Omeclamox Pak
Omeclamox-Pak is a combination medication made up of omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor), clarithromycin (a macrolide antibiotic), and amoxicillin (a penicillin antibiotic). These medications work together to treat H. pylori infections in adults and active or recent duodenal ulcers. The dose is taken twice daily, in the morning and evening, for 10 days. Side effects include diarrhea, changes in taste, and headache.
Note: Omeclamox-Pak has been discontinued and is no longer available.
What is Omeclamox-Pak?
What is Omeclamox-Pak used for?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stomach infection in adults
How Omeclamox-Pak works
Omeclamox-Pak is a combination of three medications:
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It stops your stomach from making too much acid. This makes your stomach less acidic, which helps weaken the H. pylori bacteria and allows the antibiotics better.
Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic. It stops bacteria from making proteins that they need for growth and survival.
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It kills bacteria by preventing them from making their outer covering that protects them from harm.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Omeclamox-Pak?
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (14%)
- Change in taste (10%)
- Headache (7%)
Other Side Effects
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Passing gas
- Upper respiratory infection
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Rash
- Lack of energy
- Back pain
- Cough
Serious Side Effects
- Serious allergic reactions: trouble breathing, swelling of your face or tongue, swelling in your arms and legs, severe rash or hives, chest pain or tightness, racing heart, dizziness or fainting
- Severe skin reaction: rash, blistering or peeling of skin, hives, fever, painful sores in your mouth or around your eyes
- Infectious diarrhea (C. difficile-related diarrhea): rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day)
- Kidney problems: fever, rash, tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Kidney injury—decrease in the amount of urine, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet
- Lupus-like syndrome—joint pain, swelling, or stiffness, butterfly-shaped rash on the face, rashes that get worse in the sun, fever, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Severe diarrhea, fever
- Severe or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea
- Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Change in taste
- Diarrhea
- Headache
Pros and cons of Omeclamox-Pak
Pros
Works well for treating H. pylori infection
Combines all three medications into a single pack
Only needs to be taken for 10 days
Cons
Common side effects include diarrhea, changes in taste, and headache
Must take 4 pills at the same time for each dose
Can't be used if you have a penicillin allergy because it contains amoxicillin
Pharmacist tips for Omeclamox-Pak
Take Omeclamox-Pak by mouth twice a day before a meal for 10 days. You can swallow the 4 pills one at a time if it makes it easier. Swallow the pills whole; never crush, chew, or open them because this can damage the medication.
If you have an ulcer when starting Omeclamox-Pak, you might need to take omeprazole 20 mg once a day for 18 more days. This helps heal the ulcer and ease symptoms.
Finish all 10 days of Omeclamox-Pak, even if you start feeling better. Stopping early or skipping doses can make the medication not work as well and possibly cause the infection to come back and be harder to treat.
If you get diarrhea while taking Omeclamox-Pak, drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. You can ask your care team if a probiotic might help. If recommended, take the probiotic at least 2 hours before or after your Omeclamox-Pak dose.
Call your prescriber if you develop severe diarrhea with stomach cramps, fever, or tiredness. These could be signs of infectious diarrhea, a rare but serious side effect of Omeclamox-Pak that can appear during or even months after treatment.
Watch for signs of a serious skin reaction while taking Omeclamox-Pak. If you notice a rash, sores in your mouth, or any other unusual skin changes, stop taking the medication right away and call your prescriber. These might be signs of an allergic reaction that needs quick medical attention.
Tell your care team about all of the medications and supplements you're taking or planning to take. Omeclamox-Pak interacts with many medications, and your care team can make sure everything is safe to take together.
Frequently asked questions about Omeclamox-Pak
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What are the risks and warnings for Omeclamox-Pak?
Omeclamox-Pak can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Harm to unborn baby
Clarithromycin isn't recommended during pregnancy because it's not clear how safe it is. One study found no link between taking clarithromycin in the first trimester and major birth defects. But animal studies have shown harm to babies at higher doses than what's used in people. Talk to your prescriber about the risks and benefits of taking Omeclamox-Pak while pregnant. Ask them if there are any safer options available.
