What Are the Long-Term Effects of Prilosec?

Prilosec is a proton-pump inhibitor (generic name omeprazole). It is used to treat frequent heartburn. Many patients suffering from gastric pain and chronic heartburn take Prilosec for relief. The packaging says to discontinue use after 14 days, but many people using the medication find their symptoms returning after they discontinue use.

How Prilosec Works

• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) significantly limit the production of gastric acid in the stomach. Many people suffer from conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid, causing heartburn, reflux and gastric pain. The proton pump is the last stage in a system of enzymes that delivers gastric acid to the stomach. The PPI blocks the mechanism with a positively charged hydrogen ion.

Long-term Use

• Due to the warning on the packaging, many people taking Prilosec wonder about the effects of long-term use. The results are somewhat inconclusive. A long-term study on rats was conducted over 2 years. The findings suggest that there may be a correlation between long-term usage of the drug and carcinogenic gastric tumors. However, much more research needs to be done before this can be corroborated. There is also the concern that the stomach lining could atrophy from lack of gastric acid, but this is pure speculation with no corroborating evidence.

Medical Opinions

• Most physicians say that is currently considered safe to continue Prilosec indefinitely, especially if the individual is not experiencing any side effects and the drug is effectively controlling acid production.
  The drug is relatively new in the United States, but has been available for many years prior in Great Britain, and no cases of medical issues arising from long-term use have been reported.

Other Concerns

• Prilosec may cause diarrhea and in rare cases headaches. If you are experiencing problems with Prilosec, try other prescription medications.

Before Taking Prilosec

• Before taking Prilosec or any other drug, consult a physician.