Omeprazole Side Effects

Omeprazole is the generic name for the brand drug Prilosec. The medicine is prescribed to treat the several conditions related to esophagus, stomach and intestines. This includes H. pylori infections, gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), and ulcers. It is also used for healing the damage caused to the esophagus by the stomach acids. This medicine is a part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It’s an effective medicine but prolong or overdose of omeprazole can lead to many side effects. Here are some of the omeprazole side effects.

The most common side effect of omeprazole are diarrhea and vomiting. Other side effects of omeprazole include headaches, dizziness, vertigo, light heartedness and hallucinations. Inflammation of mouth, trouble in sleeping, fever, constipation and hypersensitivity like sudden taste change can be some of the other side effects of omeprazole

Skin Itching
Overdose of omeprazole can irritate the skin and cause disorders like itching, skin rashes, excessive sweating and dermatitis. Uriticaria is one of the common disorder caused by overdose of Omeprazole. 

Muscles and Joints
Regular consumption of omeprazole can cause muscle weakness, which can eventually lead to arthritis. Frequent joint pains are also one of the side effects of omeprazole.

Eyesight
Prolong use of omeprazole or over dose of omeprazole can cause damage to the vision. Blurred vision, watery, weak and strained eyes are some of the few side effects of this medicine. If you experience blurred vision or strained, then you should seek immediate medical attention as eyes are most fragile part of our body.

Weight Gain
Swelling and bloating is one of the common side effects of taking omeprazole. Swelling shouldn’t be confused with weight gain. A patient taking omeprazole might have his/her ankles, face and legs bloated. It is water retention, which causes swelling and bloating. Less than 1% percent people who have used omeprazole have reported weight gain as side effect of the medicine. Gaining weight rapidly is something abnormal. If you are rapidly putting on weight and are using omeprazole then you should immediately seek medical attention. It can be one of the dangerous side effects of the medicine.

Mood Swings
Sometimes medication like omeprazole can cause side effects like mood swings. You might find it strange but it’s true that omeprazole can lead to mood swings. You might feel irritated, agitated, aggressive or weak sometimes.

Though hair loss is a rare complaint in people taking Omeprazole, but if you are on this medicine and experience sudden change in hair fall then you should consult a doctor. This might be one of the side effects of Omeprazole.

Tip: Though omeprazole is available as over-the-counter drug, people experiencing chronic heartburn, having trouble swallowing, recurrent chest pain, nausea or vomiting should consult a doctor before taking omeprazole.