Omeprazole

Also known as: Prilosec (brand), proton pump inhibitor (PPI)

Other

In plain English

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that strongly reduces stomach acid. It treats heartburn/GERD, ulcers, and other acid-related conditions and helps heal an irritated esophagus. It works best taken before a meal. It is effective and widely used; long-term use is periodically reviewed because of some possible risks.

The science

Omeprazole is a substituted benzimidazole that irreversibly inhibits the gastric H+/K+-ATPase (proton pump) at the parietal cell secretory surface, the final step of acid production, suppressing basal and stimulated acid secretion. It is FDA-approved for GERD, erosive esophagitis, peptic ulcer disease, H. pylori eradication (with antibiotics), and hypersecretory states; it is metabolized largely by CYP2C19, whose genetic variability affects response.

References

• Ahmed A & Clarke JO, Proton Pump Inhibitors (Omeprazole), StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) 2023
• Omeprazole Therapy and CYP2C19 Genotype, Medical Genetics Summaries (NCBI Bookshelf)