The Side Effects Of The Medication Prilosec

Prilosec is a brand-name prescription medication that is marketed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The active component in Prilosec is omeprazole, which was approved by the FDA in 1989 as a gastric acid reducer, according to Drugs.com. RxList.com adds that omeprazole is considered a proton pump inhibitor and used to treat gastroesophageal acid reflux and other conditions caused by excess stomach acid production. Despite Prilosec's symptomatic benefits, negative side effects have been observed during clinical trials.

Headache

According to DrugLib.com, the most common side effect reported from worldwide clinical trials of Prilosec Delayed-Release capsules consisting of 3,096 adult patients was headache, at an incidence rate of 6.9 percent. Other clinical trials conducted on children revealed similar findings, although respiratory problems and fevers were more common than headaches. The types or frequency of the headaches were not noted in the clinical trials.

Abdominal Pain & Nausea

Using the same worldwide clinical trails conducted on Prilosec Delayed-Release capsules, investigators noted that abdominal pain was the second most common side effect among the adults, at an incidence rate of 5.2 percent. Perhaps related to the abdominal pain, was nausea, which was the third most common side effect at an incidence of 4 percent, as cited on DailyMed.com. During post-marketing reports, patients self-reported that gastrointestinal side effects also included pancreatitis, irritable colon and abdominal swelling.

Diarrhea

The clinical trials reported that the fourth most common side effect of Prilosec capsule usage was diarrhea, at an incidence of 3.7 percent. The PDR Guide to Drug Interactions, Side Effects, and Indications notes that constipation is also a known side effect from Prilosec tablet usage. Post-marketing reports from patients also mentioned problems with defecation, including discolored stool.

Vomiting

Vomiting was the fifth most common reported side effect from the clinical trials, at an incidence rate of 3.2 percent. Vomiting may well have been a result from the other more common side effects of abdominal pain and nausea. Post-marketing reports from patients on Prilosec did not include vomiting as a side effect.

Flatulence & Gas

The final side effect considered fairly common and statistically significant from the clinical trials on Prilosec capsules was flatulence and gas, at an incidence rate of 2.7 percent. The PDR Guide to Drug Interactions, Side Effects, and Indications notes that flatulence and gas can be the most common side effect with Prilosec liquid suspension usage and some of the generic omeprazole tablets and capsules.