Omeprazole is extremely widely prescribed in the UK. It is commonly used for acid reflux and digestive complaints like GERD, stomach ulcers and protection against gastrointestinal bleeding in people taking certain medications. It belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which suppress the production of stomach acid. The problem is that PPI drugs come with a significant package of side effects, especially if taken long-term. To find out more, please read on …
Omeprazole was created in the 1980’s and physicians were told by the manufacturing drug companies that it was totally safe with no side effects - in fact, a godsend! About 35.6 million prescriptions were dispensed in England alone in 2025/26. Lansoprazole, a similar proton pump inhibitor, is prescribed even more frequently.
Doctors use Omeprazole and other PPIs for anything above the waist and below the neck. These conditions include:
*Various types of reflux
*Oesophageal problems
*Ulcers in the stomach, duodenum
*Protection from gastrointestinal bleeding from other medications
*Barretts oesophagus
*GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
Unfortunately, there is one little problem. PPIs have been shown to come with a range of potentially damaging side effects, especially if taken long-term.
Omeprazole Side Effects
Every mammal produces a substantial amount of stomach acid. We need stomach acid for two major reasons:
1.To help us break down, digest and absorb foods and nutrients.
2.To act as a first line of immune defence in the stomach to kill viruses, bacteria and fungi coming into the body via food. (During the first stages of the Covid pandemic, I encouraged people to optimise both stomach acid and Vitamin D levels to boost their immunity.)
Omeprazole and other PPIs are very powerful drugs that reduce stomach acid production to near zero. They are not approved for long-term use (more than a few weeks). The central recommendation from UK prescribing guidance is that PPIs should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose, for the shortest appropriate duration, with regular reviews of whether they are still needed. The serious consequences in turning off stomach acid, a vital digestive function in the body, are:
*Increased risk of gastrointestinal infections like H. pylori, fungus, Candida, C. difficile, Coxsackievirus, Echovirus, SIBO and parasites since the first line of immune defence on the gut is down.
*Increase in unfriendly microbes in the gut with all the health problems that brings.
*Inability to digest proteins properly with all the health problems this brings.
*Increased risk of bone fractures through inability to absorb minerals properly like calcium, magnesium and other minerals.
*Increase in deficiencies in vitamins i.e. Vitamin B12, vitamin C, B vitamins, Vitamin K.
*Increased risk of anaemia.
*Increased risk of dementia.
*Increased risk of kidney disease.
*Increased risk of gastric cancers. (You often hear people talk of wanting to alkalise the body, but cancers can thrive in alkaline too!).
*Increased risk of polyps, colitis, constipation.
*Increased risk of heart disease, including atrial fibrillation from too much stomach gas.
*Increased risk of anxiety - if you are unable to break down proteins into amino acids and on to neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, GABA etc, you may feel tired, dizzy and experience a low mood.
Get an Accurate Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of reflux, it is critically important to get an accurate diagnosis of what is going on. When you take a PPI to squash symptoms, but the symptoms keep coming back after you stop the PPI, think of checking the following:
1.Helicobacter pylori stomach infection. This is commonly tested via urea breath or stool antigen. I also use an advanced blood test that detects the more aggressive cancer-causing strains of H. pylori which produce the damaging CagA and VacA proteins.
2.Hypochlorhydria (too little stomach acid) Genetics or poor diet can contribute to poor stomach acid production, resulting in slowed clearance of food from the stomach, with the resulting pressure squirting food back up into the oesophagus and causing heartburn.
3.GERD (Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease) is a condition where stomach contents repeatedly flow backwards into the oesophagus, usually because the lower oesophageal sphincter muscle is too lax.
4.Silent Reflux (LPR - Laryngopharyngeal Reflux) occurs when stomach contents travel further upwards and affect throat, voice box and sometimes nasal passages.
5.Bile Reflux Disease - Bile is released into the small intestine to help break down and absorb dietary fats. Bile reflux occurs when bile flows backwards from the small intestine into the stomach and sometimes upwards into the oesophagus.
6.Hiatus hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes upwards through an opening in the diaphragm (called the hiatus) into the chest cavity. This can contribute significantly to GERD and acid reflux.
Find and Treat The Causes
Once you know what is actually happening, you can look for the triggers that are causing it. In my clinical experience, these can include:
*Poor diet full of processed carbohydrates and sugars.
*Lack of stomach acid.
*Eating food too quickly.
*Bile/gallbladder issues.
*Helicobacter pylori infection.
*Other gut infections i.e. SIBO, Coxsackie, Sars Cov-2, Echovirus etc.
*Oral infections including periodontal infection, cavitations (unhealed extraction sites) and root canals.
*Heavy metals in the mouth especially mercury in fillings, root fillings and crowns.
Note: Please do not discontinue any medication without the guidance of your GP. Discontinuing PPIs suddenly can trigger rebound reflux. This has be to done under supervision and gradually.
If you feel have been taking Omeprazole for a long time or have chronic upper digestive symptoms,
and wish to feel better, please get in touch with the Good Health Clinic on goodhealthclinic@outlook.com to request a free 30 minute Enquiry Call or book an appointment. Please note that an Enquiry call is not a consultation but an exploratory call to see if this is a clinical approach you wish to pursue.To your very good health,
Suzanne Jeffery (Nutritional Medicine Consultant)
M.A.(Oxon), BSc.(NMed), PGCE, GNC, BSEM, MNNA, CNHC
The Good Health Clinic at The Business Centre, 2, Cattedown Road, Plymouth PL4 0EG
Tel no: 07836 552936/ Answer phone: 01752 774755
Disclaimer:
All advice given out by Suzanne Jeffery and the Good Health Clinic is for general guidance and informational purposes only. All advice relating to other health professionals’ advice is for general guidance and information purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information provided with other sources. Patients and consumers should review the information carefully with their professional health care provider. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by other practitioners and physicians. Suzanne Jeffery and the Good Health Clinic will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.