What is Omeprazole Used For and How Long Does it Take to Work?
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the middle of the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat known as acid reflux.1
It’s a common condition affecting up to 25% of UK adults2 and it can be triggered by spicy or fatty food, chocolate, tomatoes and drinks such as coffee and alcohol1.
It can also be caused or made worse by being overweight, pregnancy, stress, anxiety and smoking.1
Simple lifestyle changes such as eating smaller more frequent meals, finding ways to relax, losing weight, not wearing tight clothes around the waist and raising the head end of your bed or mattress may help.1
The main symptom alongside a burning feeling in the chest is a sour taste in the mouth.1 You may also experience a reoccurring cough or hiccups, a hoarse voice, bad breath and a bloating and sick feeling.1
Why Does Heartburn Happen?
Heartburn can be both uncomfortable and unpleasant and is often worse after eating or when lying down or bending over.1
It occurs when the one-way system that prevents stomach contents from entering the gullet (oesophagus) – the muscular ring which joins the oesophagus to the stomach – fails, allowing stomach acid to travel the wrong way causing the pain of heartburn.3
Although we all need stomach acid to aid the digestion of food, for some it can cause unpleasant symptoms such as heartburn and indigestion.4
Omeprazole, the active ingredient in Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets*, belongings to a group of medicines called Proton pump Inhibitors5 (PPIs).
Some heartburn and acid reflux medication such as antacids act to neutralise acid, and some contain alginate which coats your gullet with a protective layer.6
PPIs work by blocking the proton pump inside the cells which are involved in producing the acid.7
What is omeprazole?
Omeprazole is a widely used treatment for heartburn and acid reflux. It reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes.8
What is omeprazole used for?
Omeprazole helps to reduce the pain or discomfort in your chest or stomach and so allows the body to reduce any inflammation9 caused by stomach acid leaking into the gullet.
Can omeprazole be used during pregnancy?
Omeprazole can be used during pregnancy and while breastfeeding and it may be used if lifestyle changes, such as eating smaller meals more often and avoiding fatty and spicy foods, aren’t working.8
IMPORTANT: Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.
References
1 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-reflux/
2 https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/symptoms/heartburn-and-reflux/
3 https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/symptoms/heartburn-and-reflux/
4 https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/drug-cabinet/proton-pump-inhibitors
6 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antacids/
7 https://www.pyrocalmcontrol.co.uk/how-it-works/
8 https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole/
Self Care Advice
The Differences Between Heartburn and Acid Reflux
Diet & Heartburn: Diet Tips To Avoid Heartburn
Heartburn on holiday
Diet & lifestyle tips for heartburn & acid reflux
Pregnancy Heartburn Relief: How to Manage Heartburn and Acid Reflux in Pregnancy
How Omeprazole Works
Heartburn and the Science Behind it
Anxiety and Heartburn
