# Omeprazole and an Empty Stomach? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2020, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566 "2020-03-16T07:17:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/1 "2020-03-16T07:17:06Z")
I guess I can tell you all. I take the acid reducer Omeprazole. It is a very effective drug. It would have saved my paternal grandmother’s life (she died in 1973). Anyway they tell me I have to take it on an empty stomach, eating food neither 15 minutes before, nor after I take it. Why? I ask pharmacists. But they never give me a straight answer. Also, can I take other meds with it? Pharmacists generally say Yes. But I might as well ask you that too:). Thank you all in advance for your kindly replies. :):):):):):)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/2 "2020-03-16T15:28:46Z")
[Here](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2000.00829.x?sid=nlm%3Apubmed)’s a paper dating from around the time of (shortly after) the original authorisation of omeprazole, so it’s possible this is actually a publication of results from studies submitted in the licence application, or that it was a further study by researchers involved in studies for the application. > [@](#): > > Traditionally, H2‐receptor antagonists have been used in the treatment of mild to moderate reflux disease, but food intake interferes with the effect of these drugs at two levels: decreased absorption and inability to suppress meal‐induced acid secretion. The [abstract](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11012470) if you prefer it: > [@](#): > > CONCLUSIONS: > When therapy with omeprazole or lansoprazole is indicated, medication should be taken before a meal for optimal control of daytime gastric acidity. I couldn’t find any relevent assessment of the application in a quick search. Disclaimer: Nor did I read through the full paper. Hope it helps. j ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/3 "2020-03-16T16:17:40Z")
Well, anecdotally, I have been taking omeprazole with and without food for several years now. Always with a copious amount of other non-contraindicated drugs. The packaging says nothing about taking it with or without food. I haven’t died yet. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/4 "2020-03-16T17:39:36Z")
> [@Ashtura](#): > > Well, anecdotally, I have been taking omeprazole with and without food for several years now. Always with a copious amount of other non-contraindicated drugs. The packaging says nothing about taking it with or without food. > > I haven’t died yet. Hmm - I wonder if views on the matter have changed since that paper was published. I don’t know about your local labelling, but I notice that the [UK leaflet](https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1373.pdf) says: > [@](#): > > Taking this medicine >  It is recommended that you take your capsules in the morning. >  You can take your capsules with food or on an empty stomach… Mixed messages… j ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/5 "2020-03-16T21:31:51Z")
I have a lot of patients who first come to me on omeprazole from another practitioner. They often complain that it doesn’t help as much as they would like it to. When I ask those patients if they take it on an empty stomach, over half say ‘no’. I tell them to try that, and get back to me if it’s still a problem. Most don’t get back to me. Anecdotal, I know. But a lot about the practice of medicine is anecdotal. Otherwise, **Treppenwitz** already listed the reasons. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/6 "2020-03-16T22:43:17Z")
Interesting. I take it with my morning dose of Metamucil, killing two birds with one stone, as it were. I’ll try taking it ten minutes before I drink the Metamucil. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/7 "2020-03-17T00:00:55Z")
First of all, Omeprazole is not an H[sub]2[/sub] antagonist, it is a proton pump inhibitor (ppi) these are two very different medicines that have similar functions. PPI’s inhibit the production of gastric acids directly at the source and were originally used in the treatment of ulcers and GERD. They were originally to be used short term; to reduce the acid production of the stomach to allow the ulcer to heal. PPI’s should be taken for no more than 14 days in a row with a 4 month interval in between occurances. Long term use of PPI’s can have some serious side effects such as: malabsorption of certain minerals such as magnesium and calcium which can lead to muscuar, skeletal, and cardiac degeneration. vitamin B12 deficiency exacerbation of Irritable Bowel Syndrome incidence of Microscopic Colitis etc. PPI’s can also have some serious adverse interactions with some popular medications such as: some antibiotics (ampicilin) Benzodiazpines anticoagulants diuretics etc. Omeprazole falls into that category of medicines that can have magical healing properties and severe side effects at the same time, and, in my opinion, should not be sold otc. If you have pain from gastric acid production that doesn’t get better after 2 weeks of medicating, see a doctor! If you and your doctor decide to use PPI’s long term, be very aware of possible side effects. [https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/omeprazole-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20066836?p=1](https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/omeprazole-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20066836?p=1) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omeprazole-and-an-empty-stomach/849566/8 "2020-03-17T00:20:29Z")
I am not a doctor and this is anecdotal based on my experience and that of some friends. If you have resorted to taking antacids on a regular basis (like omeprazole), please get yourself checked for H-pylori. It’s a simple test and an effective regiment of antibiotics will control it. I am not sure why but doctors don’t test for it unless you ask them.