Omeprazole Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Omeprazole (prilosec) is available over-the-counter (OTC) as well as with a prescription. It’s a proton pump inhibitor that can treat heartburn, ulcers, and other digestive conditions.
A common omeprazole dosage is 20 mg by mouth once a day. But a healthcare professional may prescribe higher dosages for more serious conditions. You shouldn’t self-treat with OTC omeprazole for more than 14 days without a prescriber’s OK.
If you are Asian or have liver problems, you may need to take a lower omeprazole dosage. In these situations, you should ask a healthcare professional about the best dosage for you.
Omeprazole is available as a brand-name medication. But you can also find it as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help make your medication more affordable.
Table of contents
Omeprazole (Prilosec) is a common proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It’s a generic medication available with a prescription. Certain doses are also available over the counter (OTC). Omeprazole is a popular choice for treating symptoms and conditions related to too much stomach acid.
Knowing how much omeprazole to take can help you get relief while limiting side effects. This is especially true if you’re self-treating symptoms with the OTC version. Below, we review typical omeprazole dosages as recommended by the manufacturer. But you should follow the dosage provided to you by your medical care team if it’s different from what’s discussed here.
What’s the typical omeprazole dosage for adults?
Most people take omeprazole by mouth once a day. But specific dosages vary depending on what health condition you’re taking it for. Omeprazole works best if you take it about 30 to 60 minutes before eating. If you’re taking it once a day, you should take it in the morning.
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The OTC and prescription forms of omeprazole are approved for different health conditions. OTC omeprazole is labeled to relieve heartburn that happens two or more times per week.
Prescription omeprazole is FDA approved to treat:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Duodenal and gastric ulcers
Erosive esophagitis (EE), inflammation of the esophagus often caused by stomach acid
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), a condition where the body makes too much stomach acid
Heartburn
The recommended OTC omeprazole dosage to treat heartburn is 20 mg by mouth once daily in the morning for up to 14 days (2 weeks).
You shouldn’t take OTC omeprazole for longer than 2 weeks. And, you should wait at least 4 months before taking another 2-week course. Don’t take OTC omeprazole more frequently than this without speaking to your medical care team.
Good to know: Omeprazole doesn’t provide immediate heartburn relief. It may take about 1 to 4 days for it to start working.
GERD
The typical omeprazole dosage for treating GERD is 20 mg by mouth once a day in the morning. The manufacturer recommends only taking it for up to 4 weeks. If you feel like you still need treatment after this point, let your prescriber know. They may want to re-evaluate your symptoms.
Erosive esophagitis (EE)
For treating EE, the recommended omeprazole dosage is 20 mg by mouth once daily for 4 to 8 weeks. Your prescriber may ask you to continue taking this dosage for several months afterwards to prevent symptoms from returning. Studies haven’t evaluated taking omeprazole for this use for more than 12 months (1 year).
Ulcers
The recommended omeprazole dosage for gastric (stomach) ulcers is 40 mg by mouth once daily. You’ll likely take this dosage for 4 to 8 weeks, depending on your response.
To treat a duodenal (intestinal) ulcer, the typical omeprazole dosage is 20 mg by mouth once daily for 4 weeks. Your prescriber may recommend continuing treatment for another 4 weeks (a total of 8 weeks) depending on your response.
H. pylori infection
If you’re taking omeprazole for an H. pylori infection, you’ll typically take it together with other medications. Omeprazole is FDA approved for two different H. pylori treatments: double and triple therapy.
With double therapy, you would take omeprazole and the antibiotic clarithromycin (Biaxin XL). The omeprazole dosage for double therapy is 40 mg by mouth once a day for 14 days.
With triple therapy, you would take omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin (another antibiotic). The omeprazole dosage for triple therapy is 20 mg by mouth twice a day for 10 days.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES)
The recommended starting omeprazole dosage for ZES is 60 mg by mouth once a day. From there, your prescriber may adjust your dose based on your response. It’s recommended that daily dosages above 80 mg be split into 2 or 3 smaller doses per day. The maximum recommended omeprazole dosage for ZES is 120 mg three times per day.
Continue taking omeprazole for as long as your prescriber recommends. Some people may take it for several years to manage ZES symptoms.
What’s the typical omeprazole dosage for pediatrics?
Omeprazole dosages for pediatrics (infants and children) under the age of 16 are based on body weight. Adolescents ages 16 and older are typically prescribed adult dosages. You shouldn’t give OTC omeprazole to children under 18 years old without their pediatrician’s OK.
If your child has trouble swallowing pills, don’t worry. Omeprazole capsules can be opened, and their contents can be mixed with 1 tablespoon of cold or room-temperature applesauce. Your pharmacist may also be able to compound (specially mix) a liquid version of omeprazole.
