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Normal dosage

Posted , 3 users are following.

SuRich
SuRich

My doctor has put me on 2 x20mg twice a day, 80mg in total because of acid reflux, I now suffer after the removal of my gall bladder. I have been on this dose for 6 months now and have started suffering with severe pains in my stomach. G.P. Sent me for gastroscope and ultra sound but nothing showed up. Now waiting for results from blood tests.

Anyway, could the stomach pains/cramps be caused by the Omeprazole ? I have read many of the posts on this site and haven't noticed anyone being prescribed as much as 80mg per day, is this excessive?

i would love to hear your thoughts as I am getting really fed up with the pain.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Spindles
    Spindles SuRich

    Posted

    I was prescribed Omeprazole but haven't taken it for a while because it didn't seem to be helping, within half an hour I'd get heartburn so what was the point?  My doseage was 1 x 10mg capsule a day.  I've had a look at the leaflet and nowhere that I can see does it say 80mg a day.  The usual adult dose is given as 20mg once a day for 4-8 weeks then possibly 40mg for another 8 weeks for heartburn/acid etc. Duodenal ulcers dose is 20mg once a day for two weeks, increased to 40mg once a day for 4 weeks if not healed.   Same for gastric ulcers, with preventative dose 10mg or 20mg once a day.   The highest dose that I can see is for acid caused by a growth in the pancreas and that is 60mg a day.

    As you can see, 80mg is way too much, unless there are particular circumstances that the doctor thinks need a higher dose.  Did you know there's an increased risk of bone fracture when on Omeprazole? This is one of the reasons I gave up taking it as I have osteoporosis as it is and fractured my femur last year just slipping over in the garden so I didn't want to make my bones even worse.

    Have you tried not taking them for a week or so, or at least lowering the dose.  Maybe if you went to the pharmacist and asked them if they think the dose is too high, at least you will have a professional ojpinion on it.

     I still get heartburn and some days are worse than others but I am trying to control it.   I chew gum which seems to help a bit, I am trying to not get too stressed out as that seems to make it worse, even when I don't think I am stressed I find that on a day when I am rushing around doing things it is worse.  Posture has a bit to do with it as well so I am trying to stand more upright and not slouch and I don't wear tight belts or trousers.  My advice is to go to see a pharmacist and then at least you will have some ammunition to fire at your GP if you are told that 80mg a day is too much. Hope this helps.

    • SuRich
      SuRich Spindles

      Posted

      Thank you very much for your reply to my query. It really is much appreciated.

      i decided last night not to take 2 x 20mg as prescribed, but took 20mg instead. I did the same this morning. I had read the leaflet in the tablet box and this is one of the reasons that I thought the dosage I'm on is high.

      i have a friend who is a pharmacist and I asked her about the dosage. She basically said in a roundabout way that she wouldn't like to contradict the G.P., but I will pop into our local chemists and ask them.

      As far as I know I'm only on Omeprazole because of acid reflux, severe burping and, because my gall bladder has gone, to coat my stomach protecting it from acid.

      The pain in my stomach is pretty much constant and very frightening, especially at 3 O'clock in the morning when you can't sleep because of it.

      G.P. is now thinking I may have bowel cancer, he has done blood tests, no results yet, and I am waiting to have a colonoscope done. I've don't have pain in lower abdomen, never past blood as far as I know, but very occasionally have diarrhoea (I think I have spelt that wrong). I have suddenly developed dermatitis right down the centre of my spine, have been given a steroid cream for this. I noticed that a change in bowel habits, constipation or diahorrea, and dermatitis are listed under the more common side effects of Omeprazole.

      I have decided to cut the dosage down to 40mg a day and, depending on what happens, cut it down further perhaps the week after that. If doing this  gets rid of the pain I will be very happy, but must have serous discussion with my g.p. about coming off this tablet.

      Thanks again for your help.

    • SuRich
      SuRich Spindles

      Posted

      I took your advice and went to see a pharmacist. He was very helpful saying that he had never heard of such a large dose of Omeprazole and certainly not for such a long period, 7 months. The pharmacist adviced that I get to my G.P. A.S.A.P. 

      Got to my doctor's this morning and he agreed that the dosage was far to high and I had probably found the reasons for all my pains, cramps change in bowel habits etc. and to stop taking Omeprazole completely for a week and see if all my symptoms clear up. My G.P. didn't put me on this high dose, but he had not noticed that another G.P. at the practice had.

      Anyway we haven't cancelled the cancer tests yet, just postponed them for a week to see if my symptoms go. I think I maybe living on antacids for a week but this is a small price to pay if it means no more pain.

      So thanks Spindles again for your help.

  • Spindles
    Spindles SuRich

    Posted

    I'm so glad you've been to see a pharmacist and then your doctor and I hope that staying off the omeprazole will really help.  I can't understand why the other doctor prescribed such a high dose and you would think that there would be some sort of alarm that would trigger if a doctor put in the wrong doseage so that it never got to the patient actually taking the medication.  I'm also surprised that a pharmacist didn't pick up on the dose either as they print out the labels so surely much have some way of checking during the process.  

    It must be very worrying for you to think that you might have bowel cancer and I really hope that everything is "normal" and that your problems settle down because you have given up omeprazole.

    • SuRich
      SuRich Spindles

      Posted

      Our doctor's surgery is a small village practice that has it's own dispensary. The receptionist makes up the prescriptions and of course if you phone up for a repeat prescription you are given it without the doctor see it or authorising it. For something like Omeprazole a doctor will ok repeat prescriptions for a year. After that time you will be called in for a review. 

      Can not understand how the mistake on dosage was made. Perhaps the doc thought 2 x 20mg per day, but instead wrote 2 x 20mg twice a day.

      I'm guessing, I will probably never know. I'm looking forward to a pain free future.

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