Side Effects of Omeprazole

If Lorenzo Lamas was king of the beds, Omeprazole is the king of the Gastric protectors. And he's still the king for the modest price of $2.42. It is unfortunate that the generic Viscolátex has not been invented (the Swedes have made a hint, but apparently it also has some lumbar adverse effects). To which I go, that I miss: omeprazole long term use side effects exist and live among us. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a drug.

What is omeprazole for?

The same for a broken that for a unstitched. It is the girl for all of the stomach and, among other missions, makes a workaround against gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and reflux. Perhaps the best known indication among young people is that of protector when administered jointly with medications that may be aggressive to the stomach such as NSAIDs (aspirin or ibuprofen). We talked about all this in the post about remedies for heartburn.

Why has the side effects of omeprazole been so much talked about?

A couple of years ago Omeprazole was the protagonist of juicy headlines that came to say something like: taking omeprazole can cause dementia. All this arose from an article published by the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) which established a link between people taking omeprazole and those with B12 deficiency.

The lack of vitamin B12, in addition to being associated with megalobástica anemia, can be one of the (multiple) origins of dementia. A dementia saw much more than an anemia, where it will stop, and in this case the association was simple:

1-omeprazole decreases the absorption of B12

2-B12 deficiency can cause dementia.

3-Omeprazole causes dementia.

And if we add that Omeprazole is the second most prescribed molecule in Spain (silver medal behind paracetamol and above ibuprofen), the media spree was insured. All against Omeprazole.

In case anyone remains concerned, the other side effects of omeprazole can be consulted on its technical data sheet and are usually mild and infrequent adverse reactions.

Why does Omeprazole decrease vitamin B12 absorption?

Omeprazole belongs to the group of so-called proton pump inhibitors. This cool name, as well as a heavy polygoner band, means that omeprazole inhibits or decreases the production of acid in the stomach.

Vitamin B12, on the other hand, goes through the helpless Damsel's life (also called Cobalamin, which is a very damsel-forsaken name) and needs to always go from the arm of a hombretón in the form of a protein. In food, vitamin B12 is well-grasped for its protein and when it reaches the stomach, thanks to hydrochloric acid, it is released from its arm. Once free, as our cobalamin, as well as a helpless damsel, is a little fresh, changes boyfriend and joins another new protein, the intrinsic Factor. The intrinsic Factor is who is going to take you for a walk through the organism so that it can be absorbed.

We could say that Omeprazole is a short-rolls that modifying the PH prevents vitamin B12 from releasing its protein and changing grooming.

I assure you that all this metaphor of the helpless damsel and the intrinsic factor wins if you see the theatre that we assemble in the writing of 20minutes to represent...

Are there only cobalamin absorption problems with omeprazole?

Omeprazole is short-rolls but all of its rich siblings are also: Lansoprazole, Pantroprazol or Omeprazole. And let's not forget about your Valencia cousins, Famotidine and Ranitidine.

Is vitamin B12 deficiency common?

In general, vitamin B12 deficiency is not too common for several reasons:

1-It is a vitamin found in foods of frequent consumption like eggs, milk, meat and fish (in this case it is advisable that the people who do not consume these foods, or consume them in little quantity, are supplement).

2-In the liver there is a vitamin B12 store that can be pulled in case of shortage. In addition, there is an interesting recycling system by which much of the B12 that secretes the liver through bile is reused through a very efficient circulatory system. We have already commented that the vitamin B12 is very fresh and very savvy and before going through the sewer it hangs on the arm of another. That's what it is.

3 – In the event that this deficiency exists, it has a quick and inexpensive solution with supplementation (for example with the classic blisters of Optovite or similar that are administered on a weekly basis).

How do we know if we have low levels of vitamin B12?

It is not too easy for one to know how vitamin B12 is going because, for starters, vitamin B12 does not appear in routine analytics (as iron appears, for example). In this case, the doctor must specifically request that vitamin B12 be measured.

The thing is complicated a tad because although the data of this vitamin in the analytical show adequate levels, can be a false positive. Why? Among other causes, there are foods (such as some algae and yeasts) that contain vitamin B12 analogues, that is, molecules with a similar structure that make up the results but are not really able to fulfill that function in the organism. I mean, you look at the analytics and you're so happy thinking that everything is in order, but you may not really be.

To really know what the levels of vitamin B12 are, you have to do another kind of less frequent tests yet. The nutritionist Lucia, in her blog tell me you eat, explains in detail what evidence is. Lucia has written three fantastic entries dedicated to B12, which I recommend especially if you are health professionals.

What foods are rich in B12 and should you take to avoid the deficit?

eggs, milk, meat and fish are the main source of Cobalamin. There are no plant foods that contain vitamin B12 in significant quantities (if it is contaminated). The algae and yeasts attributed to the presence of vitamin B12 actually contain that fake vitamin B12 we were talking about.

Vegetarians, especially those who do not eat eggs and milk, should get cobalamin either by fortified foods or by supplementation. Securing the right levels through fortified foods is complicated: you have to juggle drinks, soy yogurts and fortified cereals, which on the other hand may not be convenient to abuse in the diet. If we consider the non-negligible price of these products, in my opinion supplements with cyanocobalamin are the most convenient and economical way to ensure adequate levels of vitamin B12.

And yes, if anyone is thinking about it, the vegetarians who take omeprazole should pay special attention to this point. Fortunately this is an easy-to-solve contingency.

Is it really that simple that omeprazole produces dementia?

If we use omeprazole as a gastric protector occasionally or for a not too long period of time, in principle we should not worry because the odds of lowering vitamin B12 levels significantly are very low.

If we use Omeprazole for life (as with many older people as a result of their polymedication), the doctor should assess the case individually and decide if some rest of the antiulcerous is done, if it is necessary to supplement with vitamin B12, or if you don't need to do anything. In general, the risk of using omeprazole is generally considered low compared to the benefit obtained.

What would be some of the symptoms?

Although I have commented that really the odds of being affected are low, if someone who reads this post is worried because it has been taking omeprazole for a long time and also does not feed too well, these are some of the symptoms that usually appear in the first place: tingling, numbness, loss of sensitivity or disorientation, loss of reflexes or lack of coordination. All this can be the first step towards schizoid or similar to Alzheimer's pictures and early detection is fundamental. Before the first symptom of this type should go to the doctor.

The Council of the pharmacy:

Today more than ever: tranquility and good food.

Peace of mind because we must always put into quarantine any scandalous headline about the imminent death of drug use and, before making hasty decisions, read the small print. And if in doubt, consult your pharmacist.

Good Food because a balanced diet is key in preventing many types of illnesses, even those that, as in this case, could be drug-induced. In short, eating under conditions is much more complicated than omeprazole posing a threat. If we suspect that our food is not the most appropriate or does not meet the requirements, supplementation would be indicated. Specifically the excess of vitamin B12 is excreted by urine so it would be better to pass than not to arrive.

Fortunately, a study published by SEFAC a year after the publication of those tabloids headlines, concludes that the population has lost that media fear to the side effects of omeprazole and that care physicians Primary continue to Prescribe normally.