Proper Use of This Medicine

Take omeprazole capsules immediately before a meal, preferably in the morning. Omeprazole tablets may be taken with food or on an empty stomach.

It may take several days before this medicine begins to relieve stomach pain. To help relieve this pain, antacids may be taken with omeprazole, unless your doctor has told you not to use them.

Swallow the capsule and tablet forms of omeprazole whole. Do not open the capsule. Do not crush, break, or chew the capsule or the tablet.

Take this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better . Also, keep your appointments with your doctor for check-ups so that your doctor will be better able to tell you when to stop taking this medicine.

Dosing—The dose of omeprazole will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of omeprazole. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets):
  • To treat dyspepsia:
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for four weeks. Patients may respond adequately to 10 mg once daily, so individual dose adjustment may be considered.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for four to eight weeks. Or your doctor may tell you to take 40 mg a day for certain conditions. Also, your doctor may want you to take omeprazole for more than eight weeks for certain conditions.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid:
    • Adults—60 mg taken once a day. Your doctor may change the dose as needed. Your treatment may be continued for as long as it is needed.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat duodenal ulcers:
    • Adults—20 mg taken once a day. Or your doctor may tell you to take 40 mg a day for certain conditions.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat gastric ulcers:
    • Adults—40 mg taken once a day for four to eight weeks.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat ulcers related to infection with H. pylori :
    • Adults—40 mg once a day, taken along with clarithromycin 500 mg three times a day, for the first fourteen days. For days 15 through 28, omeprazole 20 mg taken once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.