It is commonly taken to treat conditions like frequent heartburn andgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Omeprazole works by blocking a receptor in the stomach that’s responsible for producing stomach acid.
Typically, omeprazole takes effect between 30 minutes to two hours after taking the medication.
Dougal Waters / Getty Images
Dougal Waters / Getty Images
What Is Omeprazole?
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that can help reduce stomach acid.
It is available with and without a prescription in both brand-name (Prilosec) and generic versions.
Omeprazole comes in several oral forms: tablet, dissolving tablet, capsule, and suspension.
Adults can take OTC forms of omeprazole to help reduceheartburnthat occurs multiple days per week or more frequently.
This common practice is known as off-label prescribing.
Coffee and Medications: Whats the Risk?
Some foods and beverages can interact with medications.
Coffee is one such beverage that can interact with common medications.
Absorption
Caffeine binds to receptors in the stomach and intestines and stimulates thedigestive process.
The blood often absorbs oral medications, such as tablets or capsules, through the digestive tract.
Caffeine and other components of coffee, known as chlorogenic acids, can increase stomach acid production.
However, some medications require less acid to be absorbed in the digestive tract.
For instance, amoxicillin may be less effective when taken with caffeine.
Distribution
Caffeine can affect the way medications are distributed into the blood and tissues.
Surprisingly, caffeine has the ability to limit certain drugs fromreaching the brain.
Elimination
Drinking coffeeoften results in an increased need to urinate.
This occurs because coffee directly leads to higher pressure on the kidneys, resulting in faster urine production.
Besides making urine, the kidney works to filter medications out of the blood for removal from the body.
As such, drinking caffeine speeds up the filtration process and removes medications from the body more rapidly.
However, the acidity of decaffeinated coffee may still alter the way the body absorbs medications.
Similarly, caffeinated soft drinks contain about 30 to 40 mg per 12-oz serving.
To prevent interactions, taking medications with plain water is best.
How Soon Can You Drink Coffee After Taking Omeprazole?
After taking omeprazole, you should wait at least an hour before drinking coffee.
Omeprazole andcoffeemay interact by causing opposite effects on stomach acid production.
Coffee contains acidic components, such as chlorogenic acids, which increase the acidity of the stomach.
In addition, the caffeine in coffee stimulates further acid production.
These actions explain why coffee may sometimes causeheartburn and acid reflux.
Side Effects
In most cases, omeprazole is well tolerated with only mild side effects.
Common side effects of omeprazole include:
Children may experience additional mild side effects.
When taking OTC omeprazole products, limit use to 14 days.
However, healthcare providers may sometimes prescribe omeprazole for longer periods when the benefit outweighs the risk.
These typically includevitamin B12, magnesium, or other mineral supplements.
Safely Taking Omeprazole
Most healthcare providers prescribe omeprazole for once-daily use.
For all-day acid-reduction relief, omeprazole works best when taken prior to the first meal of the day.
Potential for Drug-Related Interactions
Some medications may interact with omeprazole.
A few examples of these include:
Other medications may cause interactions with omeprazole.
Other lifestyle changes can help to lower the frequency and severity of heartburn symptoms.
PPIs are a medication class often taken to treat GERD.
Caffeine itself also increases stomach acid production.
Therefore, separating taking omeprazole from drinking anycaffeinated beveragesby at least an hour is best.
DailyMed.Omeprazole delayed-release tablet label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Prilosec (omeprazole) label.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Orange book: approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Acid reflux (GER and GERD) in adults.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, and nutrition for GER and GERD.
