Overview

• The NHS website advises people who buy omeprazole without a prescription not to take it for longer than two weeks and to consult a GP if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Long-term proton pump inhibitor use is linked to risks including Clostridioides difficile infection, low magnesium, weakened bones and vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Practical advice includes taking doses at the same time each day, with or without food, and swallowing enteric‑coated or gastro‑resistant tablets and capsules whole.
• Some forms of omeprazole are sold over the counter, but most require a prescription, and the NHS guidance page was recently reviewed in September 2025.
• PPIs are widely used in England, with 73 million NHS prescriptions dispensed in 2022–23 and about 15% of the population using these medicines.