FAQs

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets (omeprazole) may be used if you are pregnant but you should consult your GP or pharmacist first.

Omeprazole can be used if you are breastfeeding. While omeprazole is excreted in breast milk it is not likely to have a negative effect on your child when using the correct dosing.

It can take 2 or 3 days to reach full effect. If you expericence breakthrough symptoms, then you can use an antacid. If you have been using it for two weeks with no effect, then you should see your GP.

As with all medicines there may be potential side effects. Any side effects should be reported to your pharmacist or GP.

Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence and nausea/vomiting. Rare, but serious, signs to be aware of include allergy, reddening of the skin and peeling (potentially Stevens-Johnson syndrome), yellowing skin/dark urine indicating liver problems, bruising/severely reduced general condition and fever (indicating changes in white blood cells).22

You can buy Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets (omeprazole) from your local pharmacy or online.

Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

  1. eMC – Electronic Medicine Compendium; https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=omeprazole
  2. SmPC Pharmacological Properties Clause 5.1
  3. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-reflux/
  4. https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analsis/opinion/comment/how-the-prescribing-of-omeprazole-took-off-and-never-looked-back/10967655.article?firstPass=false
  5. https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/prescription-data/dispensing-data/prescription-cost-analysis-pca-data*
    NHS PCA 2018 Data Tables Direct download link: https://files.digital.nhs.uk/68/B0924D/PCA-eng-2018-Tables.xlsx
  6. SmPC Pharmacological Properties Clause 5.1
  7. Consumer Market Research study entitled 'Understanding the Heartburn Market', Pegasus Healthcare, September 2019.
  8. SmPC Clause 4.1 Therapeutic indications
  9. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-reflux/
  10. SmPC Pharmacological Properties Clause 5.1
  11. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg184/chapter/1-Recommendations
  12. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/indigestion-heartburn-pregnant/
  13. https://www.everydayhealth.com/gerd/gerd-and-smoking.aspx
  14. https://www.health.com/condition/gerd/9-medications-that-can-cause-heartburn
  15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2880354/
  16. https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/united-states-of-stress/how-stress-affects-digestion/
  17. https://patient.info/digestive-health/indigestion-medication/antacids
  18. https://www.aboutgerd.org/medications/h2-blockers.html
  19. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/antacids/
    https://reverehealth.com/live-better/understanding-antacids-work/
  20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10848650
    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2000.00759.x
  21. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/interaction/omeprazole-2.html
  22. SmPC Clause 4.8 Undesirable effects.

*In the NHS 2018 PCA, Omeprazole is the highest items of all chemicals dispensed in the Community in England within Proton Pump Inhibitors and H2 Blockers.

Row Labels Sum of Items
Omeprazole 31,038,076
Lansoprazole 25,461,167
Esomeprazole 1,899,478
Pantoprazole 1,270,941
Rabeprazole Sodium 355,175
Grand Total 60,024,837.00