People taking a popular acid reflux medication should keep an eye out for side effects
Anyone who takes omeprazole for heartburn or acid reflux have been warned not to overlook certain changes in their health. Pharmacist Raj Patel, who shares advice as the ever-popular Straight-Talking Pharmacist on TikTok with more than 100,000 followers, has highlighted the long-term impacts of taking the medication.
Omeprazole is widely used to reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces, and it can be prescribed for longer periods when symptoms or an underlying condition require it. But official UK guidance says that, in some people, taking this type of medicine for an extended time can be linked to a condition known as hypomagnesaemia, meaning low levels of magnesium in the blood.
Mr Patel said in one of his videos: “Long term Omeprazole use can lead to a drop in magnesium levels.” He warned that symptoms may be easy to miss when they develop gradually, with tiredness, confusion and dizziness among the possible signs.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says serious cases have been reported after three months or more of treatment, although most reports involved people who had taken proton pump inhibitors for a year or longer. Other symptoms can include muscle twitches and tremors, while severe magnesium deficiency can affect heart rhythm.
Mr Patel highlighted the potential warning signs, saying: “Even more concerning are the muscle twitches, shakiness and irregular heartbeat.” Anyone experiencing an irregular heartbeat or severe symptoms should seek urgent medical assessment rather than assuming they are simply a side effect of medication.
His video also raises vitamin B12 deficiency, another possible concern associated with long-term use of acid-reducing medicines. He explained: “Vitamin B12 deficiency is another silent attacker, creeping in with symptoms like extreme fatigue, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers and that unsettling feeling of pins and needles.”
Other potential risks associated with prolonged PPI use include gut infections and fractures, with the latter risk particularly relevant to people who are older or have osteoporosis. Some studies have explored possible links between PPIs and stomach cancer, but this does not prove omeprazole causes cancer, and any claim about the risk needs careful context.
The advice is not to stop taking prescribed omeprazole abruptly or make changes without speaking to a healthcare professional. If you have been taking it for a long time and notice new or unexplained symptoms, contact your GP to discuss whether your treatment should be reviewed and whether blood tests are needed.