Omeprazole
- Class: Proton pump inhibitor
- Used for: heartburn
- Say it: oh-MEP-ruh-zole
- Forms: capsule, tablet, oral liquid
Mnemonic: A -PRAZOLE pauses the pump
Every proton-pump inhibitor ends in -prazole and shuts down the final common pump. An H2 blocker only turns down one of the signals that switch that pump on.
Every proton-pump inhibitor ends in -prazole and shuts down the final common pump. An H2 blocker only turns down one of the signals that switch that pump on.
Suffix -PRAZOLE: Every -PRAZOLE shuts off the acid PUMP itself.
The stem marks a proton pump inhibitor: it disables the gastric H+/K+ ATPase, the final common step of acid secretion whatever the trigger. That is why it beats an H2 blocker, which only removes one signal upstream. All of them work best 30 to 60 minutes before the first meal. All drug suffixes ›
The stem marks a proton pump inhibitor: it disables the gastric H+/K+ ATPase, the final common step of acid secretion whatever the trigger. That is why it beats an H2 blocker, which only removes one signal upstream. All of them work best 30 to 60 minutes before the first meal. All drug suffixes ›
The mechanism comic
One of five sample comics. The app has one for each of the 100 drugs.
Side effects
Common: headache, diarrhea, nausea
Serious: low magnesium, C. difficile infection
Typical dose
20–40 mg once daily
30 to 60 minutes before breakfast: it only disables pumps a meal has switched on.
Check yourself
When should Omeprazole be taken?
- 30–60 minutes before a meal
- Immediately after a meal
- At bedtime, on an empty stomach
- The timing makes no difference
Show answer
A. 30–60 minutes before a meal
It binds only actively secreting pumps, and a meal is what activates them. Taken after food, most pumps have already fired and the dose is largely wasted.
See it, don't memorize it
The app has the mechanism comic and a patient case for Omeprazole – plus the name link, the class mnemonic, pronunciation you can hear, and a self-check, for the top 100 drugs. One purchase, no subscription, no account.