Can You Take Omeprazole and Gaviscon Together?

Omeprazole and Gaviscon are both effective treatments for heartburn and reflux, but they work in different ways.

Omeprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) which works by stopping acid production from the stomach cells. It allows long-term reflux control and allows the oesophagus to heal from acid irritation. 

Gaviscon is a combination of alginate and antacid medicines that gives fast and short-term reflux relief by neutralising stomach acids and forming a protective barrier (or raft) on top of stomach contents to reduce oesophageal irritation. 

Omeprazole and Gaviscon can be used safely together to achieve long-term reflux control. The former helps deal with the problem at its source, but takes a while to achieve full effect; the latter helps to quickly and effectively treat symptoms, as well as deal with flare-ups. 

You can now order Acid Reflux Medications like Omeprazole and Gaviscon, or other General health medicines from Meds For Less. We deliver your chosen medicines to your home address within 24 hours of order, safely, easily and reliably. 

What Are Omeprazole and Gaviscon?

Omeprazole and Gaviscon are two different medicines that work in very different ways to help with indigestion, heartburn or acid reflux. 

Omeprazole belongs to a group called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and works by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Gaviscon belongs to a group of medicines called reflux suppressants or antacids + alginates. It works by forming a protective barrier ( or raft) that floats on top of the stomach contents and stops them from refluxing back into the oesophagus. 

How Omeprazole Works for Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Omeprazole (Image 1)  belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medicines work by blocking the acid-producing cells of the stomach (proton pumps). This, in turn, reduces the amount of stomach acid produced. 

Acid reflux and heartburn occur when excess stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus (food pipe) and irritates its lining. This causes the typical sharp stomach and chest pain typical of reflux. 

With Omeprazole reducing the production of stomach acid, there is less chance of acid reflux occurring, which reduces oesophageal irritation and allows the oesophagus to heal. 

Figure 1:Use Omeprazole  and gaviscon together for treatment of reflux 

How Gaviscon Helps With Indigestion and Reflux

Gaviscon works to provide fast relief against reflux (from stomach contents or acid) travelling back up into the oesophagus, which causes symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, bloating or discomfort. 

Gaviscon achieves its relief effects through its two key components, which help with its mechanism of action. 

• Alginate compounds – form a thick, foamy protective raft which floats on top of the stomach contents. This stops excess stomach acid from floating back into and irritating the oesophagus. 
  • This raft or barrier effect is especially helpful to stop oesophageal irritation or reflux when you are lying down. 
• Antacids (such as sodium bicarbonate or calcium bicarbonate )- these neutralise stomach acids and provide quick symptom relief.
  • Antacids reduce the burning, pain or discomfort that is caused by excess acid reflux into the oesophagus. 

Can You Take Omeprazole and Gaviscon at the Same Time?

Yes, you can take Omeprazole and Gaviscon together to help with issues. In fact, doctors sometimes advise and prescribe these medicines together for long-term reflux issues. 

Omeprazole reduces how much acid is produced in the stomach; however, it takes a few days of continuous use to achieve its peak effect.

Gaviscon, on the other hand, can be used for quick symptom relief from reflux. The combination of alginate and antacids in Gaviscon forms a protective raft above stomach contents to reduce reflux into the oesophagus, as well as neutralisation of excess acid in the stomach. 

Timing is important when considering taking these medicines together. Omeprazole works best when taken once daily on an empty stomach (ideally 30-60 minutes before breakfast). Taking Gaviscon too close to Omeprazole can sometimes reduce the latter’s effectiveness. 

For maximum effectiveness of both medicines, it is advisable to take omeprazole first thing in the morning and leave a a gap of atleast 2 hours before taking Gaviscon. 

For more information on questions like “Can you take Gaviscon with Omeprazole” or their combined effects on your individual health, please consult your healthcare provider. 

Benefits of Combining Omeprazole and Gaviscon

There are a variety of benefits of taking Gaviscon and omeprazole together for heartburn relief and acid reflux treatment.  These include:

• Short term relief and long term control:
  • Gaviscon provides short term relief, it works within minutes to neutralise stomach acid and form a protective barrier, which allows symptoms to be eased quickly. 
  • Omeprazole reduces stomach acid at the source. However, its acid suppression mechanism takes a few days to build to full effect. 

