The Indiscriminate use of Omeprazole: A Systematic Review

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) constitute an important drugs class, one of the most used in the world, with omeprazole being the best known representative. PPIs act by inhibiting the proton pump, which reduces gastric acidity and contributes to the treatment of diseases such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis. They are most used through self-medication indiscriminately and often wrongly prescribed. Studies have associated the use of omeprazole for long periods with diseases such as interstitial nephritis, bone demineralization, nutritional deficiencies, decreased immunity and harmful drug interactions. The objective is to discuss the misuse of omeprazole. The search was performed in the Pubmed, EMBASE, LILACS, SciELO and MEDLINE databases, using the terms: “proton pump inhibitors” AND “omeprazole” AND “proton pump inhibitor” AND “nonprescription drugs” AND “adverse effects”. Based on the results, the study reaffirms the health risk arising from prolonged use of omeprazole, requiring measures to ensure the rational use of this medication.