Overview
- Family doctor Ana Pérez Ballesta cautions that many people take omeprazole and other PPIs for years without a clear medical reason, often as a so‑called “stomach protector.”
- Observational research links prolonged use to reduced absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron and vitamin B12, raising risks of osteoporosis, anaemia and gastrointestinal infections including C. difficile.
- Coverage highlights reported links between long-term PPI use and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
- Stopping after sustained use can cause temporary rebound acid hypersecretion, so changes to treatment should be discussed with a clinician.
- PPIs remain indicated for conditions such as reflux, oesophagitis, ulcers and H. pylori therapy, and 73 million PPI prescriptions were dispensed in England in 2022–23.