Omeprazole FDA Alerts
The FDA Alerts below may be specifically about omeprazole or relate to a group or class of drugs which include omeprazole.
MedWatch Safety Alerts are distributed by the FDA and published by Drugs.com. Following is a list of possible medication recalls, market withdrawals, alerts and warnings.
Recent FDA Alerts for omeprazole
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) - Drug Safety Communication: Clostridium Difficile-Associated Diarrhea (CDAD) Can be Associated With Stomach Acid Drugs
- AcipHex (rabeprazole sodium)
- Dexilant (dexlansoprazole)
- Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium)
- Omeprazole (omeprazole) Over-the-Counter (OTC)
- Prevacid (lansoprazole) and OTC Prevacid 24hr
- Prilosec (omeprazole) and OTC
- Protonix (pantoprazole sodium)
- Vimovo (esomeprazole magnesium and naproxen)
- Zegerid (omeprazole and Sodium bicarbonate) and OTC
[Posted 02/08/2012]
ISSUE: FDA notified the public that the use of stomach acid drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD). A diagnosis of CDAD should be considered for patients taking PPIs who develop diarrhea that does not improve. The FDA is working with manufacturers to include information about the increased risk of CDAD with use of PPIs in the drug labels.
FDA is also reviewing the risk of CDAD in users of histamine H2 receptor blockers. H2 receptor blockers are used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach and small intestine ulcers, and heartburn.
BACKGROUND: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are marketed under various brand and generic drug names as prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products. They work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach. Prescription PPIs are used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach and small intestine ulcers, and inflammation of the esophagus. Over-the-counter PPIs are used to treat frequent heartburn.
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea that does not improve. Symptoms include watery stool, abdominal pain, and fever, and patients may go on to develop more serious intestinal conditions. The disease can also be spread in hospitals.
RECOMMENDATION: Patients should immediately contact their healthcare professional and seek care if they take PPIs and develop diarrhea that does not improve. Information for Healthcare Professionals:
- A diagnosis of CDAD should be considered for PPI users with diarrhea that does not improve.
- Advise patients to seek immediate care from a healthcare professional if they experience watery stool that does not go away, abdominal pain, and fever while taking PPIs.
- Patients should use the lowest dose and shortest duration of PPI therapy appropriate to the condition being treated.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
- Complete and submit the report Online: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm
- Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
[02/08/2012 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]
Proton Pump Inhibitor drugs (PPIs): Drug Safety Communication - Low Magnesium Levels Can Be Associated With Long-Term Use
Prescription PPIs include Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium), Dexilant (dexlansoprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole), Zegerid (omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Protonix (pantoprazole sodium), AcipHex (rabeprazole sodium), and Vimovo (a prescription combination drug product that contains a PPI (esomeprazole magnesium and naproxen).
Over-the-counter (OTC) PPIs include Prilosec OTC (omeprazole), Zegerid OTC (omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate), and Prevacid 24HR (lansoprazole).
ISSUE: FDA notified healthcare professionals and the public that prescription proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs may cause low serum magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) if taken for prolonged periods of time (in most cases, longer than one year). Low serum magnesium levels can result in serious adverse events including muscle spasm (tetany), irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), and convulsions (seizures); however, patients do not always have these symptoms. Treatment of hypomagnesemia generally requires magnesium supplements. In approximately one-quarter of the cases reviewed, magnesium supplementation alone did not improve low serum magnesium levels and the PPI had to be discontinued.
BACKGROUND: PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach and are used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach and small intestine ulcers, and inflammation of the esophagus.
RECOMMENDATION: Healthcare professionals should consider obtaining serum magnesium levels prior to initiation of prescription PPI treatment in patients expected to be on these drugs for long periods of time, as well as patients who take PPIs with medications such as digoxin, diuretics or drugs that may cause hypomagnesemia. For patients taking digoxin, a heart medicine, this is especially important because low magnesium can increase the likelihood of serious side effects. Healthcare professionals should consider obtaining magnesium levels periodically in these patients. For additional information, refer to the Data Summary section of the FDA Drug Safety Communication.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events, side effects, or product quality problems related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:
- Complete and submit the report Online: www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm
- Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
[03/02/2011 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI): Class Labeling Change
including Nexium, Dexilant, Prilosec, Zegerid, Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, Vimovo, Prilosec OTC, Zegerid OTC, and Prevacid 24HR
[Posted 05/25/2010] FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients of revisions to the prescription and over-the-counter [OTC] labels for proton pump inhibitors, which work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach, to include new safety information about a possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with the use of these medications.
The new safety information is based on FDA's review of several epidemiological studies that found those at greatest risk for these fractures received high doses of proton pump inhibitors or used them for one year or more. The majority of the studies evaluated individuals 50 years of age or older and the increased risk of fracture primarily was observed in this age group. While the greatest increased risk for fractures in these studies involved people who had been taking prescription proton pump inhibitors for at least one year or who had been taking high doses of the prescription medications (not available over-the-counter), as a precaution, the "Drug Facts" label on the OTC proton pump inhibitors (indicated for 14 days of continuous use) also is being revised to include information about this risk. FDA recommends healthcare professionals, when prescribing proton pump inhibitors, should consider whether a lower dose or shorter duration of therapy would adequately treat the patient's condition.
