Omeprazole and Sodium Bicarbonate

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is a combination medicine used to treat heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

This medicine is also used to treat certain type of ulcers, or to promote healing of erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Heartburn can mimic early symptoms of a heart attack. Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain that spreads to your jaw or shoulder and you feel anxious or light-headed.

You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to omeprazole or sodium bicarbonate, or if:

• you had breathing problems, kidney problems, or a severe allergic reaction after taking this medicine in the past; or
• you are also taking any medication that contains rilpivirine (Edurant, Juluca, Complera, Odefsey).

This medicine contains sodium bicarbonate, a form of salt. Each capsule contains the equivalent of 300 mg of sodium. Each packet of powder contains the equivalent of 460 mg of sodium. If you are on a low-salt diet, you may not be able to use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Talk with your doctor.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have:

• a rare kidney disorder called Bartter's syndrome;
• liver disease;
• any allergies;
• heart failure;
• problems with acid-base (pH) balance in your body;
• low levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium levels in your blood;
• if you are on a low-sodium diet; or
• if you are of Asian descent.

You may be more likely to have a broken bone in your hip, wrist, or spine while taking a proton pump inhibitor long-term or more than once per day. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is for short-term use only, usually 4 to 8 weeks. Erosive esophagitis may take longer to heal. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating a meal.

Take the omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate capsule with a full glass of water. Do not use any other type of liquid or food. Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.

To use the powder form, open a packet and pour all of the powder into a small cup with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water. Do not use any other type of liquid. Stir and drink this mixture right away. Add a little more water to the glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

Do not use two 20-mg capsules to equal one 40-mg capsule. Do not use two 20-mg powder packets to equal one 40-mg powder packet. If you do not use the exact capsule or powder packet your doctor has prescribed, you may receive too much sodium bicarbonate.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use if you are giving this medicine to a person who is fed through a nasogastric (NG) tube. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, fast heartbeats, sweating, vomiting, dry mouth, and warmth or tingling.

This medicine can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine.

If you take this medicine long-term, ask your doctor if you should also use calcium supplements. Also ask your doctor about sources of calcium in your diet from milk or other dairy products. Getting too much calcium while taking omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may be harmful to your kidneys.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• new or unusual pain in your wrist, back, hip, or thigh;
• muscle twitching or tremor;
• numbness or tingling in your face, arms, or legs;
• confusion, dizziness;
• a seizure;
• low magnesium--dizziness, irregular heartbeats, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, cough or choking feeling;
• kidney problems--fever, rash, nausea, loss of appetite, joint pain, urinating less than usual, blood in your urine, weight gain;
• new or worsening symptoms of lupus--joint pain, and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight; or
• vitamin B12 deficiency--shortness of breath, feeling lightheaded, irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness, pale skin, tiredness, mood changes.

Taking this medicine long-term may cause you to develop stomach growths called fundic gland polyps. Talk with your doctor about this risk.

If you use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate for longer than 3 years, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor about how to manage this condition if you develop it.

Common side effects may include:

• headache;
• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, gas; or
• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate, especially:

• clopidogrel;
• cyclosporine;
• digoxin;
• methotrexate;
• rifampin; or
• St. John's wort.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.