Losec

What is Losec?

Losec is a brand of omeprazole used to treat the symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), such as heartburn. It belongs to a group of medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Losec is available with a prescription from a registered clinician.

At Prescription Doctor, we offer standard Losec 20mg capsules, which you swallow, or Losec MUPS 20mg tablets, which you also swallow whole but contain tiny pellets. You can also get generic omeprazole from our online service.

How Does Losec Work?

Losec contains the active ingredient omeprazole, a type of proton pump inhibitor. It works by stopping the tiny proton pumps in the stomach lining from releasing too much acid. This helps to relieve symptoms such as heartburn, reduces irritation, and allows damaged tissues time to heal.

By reducing gastric acid secretion, Losec can make reflux less acidic and can help relieve the irritation and symptoms it causes.

How Long Does Losec Take to Work?

Losec can start reducing stomach acid production within one to two hours of taking your first dose, but it can take 1 to 4 days for you to notice the full effects. If you have damaged stomach, oesophageal, or duodenal cells, it can take 4 to 8 weeks to fully heal while taking Losec.

How Effective is Losec for Heartburn?

Clinical trials show that Losec's active ingredient, omeprazole, provides fast, effective relief from stomach acid production, with maximum benefit achieved within 4 days of starting treatment. Research shows that 20 mg of omeprazole reduced stomach acidity by at least 80% on average.

In another clinical trial which investigated the effectiveness of omeprazole in people with a history of heartburn, 62% of people given 20 mg of omeprazole had no heartburn after 7 days and 74% had no heartburn after 27 days, compared to 41% and 49% given 10 mg of omeprazole.

How to Take Losec

Take Losec first thing in the morning, either with food or on an empty stomach. Swallow Losec capsules or MUPS tablets whole with half a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the capsules or tablets, as this may prevent the medicine from breaking down properly.

If you have trouble swallowing capsules or tablets, you can do the following:

• Losec capsules: Open the capsules and swallow the contents directly with half a glass of water or put the contents into a glass of still water, acidic fruit juice (apple, orange, or pineapple), or applesauce. Stir the mixture just before swallowing, and swallow it immediately or within 30 minutes. Then rinse the glass with half a glass of water and drink it to ensure you have taken all of the medicine.
• Losec MUPS gastro-resistant tablets: Break the tablet and disperse it into a glass containing a spoonful of still water, acidic fruit juice (apple, orange, or pineapple), or applesauce. Stir the mixture just before swallowing and swallow it immediately or within 30 minutes. Then rinse the glass with half a glass of water and drink it to ensure you have taken all of the medicine.

Note that you should not take Losec MUPS tablets or capsules with milk or fizzy water. Do not chew or crush the solid pieces in the drink, as they contain the medicine. If you are unsure about how to take Losec, speak to your doctor, clinician, or pharmacist for more information.

Losec Dosage Information

Losec can be prescribed in different doses depending on why you are taking it. The usual Losec doses are:

If You Forget to Take Losec

If you forget to take a dose of Losec, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose and take your usual dose as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If You Take Too Much Losec

If you take more Losec than you have been prescribed, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist straight away for advice. You may experience side effects such as nausea, headaches, and stomach pain.

Losec Side Effects and Cautions

Losec can cause side effects in some people. That is why it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet provided with your medication and discuss any concerns with the clinician before taking Losec. By familiarising yourself with the potential adverse effects of Losec (omeprazole), you will be better equipped to manage them and know when you may need to get medical attention.

Potential Side Effects of Losec

Not everyone who takes Losec will experience side effects, but they are usually mild, temporary and easy to manage at home. The side effects of Losec capsules and MUPS gastro-resistant tablets are similar because they contain the same active ingredient, omeprazole.

The above table does not contain a full list of possible side effects. More details can be found within the Patient Information Leaflets for Losec capsules and Losec MUPS tablets. You can also report any adverse reactions that you experience to your clinician or by using the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. This could help provide more information about the safety profile of Losec.

Serious Side Effects of Losec

Rarely or very rarely, Losec can cause serious side effects. If you get any of the following, stop taking Losec and contact a doctor straight away, or in an emergency, call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E:

• Severe allergic reaction: sudden wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, rash, fainting or difficulties swallowing.
• Skin reactions: reddening of the skin with blisters or peeling, severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals, which could be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis.
• Drug hypersensitivity syndrome: widespread rash, high body temperature, and enlarged lymph nodes.
• Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis: red, scaly widespread rash with bumps under the skin and blisters accompanied by a fever, which usually appear at the start of treatment.
• Liver problems: yellow skin, dark urine, and tiredness.

Losec Warnings and Interactions

Losec effectively treats GORD and its associated symptoms, such as heartburn, but it may not suit everyone. Losec can interact with other medicines you are taking or can be unsafe if you already have certain medical conditions. Do not take Losec if you are:

• Allergic to omeprazole or any other ingredients listed in the medicine
• Allergic to medicines containing other proton pump inhibitors, such as pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, or esomeprazole
• Taking a medicine containing nelfinavir that is taken to treat HIV

Precautions Before Taking Losec

Talk to your clinician or doctor before taking Losec. The medication may hide the symptoms of other conditions or diseases, so seek medical attention if any of the following occurs either during treatment or before you start taking it:

• You experience rapid weight loss for no reason and have trouble swallowing
• You get indigestion or stomach pain
• You begin to vomit blood or food
• You pass black stools (blood-stained faeces)
• You experience severe or persistent diarrhoea
• You have severe liver problems
• You have ever had a skin reaction after treatment with a medicine similar to Losec
• You are due to have a Chromogranin A blood test
• You get a rash on your skin, especially in areas exposed to the sun, as you may need to stop treatment

Losec and Other Medicines

Before taking Losec, tell your clinician if you are taking any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications, because Losec can affect how some medicines work, and some medicines can affect Losec. Do not take Losec if you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir that is used to treat HIV infections.

Tell the clinician if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole or voriconazole (used to treat infections caused by a fungus)
• Digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
• Diazepam (used to treat anxiety, relax muscles or in epilepsy)
• Phenytoin (used in epilepsy)
• Blood-thinning medicines, such as warfarin or other vitamin K blockers
• Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• Atazanavir (used to treat HIV infection)
• Tacrolimus (in cases of organ transplantation)
• St John's wort (used to treat mild depression)
• Cilostazol (used to treat intermittent claudication)
• Saquinavir (used to treat HIV infection)
• Clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clots)
• Erlotinib (used to treat cancer)
• Methotrexate (a chemotherapy medicine used in high doses to treat cancer)

Long-Term Use of Losec

If you take Losec for longer than one year, your clinician or doctor may keep you under regular surveillance. Ensure that you report any new or exceptional symptoms and circumstances whenever you see them.

Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as Losec, especially for more than one year, can slightly increase the risk of fracturing the hip, wrist, or spine. Tell your clinician or doctor if you have osteoporosis or are taking corticosteroids (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis).

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you might be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking Losec.

Omeprazole is excreted in breast milk but is unlikely to affect your baby at therapeutic doses. Your doctor will advise whether it is safe for you to take Losec if you are breastfeeding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Losec