1 May 2026Oral drugs
Omeprazole oral
Omeprazole guidance for gastro-oesophageal reflux and adult gastric or duodenal ulcers, with age-weight dosing and interaction precautions.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Antiulcer and gastric antisecretory agent (proton pump inhibitor).
Indications
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux.
- Gastric and duodenal ulcers in adults.
Forms and strengths
- 10 mg dispersible gastro-resistant tablet.
- 20 mg gastro-resistant capsule.
Dose
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
- Child under 5 kg: 0.7 to 1.4 mg/kg once daily in the morning, maximum 2.8 mg/kg daily.
- Child 5 to 10 kg: 5 mg once daily in the morning.
- Child 10 to 20 kg: 10 mg once daily in the morning.
- Child over 20 kg and adult: 20 mg once daily in the morning.
Gastric and duodenal ulcers
- Adult: 20 mg once daily in the morning.
- In severe or recurrent cases, the dose can be increased to 40 mg once daily if necessary.
Duration
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux: 3 days for short-term relief of symptoms or 4 to 8 weeks for long-term treatment.
- Gastric and duodenal ulcers: 7 to 10 days or up to 8 weeks in severe or recurrent cases.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Once dissolved, dispersible tablets should be administered within 30 minutes.
- Do not exceed 0.7 mg/kg daily, maximum 20 mg daily, in patients with severe hepatic impairment.
- May cause headache, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, skin rash, and fatigue.
- Monitor combination with atazanavir, itraconazole, diazepam, phenytoin, digoxin, and raltegravir.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Do not open capsules.
Dosage
| Age | Weight | (a) 1 mg/ml sol. | (b) 10 mg tablet | 20 mg capsule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 2 months | < 5 kg | 3 ml | - | - |
| 2 months to < 1 year | 5 to < 10 kg | 5 ml | - | - |
| 1 to < 6 years | 10 to < 20 kg | - | 1 tab | - |
| ≥ 6 years and adult | ≥ 20 kg | - | - | 1 cap |
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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