omeprazole advice from chemist

Posted , 8 users are following.

I have a wonderful chemist who is very supportive and pro-active in looking after his customers.

After my husband picked up my latest prescriptions for me, the chemist asked that I come in for a consultation this morning.

We went through all my meds, when I take them, general health etc.

What came out of it, which I want to share, is that if you take omeprazole, you should take it on its own very first thing in the morning. The acid in your stomach is then clear of drink, meds etc, and it will work so much better. I have now put my tablets by my bed so that I take it as I wake up.

If you happen to also take Alendronic Acid, which has to be taken on an empty stomach, take that on your chosen day, and take the omeprazole when you have a period during the day between meals. As its just one day per week you take the AA, it's more important to get that into your system.

He spent about half an hour with me in his little consulting room, all at his own suggestion. What more can you ask for! (Well, I could ask that my GP Practice was just as supportive, but that's another story).

3 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Wow your pharmacist sounds brilliant! Mine is hopeless, half the time when I go to pick up my medication which I have on automatic repeat it's not ready. It took three visits last time. Thanks for letting us know about the omeprazole, I will definitely start to take it first thing.
  • Posted

    Good piece of advice Susanne.  The other one is not taking any calcuim at the same time as preds.  I believe it was Eileen who has a little ditto 'Preds for breakfast calcuim for Lunch and supper'   I would keep a close hold of your Pharmacist, mine aslo does regular checkups and queries if I have not repeated a presciption -  he can see on the shop server just what I have had over the months.
    • Posted

      Yes, you are correct. Take the calcium outside of the Preds. I take mine at lunch and before I go to bed, which my chemist agreed with.
    • Posted

      Your saying I should not take my multi vitamin at the time I take my steroids in the morning. Take the multi vitamin at lunch. Thanks for the info
    • Posted

      Judy, it's not a multi vitamin, but AdCal, calcium and vitamin D, to protect your bones when on high dose of steroids and it stops the Pred from absorbing as well as it should.
  • Posted

    What a helpful guy. I have a pharmacist who is really helpful too. I think he quite likes being asked about drugs, less boring than sorting out prescriptions. It is a pity more people don't talk to their pharmacists as they seem a lot more knowledgable on drugs than your average GP, and you don't have to book an appointment weeks in advance either. 

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