Because of the good effect of omeprazole in treating stomach diseases, many people take omeprazole when they are uncomfortable, and some elderly patients with stomach diseases even take it for a long time.
Although omeprazole is effective in treating stomach diseases, it is not recommended to take it for a long time. Any medicine has side effects. When omeprazole is taken for a long time, the side effects are easy to find.
Three side effects of taking omeprazole for a long time are easy to find.
1. induced atrophic gastritis
Under normal circumstances, the stomach and intestines will automatically adjust their gastric acid concentration. Long-term use of omeprazole will lead to changes in the gastric acid environment in the body, resulting in insufficient gastric acid, which may affect the gastrointestinal function and may cause indigestion or induce the onset of atrophic gastritis.
If atrophic gastritis is not actively treated, it will further worsen the condition, damage the gastric mucosa and increase the risk of cancer. Long-term use of omeprazole leads to abdominal distension, diarrhea, abdominal pain or constipation.
Cause a rash
Although omeprazole is a commonly used drug to treat stomach diseases, it is not suitable for everyone. Some people are physically sensitive, and it is easy to cause skin diseases such as rash after taking omeprazole. In this case, you must stop taking the medicine immediately.
3. Loss of vitamin B 12
According to clinical statistics, almost all patients who take omeprazole for a long time have vitamin B 12 deficiency. Vitamin B 12 is an indispensable trace element in human body, which cannot be synthesized by itself and can only be supplemented by the outside world. Long-term use of omeprazole will aggravate the deficiency of vitamin B 12, leading to neurological dysfunction, which is not good for health. Therefore, patients taking omeprazole need to check the deficiency of vitamin B 12 regularly and supplement it in time.
Omeprazole can be taken properly in these cases.
For acid reflux, heartburn and obvious gastric mucosal damage, general doctors will recommend taking omeprazole, but after the symptoms of patients are relieved, they should follow the advice of professional doctors, appropriately reduce the dose or stop taking drugs, and do not take it for a long time.
Do not blindly take omeprazole for patients without definite diagnosis. First, check to find out the cause, so as to use drugs in a targeted manner and not to use drugs indiscriminately.