A BBC specialist has outlined the 'red flags' viewers should be aware of when taking the commonly prescribed medicine Omeprazole. During BBC Morning Live, Dr Xand van Tulleken highlighted that a recent survey had emerged indicating that hazards are associated with prolonged use or inappropriately elevated doses. The main concerns centre around nutritional deficiencies, kidney stress, bone fractures, and gastrointestinal infections.
Omeprazole is a frequently prescribed medication that decreases the quantity of acid your stomach generates - and may be given to people taking other long-term medicines which can trigger heartburn - such as aspirin and ibuprofen. It falls within a category of medicines known as proton pump inhibitors.
Dr Xand noted that individuals experiencing acid reflux can take several steps to alleviate symptoms - including dietary choices, posture, and even belt tightness. He wished to stress it ranks among the most commonly prescribed drugs - like statins - and people should feel reassured there is no significant risk.
He explained: "What these drugs do is they suppress your stomach making acid. We take them for a couple of reasons to protect the stomach from drugs like aspirin. So if you're taking an aspirin you want to sort of reduce the effects of acid because aspirin can make your stomach more vulnerable to bleeding and the other thing is for things like reflux disease so heartburn and those kind of things. What worries me is if you stop these medications suddenly, if you look at that headline and go, 'Oh, maybe I shouldn't be taking it then. I think I'll stop this one.' You can get a rebound over-production of acid which can make symptoms worse, cause problems and generally cause difficulty. So I would say the evidence does not stack up to believe this headline at all. And because it's a headline that will affect tens of millions of people around the country, we should be very nervous of it."
He went on to outline several things people ought to be mindful of if they had been taking the medication for an extended period. He said: "The important thing to say is these drugs are safe and important. It is also worth saying people take them for a lot longer than they should without a regular review. You should always go back and check your symptoms. If you're taking any medication that you don't know what it is, what it's for, you've been taking for a long time without a review, do go and talk to your GP. They will be happy to do it. But the other thing to say for reflux is there. I've got a few tips on how to manage it. So, if we think about eating smaller portions, avoiding lying down after eating if you can, literally loosening your belt so that you're not wearing very, very tight clothing. So, small, you know, cutting out foods that trigger you. For some people it'll be coffee, some people it'll be curry, some people might be chocolate. You'll know what triggers you. Yeah. So, pastries can be a big deal. Often high-fat foods can sort of turn around in your stomach. Eating a lot can squeeze the acid up into your food pipe. And raising your bed. In the old days, we'd just say put a phone book under the legs of your bed. You want to tilt the whole mattress. If you've got a phone book, that's great. Um, I don't think anyone's got a phone book anymore. So, some other fat book or a house brick or whatever you've got that can prop your bed up by a few degrees can make a big difference."
The programme examined a Telegraph article suggesting two thirds of individuals with suspected acid reflux don't actually have the condition, according to research. It reported that a study by the Functional Gut Clinic discovered 66 per cent of those with suspected acid reflux showed normal acid exposure levels and consequently didn't have the condition.
Dr Xand commented: "The number one thing I want people to remember is these medications are extremely safe. They are blockbuster drugs. They are taken all over the world by billions of people. They have been studied very carefully up to very recent trials looking at these medications. And what they have found is there is a very very small increased risk of gut infections. We're talking about a 0.4 of a percent increased risk. So not nothing for a large number of people but outweighed by the fact that they stop you getting dangerous bleeds. They reduce your risk of cancer and for all the other things that we were sort of worried about over the years thought maybe these will be causing problems. Really the data say they are very very safe drugs. The additional point is if you stop them suddenly your stomach has been suppressed from making acid and it kind of rebounds and goes right I'm going to make loads of acid now and that will make your symptoms much worse."
