Abdominal pain can be caused by various reasons. One of the most common is an increased level of acidity in the stomach, which leads to the formation of ulcers, erosion, heartburn and acid belching. Gastritis, peptic ulcer, reflux esophagitis develops. In this case, the patient needs a comprehensive treatment. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs for such diseases of the gastrointestinal tract is Omez. Indications for the use of this medication are not limited to the treatment and prevention of peptic ulcer. It is also prescribed in many other cases.
General characteristics of the drug
Indications for use of "Omez" are mainly limited to gastrointestinal pathologies associated with increased acidity of gastric juice. After all, this drug refers to proton pump inhibitors. A proton pump is a special enzyme responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid. It is hydrochloric acid in the stomach that is the main component of digestive juice. Under its influence, food is broken down into smaller components, which then continue to be digested in the intestine. But hydrochloric acid is a very aggressive medium. In a healthy stomach, the walls of the stomach are protected by mucus from its effects. But sometimes, for example, with malnutrition or inflammatory diseases, its amount decreases. In this case, hydrochloric acid irritates the mucous membrane, leading to the formation of erosion and ulcers.
Preparations related to proton pump inhibitors block the production of this enzyme. As a result, hydrochloric acid is produced in smaller quantities. The secretion and acidity of the gastric juice is reduced, which allows the mucosa of the digestive tract to recover.
Composition and form of release
The drug "Omez" is best known in the form of enteric capsules. Their main active ingredient is omeprazole. Each capsule contains 20 mg. A package of 30 pieces usually costs about 250 rubles. The drug is also available in the form of a powder for the preparation of a suspension. This is Omez Insta, convenient for those patients who cannot swallow the capsule. In addition to 20 mg of omeprazole, the powder contains sugar, xylitol, peppermint flavoring. 5 packages of this form of drug release can be bought for 80-100 rubles. Sometimes in the conditions of medical institutions also use a solution for infusion.
On sale, you can also find the drug "Omez D". This is a combined drug containing, in addition to 10 mg of omeprazole, also 10 mg of domperidone. This substance has an antiemetic effect, increases the tone of the lower esophagus sphincter. Therefore, this form of “omeza” is especially often prescribed for heartburn, belching, nausea, and reflux.
Action taken
The drug "Omez" belongs to the group of antiulcer drugs. Its main active ingredient is omeprazole. It is a proton pump inhibitor, that is, a drug that inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. As a result, in patients with hyperacid gastritis and an ulcer, the pain associated with mucosal irritation is reduced. The effect of the drug begins about 20 minutes after administration and lasts for a day. Due to the decrease in the acidity of the gastric juice, all unpleasant symptoms of peptic ulcer disappear: pain and burning in the stomach, heartburn go away, the inflammatory process decreases. At the same time, the mucosa of the digestive tract is restored, ulcers and erosion heal faster. Symptomatic administration of the drug helps to get rid of discomfort after overeating and eating heavy foods and spicy foods.
Product Efficiency
The drug "Omez" is prescribed in the complex treatment of a variety of gastrointestinal pathologies. It is effective both in the easy treatment of gastritis or peptic ulcer, and in the most severe cases. Its action occurs within an hour after taking the capsule and lasts for a day. Since the drug is available in the form of enteric capsules, its active substances are not destroyed in the acidic environment of the stomach, but are released only in the intestine. Then they enter the liver, are metabolized and penetrate the blood. The components of the drug are excreted through the kidneys. When taking the drug, the level of hydrochloric acid is reduced by 70-80%. But for this you need to drink it for at least 4 days. After stopping the drug, the activity of the proton pump is restored, and the secretory function of the stomach returns to normal.
Analogs "Omeza"
If it is impossible for some reason to take this particular drug, after consulting a doctor, you can use similar drugs. These include other proton pump inhibitors based on omeprazole or pantoprazole. There are analogues of Russian-made Omeza, cheaper in price or imported drugs. Despite the fact that their effect is the same, the choice of a drug should only be trusted by a specialist. Instead of Omez, the doctor may prescribe Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Gastrozole, Omezol, Orthanol, Pepticum, Ultop.
Omez: indications for use
Due to the characteristics of the active substance of the drug, it is prescribed most often for the treatment of gastritis with high acidity or peptic ulcer. These pathologies most often appear due to elevated levels of hydrochloric acid, so taking the drug helps the mucosa recover. Prescribe the drug both in the chronic course of these pathologies, and with exacerbation. With increased acidity, erosive gastritis can also develop, in which Omez is also effective. Prescribe the drug for stressful ulcers and damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics.
