omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate

If Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) eases some of your stomach-related symptoms, but the symptoms come back, let your provider know. Sometimes, returning heartburn or feelings of upset stomach can be a sign of a more serious problem, such as stomach cancer. Your provider might need to order more tests to check your health.

There have been reports of kidney damage by people who took PPIs, like omeprazole. This can occur at any time during treatment. If you notice symptoms of kidney damage, such as blood in the urine, changes in how often you urinate, nausea, fever, or confusion, stop taking Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) and speak to your healthcare provider right away.

Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) can cause severe medication reactions involving the skin known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This side effect is rare, but it can be very serious. If you have flu-like symptoms along with a skin rash, blisters, or peeling, get medical help right away.

Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) contains sodium. Taking in high levels of sodium can lead to swelling and weight gain. This can cause problems for you if you need to be on a low-sodium diet or if you have certain medical conditions, such as heart failure or high blood pressure. Talk with your provider before taking this medication if you're trying to limit your sodium intake.

Milk-alkali syndrome is a condition where the body's acid/base balance shifts to more alkaline. This can lead to problems with your kidneys. Your risk for this side effect is higher if you take Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) for long periods of time or if you take this medication with calcium supplements or milk. Talk to your provider if you feel nausea, needing to urinate a lot, headache, or dizziness while taking Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate).

Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) can raise your risk for a bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea. If you notice symptoms like watery diarrhea, fever, or stomach pain that doesn't go away, talk to your healthcare provider right away. To lower your risk, use Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) at the lowest dose and for the shortest amount of time possible.

Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) can raise your risk of getting bone fractures, especially if you're on a high dose or long-term treatment. Your provider might ask you to take vitamin D and calcium supplements while taking this medication. Talk with your provider about more ways to keep your bones healthy.

Though rare, it's possible for PPIs (including omeprazole) to cause or worsen lupus. This can happen within weeks to years of continuing this medication. To lower your risk for lupus, take the lowest dose of Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) for the shortest amount of time to ease your stomach symptoms. Symptoms of lupus can be different for everyone (such as joint pain or rash), so speak to your healthcare provider about what symptoms to watch out for. Symptoms of lupus should improve within 1 to 3 months after stopping Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate).

Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) can interact with many medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. For example, it can make warfarin (Coumadin) work less well and might raise your risk for bleeds. Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) can raise the levels of methotrexate (Trexall) in your body and put you at risk for toxicity. It can make certain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medications work less well, which put you at higher risk for infections that are more difficult to treat. Let your healthcare provider and pharmacist know all the medications you're taking before you start Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) so they can help you look for possible interactions.

Rarely, Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) can cause low levels of blood magnesium or vitamin B12. This is more likely to occur with long-term use of Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) - longer than 1 year for low magnesium levels and longer than 3 years for low vitamin B12 levels.