Details for FDA-approved omeprazole dosages for pediatrics can be found below.
GERD
Omeprazole is FDA approved to treat GERD for children ages 1 year and older. The recommended pediatric omeprazole dosages for GERD is as follows:
Children who weigh at least 44 lbs (20 kg): Take 20 mg by mouth once a day for up to 4 weeks.
Children who weigh between 22 and 44 lbs (10 to 20 kg): Take 10 mg by mouth once a day for up to 4 weeks.
Children who weigh less than 22 lbs (10 kg): Take 5 mg by mouth once a day for up to 4 weeks.
Erosive esophagitis (EE)
Omeprazole is FDA approved to treat EE in infants and children ages 1 month and older.
The table below details the recommended pediatric omeprazole dosages for EE.
| Child’s age | Child’s body weight | Omeprazole dosage for EE treatment | Omeprazole dosage for EE maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month-1 year | 6.6 to less than 11 lbs (3 to less than 5 kg) | 2.5 mg once daily for up to 6 weeks | --- |
| 11 to less than 22 lbs (5 to less than 10 kg) | 5 mg once daily for up to 6 weeks | --- | |
| 22 lbs (10 kg) or more | 10 mg once daily for up to 6 weeks | --- | |
| 1-16 years | 11 to less than 22 lbs (5 to less than 10 kg) | 5 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks | 5 mg once daily* |
| 22 to less than 44 lbs (10 to less than 20 kg) | 10 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks | 10 mg once daily* | |
| 44 lbs (20 kg) or more | 20 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks | 20 mg once daily* |
*Studies haven’t evaluated omeprazole for safety or effectiveness for this use for more than 12 months (1 year).
Are there any dosage adjustments for certain people?
Certain people may need to take lower omeprazole dosages. But these adjustments only apply to prescription omeprazole taken to maintain healing after treating EE.
People of Central or South Asian descent
If you’re Asian, your prescriber may recommend lowering your omeprazole dosage to 10 mg once a day.
There is a certain gene that controls how quickly your body breaks down omeprazole. It’s more common for people of Central or South Asian descent to have a genetic difference that slows omeprazole’s breakdown. People with this gene may be more likely to experience side effects if they take standard omeprazole dosages.
People with liver problems
Your liver is important for breaking down omeprazole after each dose. Liver problems could cause it to build up in your body, raising the risk of side effects. If you have liver problems, your prescriber may recommend lowering your omeprazole dosage to 10 mg once a day.
What happens if you miss a dose of omeprazole?
If you miss a dose of omeprazole, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time.
Don’t take more than one dose of omeprazole at once to make up for the missed one. Doing so can raise your risk for side effects.
What should you do if you take too much omeprazole?
Accidentally taking an extra dose of omeprazole isn’t likely to cause serious harm. It may raise your risk for mild side effects, such as headache, nausea, and diarrhea. Even taking large amounts of omeprazole doesn’t appear to cause permanent harm.
Still, it’s a good idea to contact your prescriber if you or your child has taken too much omeprazole. You can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or online for guidance. If symptoms seem severe, seek emergency medical help right away.
How to save on omeprazole
There are many ways to save on omeprazole, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. By having your prescriber write a prescription for OTC omeprazole, GoodRx can help you save over 70% off the average retail price.
OTC omeprazole's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $6.38 with a free GoodRx discount.
Prescription omeprazole's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $5.88 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
The most common omeprazole (Prilosec) dosage is 20 mg by mouth once a day. But you may need to take higher dosages for more serious health conditions. You shouldn’t take omeprazole for more than 14 days without a prescriber’s OK.
Omeprazole dosages for infants and children are based on age and body weight. If you’re Asian or have liver problems, you may need to take a lower omeprazole dosage. Discuss the best dose for you with your medical care team.
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References
Allen, L. V., Jr. (2018). Omeprazole 1 mg/mL or 2 mg/mL oral suspension. U.S. Pharmacist.
Cardinal Health 107, LLC. (2024). Omeprazole [package insert].
Dean, L., et al. (2021). Omeprazole therapy and CYP2C19 genotype. Medical Genetics Summaries.
Magavern, E. F., et al. (2023). CYP2C19 genotype prevalence and association with recurrent myocardial infarction in British–South Asians treated with clopidogrel. JACC: Advances.
MedlinePlus. (2023). Omeprazole.
Rite Aid Corporation. (2023). Omeprazole tablet, delayed release [package insert]. DailyMed.
Shah, N., et al. (2023). Omeprazole. StatPearls.
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