Losec Dosage/Direction for Use

Omeprazole (Losec) capsules are recommended to be given in the morning and swallowed whole with half a glass of water. The capsules must not be chewed or crushed.
For patients with swallowing difficulties and for children who can drink or swallow semi-solid food: The capsule can be opened and the contents swallowed directly with half a glass of water or after mixing the contents in a slightly acidic fluid eg, fruit juice or applesauce, or in non-carbonated water. The dispersion should be taken immediately (or within 30 minutes). Always stir just before drinking. Rinse it down with half a glass of water.
Alternatively, patients can suck the capsule and swallow the pellets with half a glass of water.
Ingest without chewing the enteric-coated pellets.
Duodenal ulcer: The recommended dosage in patients with an active duodenal ulcer is Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily. Symptom resolution is rapid and in most patients healing occurs within 2 weeks. For those patients who may not be fully healed after the initial course, healing usually occurs during a further 2-week treatment period. In patients with poorly responsive duodenal ulcer, 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily is recommended and healing is usually achieved within 4 weeks. For the prevention of relapse in patients with duodenal ulcer disease, the recommended dose is Omeprazole (Losec) 10 mg once daily. If needed the dose can be increased to 1 to 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily. For NSAID associated duodenal ulcers, see NSAID associated gastroduodenal lesions. For eradication of Helicobacter pylori, see Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication regimens in peptic ulcer disease.
Gastric ulcer: The recommended dosage is Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily. Symptom resolution is rapid and in most patients healing occurs within 4 weeks. For those patients who may not be fully healed after the initial course, healing usually occurs during a further 4-week treatment period.
In patients with poorly responsive gastric ulcer, 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily is recommended and healing is usually achieved within 8 weeks. For the prevention of relapse of patients with poorly responsive gastric ulcer, the recommended dose is Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily. If needed, the dose can be increased to 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily. For eradication of Helicobacter pylori, see Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication regimens in peptic ulcer disease.
For NSAID associated gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers or gastroduodenal erosions in patients with or without continued NSAID treatment the recommended dosage of Omeprazole (Losec) is 20 mg once daily. Symptom resolution is rapid and in most patients healing occurs within 4 weeks. For those patients who may not be fully healed after the initial course, healing usually occurs during a further 4-week treatment period. For the prevention of NSAID associated gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers, gastroduodenal erosions and dyspeptic symptoms the recommended dosage of Omeprazole (Losec) is 20 mg once daily.
Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication regimens in peptic ulcer disease: Triple therapy regimens: Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg, amoxicillin 1 g and clarithromycin 500 mg, all twice a day for one week or Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg, metronidazole 400 mg (or tinidazole 500 mg) and clarithromycin 250 mg, all twice a day for one week or Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg 2 capsules once daily with amoxicillin 500 mg and metronidazole 400 mg both three times a day for one week.
Dual therapy regimens: Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg 2-4 capsules daily with amoxicillin 1.5 g daily in divided doses for two weeks. In clinical studies, daily doses of 1.5-3 g of amoxicillin have been used or Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg 2 capsules once daily and clarithromycin 500 mg three times a day for two weeks.
To ensure healing in patients with active peptic ulcer disease, see further dosage recommendations for Duodenal and Gastric ulcer. In each regimen if the patient is still Hp positive, therapy may be repeated.
Reflux esophagitis: The recommended dosage is Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily. Symptom resolution is rapid and in most patients healing occurs within 4 weeks. For those patients who may not be fully healed after the initial course, healing usually occurs during a further 4-week treatment period.
In patients with severe reflux esophagitis 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily is recommended and healing is usually achieved within 8 weeks. For the long-term management of patients with healed reflux esophagitis the recommended dose is Omeprazole (Losec) 10 mg once daily. If needed, the dose can be increased to 1-2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily.
Symptomatic gastro-esophageal reflux disease: The recommended dosage is Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg daily. Symptom relief is rapid.
Patients may respond adequately to 10 mg daily, and therefore individual dose adjustment should be considered. If symptom control has not been achieved after 4 weeks of treatment with Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg daily, further investigation is recommended.
Acid-related dyspepsia: In the relief of symptoms in patients with epigastric pain/discomfort with or without heartburn the recommended dosage is Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg once daily.
Patients may respond adequately to 10 mg daily and therefore this dose could be considered as a starting dose. If symptom control has not been achieved after 4 weeks of treatment with Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg daily, further investigation is recommended.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: In patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the dosage should be individually adjusted and treatment continued as long as is clinically indicated. The recommended initial dosage is 3 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg daily.
All patients with severe disease and inadequate response to other therapies have been effectively controlled and more than 90% of the patients maintained on doses of Omeprazole (Losec) 20-120 mg daily. When doses exceed Omeprazole (Losec) 80 mg daily, the dose should be divided and given twice daily.
Acid aspiration prophylaxis: The recommended dosage is 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg in the evening before surgery, followed by 2 capsules of Omeprazole (Losec) 20 mg on the morning after surgery.
Impaired renal function: Dose adjustment is not needed in patients with impaired renal function.
Impaired hepatic function: As bioavailability and plasma half-life of omeprazole are increased in patients with impaired hepatic function a daily dose of 10-20 mg may be sufficient.
Elderly: Dose adjustment is not needed in the elderly.
Children: For use in children 2 years and older the recommended dose is: See Table 1.

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If needed the dose may be increased to 20 mg and 40 mg respectively.
For use in children 0-24 months the recommended dose is: See Table 2.

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For children 0-3 months a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day may be sufficient.
Helicobacter pylori eradication for children from 4 years. (See Table 3.)

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