Zegerid

Generic Name: omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate (oh ME pray zol and SO dee um by KAR bon ate)
Brand Names: Zegerid

What is Zegerid?

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Omeprazole decreases the amount of acid your stomach produces. Sodium bicarbonate is an antacid that raises the pH in your stomach to keep the omeprazole from breaking down in stomach acid.

Zegerid is used to treat ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or heartburn), and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid production.

Zegerid may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Zegerid

Zegerid can change the way your body absorbs or eliminates certain other drugs. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Zegerid contains sodium bicarbonate, a form of salt. Each capsule contains the equivalent of 300 mg of sodium. Each packet of powder contains the equivalent of 460 mg of sodium. If you are on a low-salt or low-sodium diet, you may not be able to use Zegerid. Talk with your doctor.

Take the capsule or powder for oral suspension only with water. Do not use any other type of liquid or food.

The 20-mg and the 40-mg forms of Zegerid contain the same strength of sodium bicarbonate. Do not use two 20-mg capsules to equal one 40-mg capsule. Do not use two 20-mg powder packets to equal one 40-mg powder packet. If you do not use the exact capsule or powder packet your doctor has prescribed, you may receive too much sodium bicarbonate.

Before taking Zegerid

Before using Zegerid, tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

metabolic or respiratory alkalosis (usually after prolonged illness); or
low calcium or potassium levels in your blood.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Zegerid.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Omeprazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use Zegerid without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Zegerid?

Take Zegerid exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take it in larger doses or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take Zegerid on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before eating a meal. If this medicine is given to a person who is fed through a nasogastric (NG) tube, the feeding should be stopped at least 3 hours before giving the medicine. Do not restart nasogastric feeding for at least 1 hour after giving Zegerid. Take the Zegerid capsule with a full glass of water. Do not use any other type of liquid or food. Do not open the capsule or empty the medicine powder from it. Swallow the capsule whole.

To use the powder form of Zegerid, open a packet and pour all of the powder into a small cup with 1 or 2 tablespoons of water. Do not use any other type of liquid. Stir the mixture and drink it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, sweating, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting.

What should I avoid while taking Zegerid?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while you are using Zegerid.

Zegerid side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat.

Less serious side effects may include:

headache;
nausea, stomach pain; or
diarrhea or constipation;
white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
mild fever.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Zegerid?

Zegerid can change the way your body absorbs or eliminates other drugs, including:

ampicillin;
atazanavir;
clarithromycin (Biaxin);
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);
diazepam (Valium) or similar sedatives;
disulfiram (Antabuse);
iron supplements;
ketoconazole (Nizoral);
phenytoin (Dilantin);
tacrolimus (Prograf); or
warfarin (Coumadin).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Zegerid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Zegerid.

What does my medication look like?

Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate is available with a prescription under the brand name Zegerid. Other brand or generic forms may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Zegerid 20 mg - light blue and white capsule
Zegerid 40 mg - dark blue and white capsule
Zegerid 20 mg - powder for oral suspension, packet
Zegerid 40 mg - powder for oral suspension, packet

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Zegerid only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.