Can I Take Probiotics with Omeprazole?

There’s no denying that probiotics and gut health go hand in hand. With probiotics containing micro-organisms they have gained a reputation for being a highly effective ingredient to introduce into your daily routine. This ensures they deliver the right number of good bacteria to the gut that overtime will have a positive impact on your general health and well-being.

The question we are asking today is how you can take probiotics with omeprazole. If you are unsure what omeprazole is, don’t worry as we will cover all that in today’s blog post. As for wanting to know more about probiotics, check out our dedicated blog post about what they are and how they benefit the skin. 

What is omeprazole?

Omeprazole is a medicine used to help reduce the amount of acid made by your stomach. You’ll often find it in a variety of indigestion, heartburn, and acid reflux formulas which come as capsule, tablet and liquid that are easy and effective to use.

How omeprazole works is by preventing too much acid reach the stomach, it does this by ensuring the proton pumps found in the stomach lining that help digest your food are working correctly.

When using omeprazole there is often an increase in the amount of “bad” bacteria found in the gut, this can create an imbalance in the gut’s microbiome which can result in a knock on effect around the entire body disrupting your overall health and well-being.

What is omeprazole used for?

Used for treating indigestion and other acid reflux related problems. You will also find that omeprazole is an effective ingredient to use to help combat stomach ulcers, as well as helping treat other illnesses that are considered rarer, such as pancreas and gut problems.

You’ll find that almost all types of omeprazole are only available through prescription, having said that, there are some capsules containing 10mg and 20mg inside the formulations which are still highly effective. 

Something to bear in mind when using over-the-counter omeprazole products is the fact you should not take them for longer than 2 weeks. If you are having to take the product longer than this, you should seek the advice from your doctor or medical professional.

Why is omeprazole so bad for you?

Omeprazole isn’t necessarily bad for you but can cause some problems if used for the long-term. When you first start taking omeprazole, you’ll find it can help and improve your concerns in 2 to 3 days and can often take up to 4 weeks to have a notable effect on the acid symptoms.

Although I have already mentioned how over-the-counter omeprazole products are available for you to use without needing to seek the advice of your GP, it is very important you tell your doctor you are not seeing any improvements are using the product for over 2 weeks. It is also best to stop taking OTC omeprazole if you suffer from any of the following side effects.

• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Vision becomes blurry
• Headache
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach cramps

What medications should not be taken with probiotics?

Probiotics are thought to be safe to introduce on a daily basis and are generally thought OK to use with other medications. This is mainly due to the fact that probiotics are considered a natural product which is regulated as a food supplement rather than a medicine.

Having said that, it’s considered best to avoid using probiotics with antibiotics. With antibiotics being highly effective at killing off all bacteria, even the good ones, it seems nonsensical to take probiotics as the antibiotics will render them useless and unable to deliver their impressive gut benefiting results. It is also said to avoid taking probiotics if you are regularly taking immunosuppressants as this can cause an increased risk in becoming unwell.

What can you not take with omeprazole?

There are a number of medicines that should be avoided when taking omeprazole. This is because they can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of omeprazole as well as increasing the severity of the common side effects that occur when you first take omeprazole. Here are some of the medicines that should be avoided, there are also many more and it’s important to consult with a doctor to peace of mind.

• Iron supplements
• Clozapine
• Astemizole
• Sucralfate
• HIV medicines
• Digoxin
• Warfarin
• Mesalamine
• Multivitamins that contain vitamins A, D, E, or K

There you have some examples of medicines you should avoid with omeprazole. Another point to consider is, although alcohol doesn’t necessarily affect how omeprazole works it can produce more acid than normal which will not help in the long run of taking omeprazole.

As I have mentioned there is many more so always ensure whatever product you are taking it will work for you and your needs.

Does omeprazole affect good gut bacteria?

Yes, taking omeprazole can have a negative impact on the good bacteria found in the gut. This is because the bacteria make up in the digestive system can become disrupted resulting in the microbiome weakened and more susceptible to the risk of infection and illness.

With long term use of omeprazole and any other proton pump inhibitors have shown links to an increase in the clostridium difficile which can lead to severe diarrhoea. This and other indigestion problems can sometimes last for also 4 weeks.

If you find you are having to take omeprazole for a regular concern it is thought there are a few lifestyles swaps you can take, such as eating smaller portions at mealtimes, not laying down for longer than 2 hours after eating, avoid alcohol, and not eating foods that are high in fat and salt as these are also known as “trigger” foods.

There you some more information about taking probiotics with omeprazole. Much like all medications or supplements it’s important to understand how to take them the correct way to ensure you are benefiting your health and well-being. Don’t forget, if you have any questions, you can come and follow us on the Wellgard Instagram.