Dr Ranj omeprazole 'clash' warning as he says some may need to 'switch' meds

Dr Ranj omeprazole 'clash' warning as he says some may need to 'switch' meds The warning applies to certain people taking the medication alongside another type, which could cause more harm than good TV doctor Dr Ranj Singh has issued a health warning about taking certain medications that could cause issues when taken together. The health expert appeared on today's (September 21) episode of BBC Morning Live to make viewers aware of some medications that 'clash' - with an important message for some people taking omeprazole or esomeprazole. Omeprazole or esomeprazole both work by turning down the "pumps" in your stomach lining that secrete acid. Doing so helps relieve conditions like frequent heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and stomach ulcers. According to data, approximately one in seven people in the UK takes a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), like omeprazole or esomeprazole. This equates to millions of people, meaning PPIs are some of the most widely used medications in the country. Speaking to hosts Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones, the NHS paediatric emergency physician warned some patients taking prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole, to avoid mixing them with one particular heart medication. In a warning that won't apply to everyone taking the PPIs, Dr Ranj said omeprazole and esomeprazole should not be taken with clopidogrel. Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medicine that prevents blood cells, called platelets, from sticking together to form dangerous blood clots. It lowers the risk of repeat heart attacks and strokes, and improves blood flow in narrowed arteries. Data shows that around 11 million prescription items for clopidogrel are dispensed each year across the UK. This volume of dispensing indicates that hundreds of thousands of people in the UK rely on it every day. For those who are taking both medications, Dr Ranj says you may need to be changed to another PPI instead that doesn't 'clash', such as lansoprazole. However, he did stress that your healthcare specialist should pick up on this. "If you are taking a proton pump inhibitor that reduces stomach acid, like omeprazole or esomeprazole, those medications can reduce the effectiveness of clopidogrel," he said. "So we might actually want to switch you over to another type of PPI, like lansoprazole or pantoprazole instead. Your healthcare professional should pick up on that." According to the NHS Specialist Pharmacist Service, you should avoid taking omeprazole and clopidogrel together. It says this is because omeprazole can reduce clopidogrel's effectiveness in preventing blood clots. Omeprazole stops the liver enzyme CYP2C19, which converts clopidogrel to its active metabolite. Less active clopidogrel means your blood may not be as protected against clots, heart attacks, or strokes.