I was taking 20 mgs for a month then doc suggested to double the med because I was still getting stomach pains. Gastro doc suggested I double the dose..taken 12 hours apart. I was slammed with all the major side effects. :( I have stopped all the med, but need to know how long it will take to clear for my system before I go back to just the 20 a day.
Omeprazole - How long does it take for 20 mgs taken twice a day to leave you system?
Question posted by antisal on 20 April 2016
Last updated on 4 March 2018
Added 20 April 2016:
I made a HUGE error in my previous question....I was taking 40 mgs twice a day. I am on my 6th day without the med, but my joints are still very sore, but much better.
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Answers
JLBvision
23 Dec 2017
I took Omeprazole for three days. Prescribed two a day, 20 mg. After first pill experienced headache. After second day, woke up in middle of night with back, buttock and back of leg pain. Took one more pill the following morning. Headache and lower back pain continued. Stopped taking the pill. Headache stopped immediately. However back, buttock, and back leg pain continued. This pain has now stopped. It took 72 hours. Do not intend to take this pill again. Please listen to your body. My doctor is excellent. He enlightened me as to diet, eating slowly, and most importantly, not lying down after eating. Had a habit for years to lie on sofa and watch TV. Also, ate dinner very late and two hours later go to bed. Now I sit up for three hours before going to bed. Eat dinner earlier. Researching safe home remedies. Hope this helps.
chuck1957
20 April 2016
antisal; It surprised me but omeprazole 20mg clears your system pretty fast you should be fine in just a few days yes 2 but if your side effects were pretty bad at 2 a day you should make sure your feeling a bit better prior to starting it again at one a day. Have a nice evening
antisal
20 April 2016
Thank you, but please read my next post. I made an error in my dosage. :(
chuck1957
21 April 2016
antisal; I have looked for your other post and have not been able to find it yet. If you don't get as the answer on it post it here in the comment section.
chuck1957
21 April 2016
OKAY WAS THIS IT, YOU WERE REALLY TAKING 2 PILLS TWICE DAILY SO A TOTAL OF 4 DAILY INSTEAD OF 2 DAILY. yes, you do have to be very careful but the way it figures out as far as getting out of your system at that dose is 5 to 8 days.BUT if the joint pains continue you should check with the doctor if they go away then you can try it at one daily.only if the side effects start to go away. This was twice the recommended dose so it's no surprise you were getting these side effects,were it me I would wait to just make sure and start after 10 days as long as the joint pain has gone away otherwise you should check back with the doctor. Chuck1957 that well give it plenty of time to get out of your system so if your still having joint pain after 10 days check with the doctor. before you restart it. Chuck.
antisal
22 April 2016
Thank you so much for your advice Chuck. I have been off the med for 8 days now and only have one joint that hurts. (could be arthritic now, lol) I am going to try to wait another few days, but I will see what my tummy has to say about that. Thank you again!!!
chuck1957
22 April 2016
That is great; Yes that was a lot you were taking But I would advise you to start this medication prior to your tummy hurting too much sometimes it take a few days to work the best but I would go back to one daily and if by chance your joints start hurting again see the doctor lots of good stomach meds these days but I still swear by this one. Have a great day
amb13
28 July 2016
Hi was wondering how ur feeling after you stopped the med. I have been feeling the same way
kun9547
3 Oct 2017
I don't think omeprazole is the right medicine for some of us. For me, it's as if it totally did the opposite, more than I thought it would! Terrible. Been taking pepcid ac for 2 months with ease until I was prescribed this unlikely problematic ppi. Im not quite sure but the generic brands of famotidine may not be suitable.
kun9547
3 Oct 2017
.. to my experience, as pepcid ac has been the best so far.
chuck1957
4 Oct 2017
Kun; Yes you are right and it's been a while and many new ones have come out after the first post. But just as with other medications what works great for one person is like taking nothing to another. So it is always good to try some meaning only get a small pack only until you find the one that works the best for you. Very happy for you that you found the one that is best for you. I SWEAR STOMACH PAIN FROM THIS PROBLEM IS ONE OF THE WORSE PAINS I HAVE HAD. HAVE A GREAT DAY AND THANKS FOR CHECKING BACK. CHUCK1957
ohsofat
4 March 2018
I've been taking 20mg Omeprazole for the past 3 years for Diverticulitis and have gone from a size 6 to a size 14 (UK size 10 up to size 16) on my tummy. I feel bloated ALL the time. I asked the doc to change the medication to something else recently (I can't remember what it was but the side effects were so awful with non-stop burning acid reflux that I threw the meds into the bin in sheer horror) and went back to the Omeprazole. My tummy settled down again, no more acidity, but the bloating returned. The shape of my body has become a nightmare for me - a tummy the size, literally, of a full-time pregnancy while the rest of me is a size 6. I'm waiting to see my doctor for a change of drug, hopefully there is something out there, and wondering if the weight gain will ever fall away. I've gained over 50 lbs.
Related topics
pain, gastroenteritis, omeprazole, dosage, stomach pain, stomach, system
Further information
- Omeprazole uses and safety info
- Omeprazole prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Omeprazole (detailed)
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