The safety communication includes a data summary with a table and references which support the epidemiological studies reviewed for this communication.
[05/25/2010 - Drug Safety Communication - FDA]
[05/25/2010 - Possible Increased Risk of Bone Fractures With Certain Antacid Drugs - FDA Consumer Health Update]
Clopidogrel (marketed as Plavix) and Omeprazole (marketed as Prilosec) - Drug Interaction
FDA notified healthcare professionals of new safety information concerning an interaction between clopidogrel (Plavix), an anti-clotting medication, and omeprazole (Prilosec/Prilosec OTC), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to reduce stomach acid. New data show that when clopidogrel and omeprazole are taken together, the effectiveness of clopidogrel is reduced. Patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes who use clopidogrel to prevent blood clots will not get the full effect of this medicine if they are also taking omeprazole. Separating the dose of clopidogrel and omeprazole in time will not reduce this drug interaction.
Other drugs that are expected to have a similar effect and should be avoided in combination with clopidogrel include: cimetidine, fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, etravirine, felbamate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, and ticlopidine.
Recommendations for healthcare professionals are provided in the "Information for Healthcare Professionals" sheet.
[11/17/2009 - Information for Healthcare Professionals - FDA]
[11/17/2009 - FDA]
[11/17/2009 - Follow-Up to January 2009 Early Communication - FDA]
Omeprazole (marketed as Prilosec and generic products), Esomeprazole (marketed as Nexium)
[UPDATE 12/11/2007] FDA informed healthcare professionals of the issuance of the Agency's follow-up communication regarding its review of safety data for the drugs omeprazole and esomeprazole that raised concerns about a potential increased risk of heart problems for patients treated with these drugs. The Agency conducted a comprehensive review of the data from two studies that were submitted to FDA. FDA continues to believe that long-term use of omeprazole or esomeprazole is not likely to be associated with an increased risk of heart problems and recommends that healthcare providers continue to prescribe and patients continue to use these products in the manner described in the labeling for the two products. See the "Update of Safety Review" for information regarding the two studies that were reviewed.
[Posted August 09, 2007] FDA issued an early communication about the ongoing review of new safety data for the proton pump inhibitors, Prilosec and Nexium. The new safety data was from two small long-term clinical studies in patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In both studies, patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with a drug (either omeprazole or esomeprazole) or to have surgery to control their GERD.
The results from the study of Prilosec and analyses from an ongoing study of Nexium raised concerns that long-term use of Prilosec or Nexium may have increased the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and heart-related sudden death in those patients taking either one of the drugs compared to patients who received surgery. After reviewing these and other data submitted by the company, FDA's preliminary conclusion at this time, is that collectively, these data do not suggest an increased risk of heart problems for patients treated with omeprazole or esomeprazole. Healthcare providers should not change their prescribing practices and patients should not change their use of these products at this time.
Both drugs are used for the treatment of GERD, esophageal erosions and for maintenance of healing erosions of the esophagus. They are also used for the treatment of ulcers. Prilosec is also sold over the counter for frequent heartburn.
Omeprazole (marketed as Prilosec and generic products)
FDA issued an early communication about the ongoing review of new safety data for the proton pump inhibitors, Prilosec and Nexium. The new safety data was from two small long-term clinical studies in patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In both studies, patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with a drug (either omeprazole or esomeprazole) or to have surgery to control their GERD.The results from the study of Prilosec and analyses from an ongoing study of Nexium raised concerns that long-term use of Prilosec or Nexium may have increased the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, and heart-related sudden death in those patients taking either one of the drugs compared to patients who received surgery. After reviewing these and other data submitted by the company, FDA's preliminary conclusion at this time, is that collectively, these data do not suggest an increased risk of heart problems for patients treated with omeprazole or esomeprazole. Healthcare providers should not change their prescribing practices and patients should not change their use of these products at this time.
Both drugs are used for the treatment of GERD, esophageal erosions and for maintenance of healing erosions of the esophagus. They are also used for the treatment of ulcers. Prilosec is also sold over the counter for frequent heartburn.
[August 09, 2007 - Early Communication About an Ongoing Safety Review - Omeprazole and Esomeprazole - FDA]
More omeprazole resources
- Omeprazole Consumer Information
- Good Sense Omeprazole Consumer Information
- Omeprazole + SyrSpend SF Alka Consumer Information
- First - Omeprazole Advanced Consumer Information
- Omeprazole AHFS DI Monograph
- Omeprazole Delayed-Release Capsules and Tablets (OTC) Consumer Information
- Omeprazole Orally-Disintegrating Tablets Consumer Information
- Omeprazole Delayed-Release Capsules Consumer Information
- Losec Consumer Information
- Omeprazole Powder for Oral Suspension Consumer Information
- Omeprazole Prescribing Information
- Omeprazole Magnesium Granules Prescribing Information
- Omeprazole Tablets Prescribing Information