Generic name: Omeprazole Oral Suspension [ oh-MEP-ra-zole ]
Brand names: First-Omeprazole, Omeprazole+Syrspend SF Alka
Drug class: Proton pump inhibitors

Uses of Omeprazole Oral Suspension:

• It is used to treat or prevent GI (gastrointestinal) ulcers caused by infection.
• It is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; acid reflux).
• It is used to treat heartburn.
• It is used to treat syndromes caused by lots of stomach acid.
• It is used to treat or prevent ulcers of the swallowing tube (esophagus).
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Omeprazole Oral Suspension?

• If you have an allergy to omeprazole or any other part of omeprazole oral suspension.
• If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Atazanavir, clopidogrel, nelfinavir, rifampin, rilpivirine, or St. John's wort.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with omeprazole oral suspension.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take omeprazole oral suspension with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Omeprazole Oral Suspension?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take omeprazole oral suspension. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take omeprazole oral suspension.
• Call your doctor if you have throat pain, chest pain, very bad belly pain, trouble swallowing, or signs of a bleeding ulcer like black, tarry, or bloody stools, throwing up blood, or throw up that looks like coffee grounds. These may be signs of a worse health problem.
• This medicine may raise the chance of hip, spine, and wrist fractures in people with weak bones (osteoporosis). The chance may be higher if you take omeprazole oral suspension in high doses or for longer than a year, or if you are older than 50 years old. Talk with your doctor.
• Use care if you have risks for soft, brittle bones (osteoporosis). Some of these risks include drinking alcohol, smoking, taking steroids, taking drugs to treat seizures, or having family members with osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about your risks of osteoporosis.
• Low magnesium levels have rarely happened in people taking drugs like this one for at least 3 months. Most of the time, this has happened after 1 year of care. You will need to have your blood work checked if you will be taking omeprazole oral suspension for a long time or if you take certain other drugs like digoxin or water pills. Talk with your doctor.
• Rarely, long-term treatment (for instance longer than 3 years) with drugs like this one has caused low vitamin B-12 levels. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of low vitamin B-12 levels like shortness of breath, dizziness, abnormal heartbeat, muscle weakness, pale skin, tiredness, mood changes, or numbness or tingling in the arms or legs.
• Do not take omeprazole oral suspension for longer than you were told by your doctor.
• This medicine may affect how much of some other drugs are in your body. If you are taking other drugs, talk with your doctor. You may need to have your blood work checked more closely while taking omeprazole oral suspension with your other drugs.
• Lupus has happened with omeprazole oral suspension, as well as lupus that has gotten worse in people who already have it. Tell your doctor if you have lupus. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of lupus like a rash on the cheeks or other body parts, sunburn easy, muscle or joint pain, chest pain or shortness of breath, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Very bad pancreas, liver, and white blood cell problems have happened in people who were taking omeprazole oral suspension. Rarely, these have been fatal. Talk with the doctor if you have questions.
• If you are of Asian descent, use omeprazole oral suspension with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using omeprazole oral suspension while you are pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

How is this medicine (Omeprazole Oral Suspension) best taken?

Use omeprazole oral suspension as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take omeprazole oral suspension before meals.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Keep taking omeprazole oral suspension as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
• Shake well before use.
• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with omeprazole oral suspension. If there is none, ask the pharmacist for a device to measure omeprazole oral suspension.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Related/similar drugs

omeprazole, amoxicillin, famotidine, pantoprazole, metronidazole, esomeprazole, sucralfate, Protonix, Nexium, lansoprazole

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of low magnesium levels like mood changes, muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps or spasms, seizures, shakiness, not hungry, very bad upset stomach or throwing up, or a heartbeat that does not feel normal.
• Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• Signs of infection like fever, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, pain with passing urine, mouth sores, or wound that will not heal.
• Signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Signs of a pancreas problem (pancreatitis) like very bad stomach pain, very bad back pain, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very bad dizziness or passing out.
• Very bad belly pain.
• Bone pain.
• Fever or chills.
• Sore throat.
• A big weight loss.
• Feeling very tired or weak.
• This medicine may raise the chance of a severe form of diarrhea called C diff-associated diarrhea (CDAD). Call your doctor right away if you have stomach pain or cramps, very loose or watery stools, or bloody stools. Do not try to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
• A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Omeprazole Oral Suspension?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache.
• Belly pain.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Diarrhea.
• Gas.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Omeprazole Oral Suspension?

• Store in a refrigerator. Do not freeze.
• Protect from light.
• Check with your pharmacist about when you need to throw away omeprazole oral suspension.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• This medicine comes with an extra patient fact sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it with care. Read it again each time omeprazole oral suspension is refilled. If you have any questions about omeprazole oral suspension, please talk with the doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Frequently asked questions

• Pantoprazole vs. omeprazole: What's the difference between them?
• What foods should I avoid when taking omeprazole?
• Is famotidine safer than omeprazole for heartburn?
• Can you take an antacid with omeprazole?
• Can I take omeprazole in the morning and famotidine at night?
• Is omeprazole (Prilosec) bad for your kidneys?
• Does omeprazole cause cancer?
• How soon after taking levothyroxine can I take omeprazole?
• When's the best time to take omeprazole: before or after a meal?

View more FAQ

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer