with your doctor. Perhaps he should speak to the consultant. My son has to take a hifh dose permanently as he had Barretts Oesophagus.

A Pharmacist shouldn’t go against any doctors advice like that. He/she should have documented their concerns and asked you to go back to your GP or whoever initially prescribed the medication. To change a Consultants advice is very unprofessional particularly as you were prescribed it for a specific reason. I’m a qualified Extended Nurse Prescriber and understand completely why you have been prescribed it long term. Go & see your GP and if necessary request a re referral to the Consultant.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/

You might find this link useful too.

The British National Formulary (Doctor's drug bible) states that proton pump inhibitors, of which Omeprazole is one, can be used as prophylaxis to prevent certain stomach and oesophageal conditions recurring, as well as high dose, short term to treat gastric conditions.

Pharmacists play a large part. Think about it.

Many pharmacists are excellent in what they do particularly if/when familiar with a person's medication. Although GP's are on the ball, they don't always have time to study the ever-growing lists of medication and it usually ends with a pharmacist pointing out that a certain medication prescribed by the GP will interact with present medication, in odd cases, dangerously so.

If it hadn't been for a pharmacist during my H's illness, my H could well have died before he did do.

I've often found that pharmacists give unsolicited " advice" which contradicts what the doctor has said. I never take any notice of them - the doctor knows your whole history and should be the one you trust.

I've been taking Omeperazole for many years with no problem , as do many people. Your pharmacist is certainly not correct.

I think I would ask the advice of another GP other than the one you usually go to. I never realised that it can be taken over a long period of time as I have only had it for one week. You need advice now. x

If you are concerned then you should go back to the GP and ask for his opinion. I believe Omeprazole is available without a prescription but only for short term (4 week use).

I've been taking Omeprazole for years and nobody has told me not to - GP regularly renews my prescriptions and they are reviewed annually.