Severe skin reactions
Omeclamox-Pak can cause rare but serious skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). If you notice symptoms such as a rash, blistering, peeling skin, fever, or swelling, stop taking the medication right away and call your prescriber. These side effects are serious and might need immediate medical care.
Interaction with other medications
Omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin — the ingredients in Omeclamox-Pak — can interact with many common medications. These interactions can make some medications work less well or raise your risk of side effects. Examples include colchicine, amlodipine, warfarin, tacrolimus, digoxin, and certain statins.
Tell your prescriber about all of the medications you're taking before starting Omeclamox-Pak. They can decide if you need any dose changes or if you should pause any medications during treatment. Don’t start any new medications without checking with your care team to make sure they’re safe to take together.
Worsening of myasthenia gravis
Clarithromycin, one of the ingredients in Omeclamox-Pak, has been linked to worsening symptoms of myasthenia gravis. If you have a history of myasthenia gravis, talk to your prescriber before starting treatment. Your care team might need to monitor you closely for symptoms like muscle weakness, trouble swallowing, or difficulty breathing. Let them know right away if you notice any of these signs.
Infectious diarrhea
Taking Omeclamox-Pak can raise your risk of getting an infection caused by a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile). C. difficile normally lives in your gut without causing problems. But taking antibiotics can make it grow out of control. This can lead to infectious diarrhea, which might be mild or life-threatening.
C. difficile-related diarrhea is a medical emergency. Get help right away if you have symptoms like rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, foul-smelling diarrhea, and frequent bowel movements. You might have to get tested and treated for the infection.
Kidney problems
A rare type of kidney inflammation called acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been reported in people taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole, one of the ingredients in Omeclamox-Pak. TIN can happen at any point during treatment. Symptoms can range from allergic reactions (like fever or rash) to more general signs of kidney problems, such as tiredness, nausea, or loss of appetite. Let your care team know if you notice any symptoms that could be related to kidney problems.
Lupus
Some people who've taken proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole reported new or worsening symptoms related to lupus. Lupus is a condition that happens when your body’s immune system attacks itself. Contact your prescriber and stop taking Omeclamox-Pak if you notice a butterfly-like rash on your face, tiredness, joint pain or swelling, or sores on your skin. These can be symptoms of lupus.
Omeclamox-Pak dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 day | 1 package | $508.10 | $508.10 |
Typical dosing for Omeclamox-Pak
Each card of Omeclamox-Pak contains the total daily dose of all three medications: 2 capsules of omeprazole 20 mg, 2 tablets of clarithromycin 500 mg, and 4 capsules of amoxicillin 500 mg.
The typical dose is 1 capsule of omeprazole, 1 tablet of clarithromycin, and 2 capsules of amoxicillin taken together by mouth twice a day for 10 days.
If you have an ulcer, you'll keep taking omeprazole 20 mg once a day for 18 more days.
Omeclamox-Pak contraindications
Allergy to a omeprazole, macrolide antibiotics, or penicillin antibiotics
Take ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, or pimozide,
Take lurasidone
What are alternatives to Omeclamox-Pak?
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stomach infection in adults
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stomach infection in adults
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stomach infection in adults
Omeclamox-Pak images
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References
Best studies we foundAndersson, N. W., et al. (2021). Association between use of macrolides in pregnancy and risk of major birth defects: Nationwide, register based cohort study. The British Medical Journal.
Bhandari, J., et al. (2024). Tubulointerstitial nephritis. StatPearls.
Chey, W., et al. (2024). ACG Clinical Guideline: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. The American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Cumberland Pharmaceuticals Inc. (2023). Omeclamox-PAK- omeprazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin kit [package insert]. DailyMed.
Ierardi, E., et al. (2019). Optimizing proton pump inhibitors in Helicobacter pylori treatment: Old and new tricks to improve effectiveness. World Journal of Gastroenterology.
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