The main function of omeprazole is to inhibit the secretion of gastric acid, because many stomach discomfort can be caused by excessive gastric acid secretion, so many stomach diseases are not easy to cure and often recur, so friends with stomach diseases will often take omeprazole.
Can stomach patients take omeprazole for a long time?
The main principle of omeprazole is to inhibit the secretion of gastric acid, which has a certain protective effect on gastric mucosa. For example, taking omeprazole is a good therapeutic drug for patients with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and reflux esophagitis.
General stomach discomfort, but it is not recommended to take omeprazole for a long time, unless it is a special case. For example, patients with gastroesophageal reflux can take omeprazole for a period of time, which can relieve reflux symptoms and help the recovery of esophageal mucosa.
Although the therapeutic effect of omeprazole is very good, it needs special circumstances to take it for a long time. If there are symptoms of stomach discomfort, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor for medication, and do not take medication privately.
No matter what kind of drug, it will have side effects, and it is not recommended to take it for a long time. Although omeprazole can inhibit gastric acid, taking it for a long time and inhibiting gastric acid secretion for a long time will not do much good to the body.
Long-term use of omeprazole has four major risks.
1. leads to osteoporosis.
If you take omeprazole for a long time, it will lead to calcium deficiency and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Taking omeprazole for a long time will inhibit the secretion of gastric acid for a long time and affect the absorption of calcium ions in the body.
Especially if the elderly take omeprazole for a long time, it will increase the probability of osteoporosis, which is unfavorable to the health of the elderly.
2. Induce cancer
Studies show that long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, if it reaches about 2 years, is not enough to cause cancer. However, taking omeprazole for more than 10 years will increase the risk of liver cancer, intestinal cancer and pancreatic cancer.
This is also the most serious risk of taking omeprazole for a long time. Therefore, patients with chronic stomach diseases should not eat omeprazole casually, and be alert that it may cause cancer.
3. Causing atrophic gastritis
The main function of omeprazole is to inhibit the secretion of gastric acid. Proper gastric acid is beneficial to human digestion, and it can also kill bacteria in food, protect the safety of gastrointestinal tract and increase the activity of pepsin.
However, if you take omeprazole for a long time and inhibit the secretion of gastric acid for a long time, the normal function of the stomach will gradually weaken due to insufficient gastric acid secretion, and the probability of suffering from atrophic gastritis will increase.
4. Lead to the deficiency of B vitamins.
Because of taking omeprazole for a long time, the secretion of gastric acid has been inhibited. Excessive inhibition of gastric acid secretion will lead to the deficiency of vitamin B 12 and folic acid that the human body needs to absorb in acidic environment.
Long-term lack of vitamin B 12 and folic acid will lead to vitamin B deficiency and megaloblastic anemia.
Moreover, chronic gastric acid deficiency will also lead to indigestion and nutrient malabsorption, which will lead to weight loss and neuritis in the long run.