Using both together means effective and quick symptom relief combined with lasting protection later. 

• Protection against flare-ups
  • Sometimes it is still possible to get flare-ups of heartburn or indigestion when on omeprazole (especially after big meals, fatty meals or late-night eating). 
  • Taking Gaviscon during these times can quickly and effectively deal with flare-ups, while Omeprazole deals with long-term effects. 

• Usefulness at night
  • Reflux is often worse when lying down, leading to troublesome symptoms like burning, an incessant cough, or sharp chest pain when you’re trying to sleep.
  • Taking Gaviscon at nighttime can give extra nighttime protection and complement omeprazole’s overarching acid control. 

Safety Considerations and Possible Side Effects

The following is an overview of the safety considerations and possible side effects of taking Omeprazole and Gaviscon together.

Taking these medicines together is generally a safe combination; doctors often recommend taking them together to deal with long-term reflux because they act in different ways. 

Timing is important when taking both medicines together. Try taking Omeprazole first on an empty stomach (30-60 minutes before breakfast) and leave 2 hours in between, before taking Gaviscon. 

Gaviscon is generally safe for short-term and occasional use. Omeprazole is also safe for short-term and consistent use; however, for long-term use (beyond a year), please consult a healthcare provider, as prolonged use of PPIs can lead to vitamin B12 deficiencies. 

Some possible side effects that can arise as a result of the combined use of these medicines include:

Common side effects:

• Headache (by Omeprazole)
• Nausea (by both)
• Diarrhoea (by Both)
• Gas (by Both)
• Bloating (By both)

Rare side effects:

• Long-term omeprazole can cause Vitamin B12 deficiency or brittle bones
• Long-term Omeprazole use can also sometimes predispose to gut infections 
• High-sodium versions of Gaviscon may not be suitable for people with heart issues or kidney problems

There is little to no risk of a harmful interaction in taking both Gaviscon and Omeprazole together. The main thing to be cautious of is the timing of the dosages. 

Both medicines have a mild to moderate risk of common side effects and a very low risk of some rare side effects. If you have any questions, such as “Can you take Omeprazole and Gaviscon together safely?”, please speak to your healthcare provider. 

Alternatives and When to Seek Medical Advice

The following is an overview of alternatives to Omeprazole and Gaviscon for acid reflux and when to seek medical advice. 

Alternative medicines to Omeprazole or Gaviscon:

• Other PPI’s (like Omeprazole) include: Lansoprazole or Pantoprazole,which work like Omeprazole to reduce acid production
• Histamine (H2) receptor blockers. These medicines block the H2 chemical from acting on stomach cells and releasing stomach acids. They are not as strong or long-lasting as Omeprazole
• Simple antacids (Containing Calcium carbonate or Sodium bicarbonate) can neutralise stomach acid for quick relief, but do not form the protective alginate barrier of Gaviscon. 

Lifestyle changes:

• Eat smaller and more frequent meals instead of larger and infrequent ones 
• Avoid eating trigger foods for reflux, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, or indulging in trigger habits like late-night eating 
• Avoid lying down straight after eating, or avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime

You should consider seeking medical advice when and if:

• You keep needing to take Gaviscon or Omeprazole for a couple of weeks without improvement in symptoms
• Symptoms keep coming back despite treatment 
• You have to use antacids or alginates for most days

The following are signs that you need to urgently see a medical professional:

• You have difficulty swallowing, foods getting stuck or a persistent sore throat. 
• You experience unexplained weight loss, vomiting, black/tarry stools or blood in the vomit 
• You experience severe chest pain that is different to usual heartburn 
• You have been on long-term omeprazole treatment without review of your treatment. 

There are some side effects that you can experience when taking Omeprazole and Gaviscon. Most are mild to moderate and don’t cause too much trouble; they tend to subside with time. 

There is a small chance of more troublesome side effects occurring; however, this is extremely rare. If you do find that you are developing issues you find worrying or your condition matches some of the situations described above, please seek medical treatment.

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