Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate 40 mg/1100mg Capsules

What Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate is used for

Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate consists of two substances:
•    Omeprazole: belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors. They work by reducing the amount of acid that your stomach produces.
•    Sodium bicarbonate: an antacid
Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate is used to treat the following conditions only in adults treat ‘Gastro-esophageal reflux disease’ (GERD) and ulcers in stomach or intestine.
Do not take Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate:
•    If you are allergic to Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
•    If you are allergic to medicines containing other proton pump inhibitors.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate if any of the following happen to you before you start taking Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate or while you are taking it:
•    You lose a lot of weight for no reason and have problems swallowing.
•    You get stomach pain or indigestion.
•    You begin to vomit food or blood.
•    Your blood pressure is high.
•    You pass black stools (blood-stained feces).
•    You experience severe or persistent diarrhea.
•    You have severe liver problems.
•    You have metabolic alkalosis.
•    You have hypocalcemia.
Taking a proton pump inhibitor like Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate, especially over a period of more than one year, may slightly increase your risk of fracture in the hip, wrist or spine. Tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis).
Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. If you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate and contact a doctor immediately: severe allergic reaction or symptoms of liver problems. Other side effects include:
 
•    Headache
•    diarrhea, stomach pain
•    constipation, flatulence
•    Benign polyps in the stomach
•    Metabolic Alkalosis
•    Low levels of calcium in blood
•    Disturbed sleep
•    Skin rash and itchy skin
•    Blood problems
•    High levels of sodium in blood
•    Feeling agitated, confused or depressed
•    Taste changes
•    Suddenly feeling wheezy
•    Dry mouth
•    An inflammation of the inside of the mouth
•    Liver problems
•    Hair loss
•    Skin rash on exposure to sunshine
•    Joint pains
 
Other medicines and Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription. This is because Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines used for:
 
•    Fungal infection
•    heart problems
•    anxiety
•    epilepsy
•    tuberculosis
•    HIV infection
•    organ transplantation
•    mild depression
•    intermittent claudication
•    blood clots
•    cancer
 
How to take Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate

•    Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
•    Your doctor will tell you how many capsules to take and how long to take them for. This will depend on your condition and how old you are.
•    It is recommended that you take your capsules in the morning.
•    You can take your capsules with food or on an empty stomach.
•    Swallow your capsules whole with half a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the capsules.
This is because the capsules contain coated pellets which stop the medicine from being broken
down by the acid in your stomach. It is important not to damage the pellets.

How to store Omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate

•    Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
•    Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton, bottle label or blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
•    Do not store above 30°C.
•    Store this medicine in the original package (blister) or keep the bottle tightly closed in order to protect from moisture.