Zegerid

Generic Name: omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate (oh ME pray zol and SO dee um by KAR bon ate)

Brand Names: Zegerid

What is omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid your stomach produces. Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid that raises the pH in your stomach to keep the omeprazole from breaking down in stomach acid.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is used to treat ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid production.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate can change the way your body absorbs or eliminates certain other drugs. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.

This medication contains sodium bicarbonate, a form of salt. If you are on a low-salt or low-sodium diet, you may not be able to use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Talk with your doctor.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating a meal. If this medicine is given to a person who is fed through a nasogastric (NG) tube, the feeding should be stopped at least 3 hours before giving the medicine. Do not restart nasogastric feeding for at least 1 hour after giving omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

Take the capsule or powder for oral suspension only with water. Do not use any other type of liquid or food.

The 20-mg and the 40-mg forms of this medicine contain the same strength of sodium bicarbonate. Do not use two 20-mg capsules to equal one 40-mg capsule. Do not use two 20-mg powder packets to equal one 40-mg powder packet. If you do not use the exact capsule or powder packet your doctor has prescribed, you may receive too much sodium bicarbonate.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.

This medication contains sodium bicarbonate, a form of salt. Each capsule contains the equivalent of 300 mg of sodium. Each packet of powder contains the equivalent of 460 mg of sodium. If you are on a low-salt or low-sodium diet, you may not be able to use omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Talk with your doctor.

To make sure you can safely take omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  metabolic or respiratory alkalosis (usually after prolonged illness); or

  
  


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  low levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium levels in your blood.

  
  

Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole may increase your risk of bone fracture in the hip, wrist, or spine. This effect has occurred mostly in people who have taken the medication long term or at high doses, and in those who are age 50 and older. It is not clear whether omeprazole is the actual cause of an increased risk of fracture. Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone mineral density). FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. Omeprazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating a meal. If this medicine is given to a person who is fed through a nasogastric (NG) tube, the feeding should be stopped at least 3 hours before giving the medicine. Do not restart nasogastric feeding for at least 1 hour after giving omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Take the omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate capsule with a full glass of water. Do not use any other type of liquid or food. Do not open the capsule or empty the medicine powder from it. Swallow the capsule whole.

To use the powder form of this medicine, open a packet and pour all of the powder into a small cup with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water. Do not use any other type of liquid. Stir the mixture and drink it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

The 20-mg and the 40-mg forms of this medicine contain the same strength of sodium bicarbonate. Do not use two 20-mg capsules to equal one 40-mg capsule. Do not use two 20-mg powder packets to equal one 40-mg powder packet. If you do not use the exact capsule or powder packet your doctor has prescribed, you may receive too much sodium bicarbonate. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting.

What should I avoid while taking omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

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  easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

  
  


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  fast or slow heartbeats; or

  
  


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  low magnesium (dizziness, confusion, fast or uneven heart rate, jerking muscle movements, jittery feeling, muscle cramps, muscle weakness or limp feeling, cough or choking feeling, seizure).

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  headache;

  
  


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  nausea, stomach pain;

  
  


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  diarrhea or constipation;

  
  


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  white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips; or

  
  


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  mild fever.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn);

  
  


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  atazanavir (Reyataz);

  
  


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  cilostazol (Pletal);

  
  


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  clarithromycin (Biaxin);

  
  


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  clopidogrel (Plavix);

  
  


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  cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);

  
  


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  diazepam (Valium) or similar sedatives;

  
  


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  digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

  
  


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  disulfiram (Antabuse);

  
  


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  a diuretic (water pill);

  
  


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  iron supplements;

  
  


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  ketoconazole (Nizoral);

  
  


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  phenytoin (Dilantin);

  
  


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  tacrolimus (Prograf); or

  
  


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  warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Zegerid resources

• Zegerid Side Effects (in more detail)
• Zegerid Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Zegerid Drug Interactions
• Zegerid Support Group
• 13 Reviews for Zegerid - Add your own review/rating

• Zegerid Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Zegerid Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Zegerid MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Zegerid Consumer Overview


• Zegerid OTC Consumer Overview


• Zegerid OTC MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Zegerid with other medications

• Duodenal Ulcer
• Erosive Esophagitis
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
• GERD
• Stomach Ulcer

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate.

See also: Zegerid side effects (in more detail)