Losec

What Is Losec Used For?

Losec is a brand of Omeprazole from AstraZeneca. It is a medication used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as heartburn.

At Prescription Doctor, we offer standard Losec 20mg capsules and Losec MUPS 20mg capsules. You can also get generic omeprazole from our online service.

You can safely order Losec capsules online from our UK pharmacy. If your order is approved before 3pm on a weekday, our pharmacy will dispatch your order the same day for next-day, discreet delivery.

What is Heartburn?

Heartburn is a condition characterised by a burning sensation around the chest. It is caused by acid reflux, when stomach acid finds its way up the oesophagus. This process begins with the relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter, a muscular ring that connects the stomach to the oesophagus.

GORD is the acronym given for persistent heartburn.

There are a number of potential triggers of heartburn, though it can be difficult to pinpoint your triggers.

Some common triggers of heartburn include:

• Acidic food (tomatoes)
• Alcohol
• Citrus (oranges, lemons)
• Coffee
• High-fat food (cheese, nuts)
• Onions and garlic
• Pain relief medicines (ibuprofen, codeine, aspirin)
• Spicy food

One method of determining a potential trigger of heartburn is to keep a food diary. Keep a record of the meals you eat, the time you ate, and any activities you did before and after eating them. For example, whether you had a nap after a large meal or if you eat straight after exercising.

Next to each meal, take a note of whether you experienced heartburn, how long it lasted and a rating of the pain you experienced from 0 (indicating no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). Do take your food diary with you to your doctor's appointment, as it can help them assess your condition and provide actionable steps on how to prevent or treat your symptoms.

It is essential to treat chronic heartburn, as it can cause serious damage to oesophageal cells, potentially leading to a condition called Barrett's Oesophagus.

In rare cases, Barrett's Oesophagus can develop into oesophageal cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, the risk of oesophageal cancer in patients with Barrett's Oesophagus is greatly reduced by up to 71% by using proton pump inhibitors, such as Losec, to treat GORD and heartburn.

How does Losec work?

Losec contains a proton pump inhibitor known as omeprazole. It prevents cells in the stomach from producing excessive stomach acid, which can increase the risk of developing heartburn and GORD symptoms.

Losec's suppression of acid production is through H+/K+ ATPase enzyme inhibition at the stomach parietal cell secretory surface.

By blocking the enzyme, the cells produce less acid, reducing the risk of excess acid rising up the oesophagus.

How long does Losec take to work?

Omeprazole, the active ingredient in Losec capsules, can take 2 or 3 days to start working.

How do I take Losec?

You should always take Losec as prescribed.

The doctor will determine an appropriate course of treatment for you, taking into account your age and medical condition.

Losec 20mg capsules should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.

Do not crush or chew Losec 20mg capsules.

If you are unsure about how you should take Losec, consult your doctor or pharmacist for assistance.

Side effects and cautions

Before taking Losec, we encourage you to read the patient information leaflet (PIL) enclosed with your medicine for more information regarding the safety of this medicine.

The patient information leaflet for Losec MUPS can be read online.

If you have any questions or concerns about the information presented in the patient information leaflet, please consult your doctor or a pharmacist.

Allergies

Do not take Losec if you are allergic to:

• Any of the ingredients of Losec (listed in the patient information leaflet)
• Omeprazole or similar medicines containing proton pump inhibitors (pantoprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole)

Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Rash (hives)
• Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, and throat

Contraindications

Do not take Losec if you:

• Are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used for HIV infection)

You should inform our doctor of all the medicines you take, including those prescribed to you, bought over the counter, and health supplements.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Before taking Loesc, inform your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant or breastfeeding. Our doctor will be able to determine whether Losec is safe for you to take while breastfeeding.

Side effects

All medicines carry the potential to cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the patient information leaflet (PIL), which comes enclosed with your medicine, before taking Losec.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• Benign polyps in the stomach
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Flatulence
• Headache
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Changes in blood tests that check how the liver is working
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• General feeling of malaise (feeling unwell)
• Insomnia
• Raised skin rash (hives)
• Skin itching
• Swelling of the feet and ankles
• Tingling of the extremities (pins and needles)
• Vertigo (spinning sensation)

This is not an exhaustive list of side effects. For further information on the side effects of this medicine, please refer to the patient information leaflet (PIL).

Reporting side effects

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Speak to your doctor before taking Losec if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you become pregnant while taking Losec, inform your doctor as soon as possible.

Losec does pass through breast milk in small amounts, though it is unlikely to affect the development of your child. Nonetheless, you should speak to your doctor before taking Losec if you are breastfeeding.

Your doctor can determine the safety of Losec for you and your baby if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Other safety information

Always speak to your doctor before you buy Losec online from Prescription Doctor.

Always keep medicine out of the sight and reach of children and pets.

Never take Losec past the expiry date printed on the packaging. The date refers to the last day of the specified month.

Do not discard medicine down the household drain or into the wastewater. Take any unwanted or expired medication to your local pharmacy and ask them to dispose of it safely on your behalf.

Never share your medicine with anyone else, even if they are experiencing the same symptoms as you.

Frequently asked questions