Doctor explains worrying side effects of taking omeprazole long term as NHS issue warning
Omeprazole is the single most prescribed drug in the UK but it comes with its caveats
A medical professional has explained why a certain common medication may actually be detrimental to your health.
The NHS have even issued a warning about the prescribed drug, with it being the most commonly prescribed medication across the UK.
Over 73 million prescriptions of omeprazole were being dispensed in England alone between 2022 and 2023, with the drug being used to treat symptoms such as heartburn and acid reflux. However, they are commonly prescribed alongside other medication which heighten the risk of stomach ulcers, such as ibuprofen.
The main side-effects of the medication have since been outlined to the public, including low vitamin levels and even weakened bones if you take the drug in the long-term.
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While the NHS urges people to 'not take omeprazole for longer than two weeks if you bought it without a prescription', millions continue to take it.
Masking certain symptoms by using the drug could even prevent the diagnosis of illnesses, which may be causing said symptoms in the first place.
Omeprazole reduces the amount of stomach acid produced by the body by turning off 'proton pumps' in the stomach's lining, which are responsible for releasing acid.
This then results in healing stomach ulcers while reducing symptoms such as heartburn and acid reflux.
A doctor with an online following has now commented on the widespread use of the drug, taking to TikTok to explain its side-effects to his 366,000+ followers.
Dr Ahmed, known as Dr A online, said that he'd met a patient who was one the medication for eight years, betting that the 'majority of you have even been prescribed or currently take his medication right now'.
"It's not right because it has many side effects and shouldn't be taken long-term this medication is omeprazole or lanzoprazole, or any antiacid for reflux," he said, adding that this can be given to combat heartburn or acid reflux.
He explained that your blood and stool will be checked for H pylori and even if tests come back normal, 'the nature of the NHS' will likely mean that you'll be started on the medication.
The doctor even claimed that these medications 'never really get reviewed', with patients stuck on them for months or even years.
"Here's the crazy thing, long-term use of omeprazole has many many side effects - for example, if you use it for three months and more, your magnesium will become low and make you feel tired, it can (also) cause bonr problems or heart problems," the doctor revealed.
Dr A went on: "Six months to a year, your potassium may go low, your B12 may become low chronic and low B12 can cause things like pins and needles, nerve damage and any longer than a year, you're at risk of bone fractures."
He added that stomachs are meant to be acidic, so omeprazole or similar medications are basically neutralising our stomachs to control the symptoms we feel.
"Heartburn and reflux are just a symptom of an underlying cause which you need to get investigated for, if you've been taking omeprazole for months or even years you need to go to your doctor and ask why you've been on it for so long," he advised.
"Generally speaking, things like ulcers bacterial or fungal overgrowth, lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction, osophageal muscle dysmotility need to be ruled out," Dr A said.
Joshua Nair