{"id":626951,"date":"2024-02-21T09:30:55","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T14:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=626951"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:07:23","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:07:23","slug":"omeprazole-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/omeprazole-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it safe to take omeprazole during pregnancy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy can be an exciting time, but it’s not without an unpleasant side effect or two. <\/span>Up to half of pregnant women experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)<\/span><\/a>, also known as indigestion or heartburn.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many <\/span>medications and natural remedies<\/span><\/a> for acid reflux. Prilosec (<\/span>omeprazole<\/span><\/a>) is a commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn medication. It’s a <\/span>proton pump inhibitor drug<\/span><\/a> (PPI), which means it reduces stomach acid production. PPIs are also used to treat ulcers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, not all drugs are safe for pregnant people. So, is it safe to take omeprazole during pregnancy? Research suggests that, in many cases, yes. But you could also try antacids, sleeping with your head elevated, and <\/span>avoiding fatty or spicy foods.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Here is what you should know about taking omeprazole while pregnant—and alternative drugs or natural remedies for pregnancy-related acid reflux.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you take omeprazole while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are no definitive studies on the safety of omeprazole use during pregnancy. The <\/span>Food and Drug Administration (FDA)<\/span><\/a> does not offer any warning against using it to treat <\/span>acid reflux during pregnancy<\/span><\/a>. However, that does not mean it is risk-free, according to <\/span>Staci McHale, MD, FACOG<\/span><\/a>, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist at New Beginnings OB-GYN in Las Vegas.<\/span><\/p>\n

There’s a reason OB-GYNs do not recommend the use of omeprazole in early pregnancy: <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that PPIs such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole can cross the placenta. This means that when a pregnant person takes omeprazole, the drug may pass through the boundary between their body and the developing fetus, <\/span>potentially affecting the baby’s health<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

What are the risks of taking omeprazole while pregnant?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Though omeprazole can cross the placenta, research has not found that it causes harm to the developing fetus. In a <\/span>2010 Danish study<\/span><\/a> of data from 840,968 live births, babies exposed to PPIs during the first trimester of pregnancy had no increased prevalence of major birth defects compared to those who were not exposed. <\/span><\/p>\n

A pregnant person taking omeprazole is still at risk of experiencing side effects. Common possible <\/span>side effects of omeprazole<\/span><\/a> include:<\/span><\/p>\n