Indications for the use of "Omez" are also gastrointestinal pathologies associated with pancreatic insufficiency or its inflammation. It is effective for systemic mastocytosis, adenomatosis, Zollingen-Ellison syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux. Often prescribed "Omez" for gastritis or ulcers caused by mucosal damage to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Sometimes it is also used before surgery. The drug helps to prevent the stomach contents from being thrown into the airways during anesthesia.
When you can not take the drug
Indications for the use of "Omez" limit its use to those pathologies that are associated with an increased level of acidity in the stomach. But, despite its effectiveness and many positive reviews, not everyone can use it. Contraindications include:
- children under 18 years old;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- individual intolerance to the components of the product;
- intestinal obstruction;
- the presence of bleeding in the digestive tract, perforation of the walls;
- suspected malignancy.
It is advisable to use Omeza capsules only according to the doctor’s indications. Indeed, in particularly difficult cases, it may not help, but only harm. For example, malignant tumors cause the same symptoms as with peptic ulcer disease. Self-administration of “Omez” can alleviate the patient’s condition, but complicates the diagnosis, and special treatment begins late.
Possible side effects
The instruction to Omez notes that it is well tolerated and, when used correctly, rarely causes side effects. Usually they appear in the presence of contraindications, chronic diseases or with an overdose. The following side effects may occur:
- nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, stomatitis;
- dyspeptic phenomena, flatulence;
- changes in the amount and color of feces, constipation or diarrhea;
- impaired liver function;
- allergic reactions in the form of skin rash, itching, hypersensitivity to sunlight;
- headaches, dizziness, irritability, insomnia;
- weakness, apathy, depression, hallucinations;
- changes in blood composition, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia.
Interaction with other medicines
Despite the fact that “Omez” according to the instructions is recommended to be taken as part of a comprehensive treatment, it is incompatible with many drugs. Therefore, drugs for therapy should be chosen only by a doctor. It is also necessary to warn him about the need to take other drugs. After all, omeprazole can reduce the absorption of certain substances, because of which their effectiveness decreases and the possibility of side effects increases.
The instruction to "Omez" does not recommend taking it together with "Diazepam", various anticoagulants. It is also incompatible with Caffeine, Theophylline, many NSAIDs, Lidocaine, and iron preparations. Omez may decrease their effectiveness. But in some cases, this drug is prescribed specifically to improve the absorption of antibacterial drugs. For example, the omez is necessarily included in the Helicobacter pylori eradication scheme along with antibiotics. You need to drink them at the same time, it will reduce the acidity of the stomach and prevent the destruction of antibacterial agents with hydrochloric acid.
It is undesirable to take Omez and alcohol in one day. When combined, an increase in toxic effects and the appearance of side effects are possible.
Instructions for use
Omez capsules must be swallowed whole. You can not chew them, dissolve in water, since a special enteric-soluble membrane is specially needed so that the active substance is released in the intestine. And for those patients who cannot swallow a whole capsule, you need to purchase the drug “Omez Insta” in powder. It must be dissolved in a small amount of water or sour juice, for example, apple or orange. Do not mix the powder with dairy products or carbonated drinks.
You also need to know when to take Omez - before meals or after. It is best to drink the capsules half an hour before a meal, but its effectiveness does not decrease while taking the drug with food. Usually prescribed in 20-40 mg of the drug 1 time per day, preferably in the morning. In severe cases, according to the doctor’s decision, the dose can be increased to 60-120 mg, divided into 2 doses. The course of treatment with the drug in mild cases can be 2-3 weeks. Sometimes it is prescribed for 4-5 days, for example, to prevent damage to the mucosa when taking antipyretic drugs. In case of gastric ulcer or gastritis, Omez can be taken within 1-2 months. Sometimes a single dose of the drug is allowed, when you need to remove the symptoms of heartburn.
Application features
Especially often, patients are interested in how to take Omez: before meals or after? It is believed that the effectiveness of the drug does not depend on food intake, although it is best to take it half an hour before meals, so that by the time the production of hydrochloric acid begins, the necessary enzymes in the blood already exist to block this process.
Dose adjustment is required for patients with liver and kidney pathologies. They can not take more than 10-20 mg of omeprazole per day. Even when prescribing the drug by a doctor, it is necessary to study the instructions in order to know about its compatibility with other drugs, as well as about possible side effects.
Reviews about the treatment "Omez"
This drug is very popular, it is often prescribed by therapists and gastroenterologists. Many positive reviews about it leave patients with a stomach ulcer or gastritis. They note that it relieves heartburn well, reduces pain. The drug "Omez" is taken 2-3 times a year, in this case it prevents exacerbation of peptic ulcer and improves the condition of the mucosa. Negative reviews are mainly associated with the appearance of side effects, which is rare. And if you take the drug according to indications, the result is always positive.