Today gastritis - an inflammatory disease of the stomach mucosa - comes to the forefront among pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract( GIT), therefore its treatment is one of the main directions of the fundamental medical science in the field of gastroenterology.
According to reviews of leading gastroenterologists, in modern medicine, the drug of the first stage with gastritis is omeprazole. It belongs to the group of proton pump inhibitors, which have a depressing effect on the production of gastric acid( HCl) by the stomach cells.
Each capsule contains omeprazole( in the form of pellets) in an amount of 0.02 grams, as well as various auxiliary compounds( lactose, sodium lauryl sulfate, sugar, mannitol, etc.).
Pharmacological action of omeprazole in gastritis
When entering the stomach, omeprazole under the influence of an acidic medium is converted to an active metabolite - sulfenamide, which suppresses the activity of the enzyme H + / K + -ATPase, with the participation of which acid is formed. As a result, the irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa decreases markedly and the process of its recovery is accelerated.
This drug is used in various conditions associated with hypersecretion of HCl, in particular as a monotherapy for gastritis( a hyperacid form), as well as in a combined regimen for the treatment of inflammation of the stomach against the background of Helicobacter pylori infection.
How to drink omeprazole for gastritis?
Any prescription of omeprazole is made by a specialist who also selects an appropriate treatment regimen for how to take the medicine: dosage, periodicity of reception, duration of the course of therapy. In gastritis( uncomplicated course), the drug should be drunk at a dose of 20 mg( in the form of a capsule or tablet) once before meals or directly with food with a small amount of water. The course of therapy is 1 - 2 weeks. If the chronic form of gastritis recurs, the drug should be drunk 1 capsule 1 to 2 times a day for 2 to 3 weeks, correcting the treatment if necessary. The question of how to take the drug with gastritis associated with Helicobacter Pylopi is decided by the doctor supervising the patient: in such cases, omeprazole is not prescribed as monotherapy, but is included in a combined therapy with the antibiotic Clarithromycin or Amoxicillin and Metronidazole( Metragil).
Side effects and contraindications
Reviews of patients who drank omeprazole for gastritis, showed a minimal amount of side effects. There may be reversible gastrointestinal disorders( diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, gastralgia), the nervous system( headache, insomnia or, conversely, drowsiness, depression), musculoskeletal system( myalgia, muscle weakness), as well as skin and allergic manifestations: itching, hives, etc. In any case, how to take omeprazole correctly and without negative consequences, you can consult a doctor.
Contraindications for the use of omeprazole is the period of pregnancy, because there is no reliable data on the penetration of the drug through the placental barrier and breast milk, severe forms of liver and kidney disease, age less than 12 years, as well as hypo- and anacid gastritis. More detailed recommendations on how to take omeprazole with gastritis and the presence of concomitant serious illnesses, can be obtained individually at a reception with a specialist.
Omeprazole, according to the association of gastroenterologists, is an effective tool in the treatment of pathological conditions on the background of hypersecretion of hydrochloric acid. Therefore, the use of this drug is able to largely solve the problems associated with the course of hyperacid gastritis, in a fairly short period of time.