Blood Test Essential with Omeprazole

[Chengdu18]

Hi I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy last June, the results of which indicated I had mild gastritis. My own GP put me on omeprazole morning and evening it was never monitored until I had bad swelling in one leg and ankle in January 2020. Consequently diagnosed with heart failure, sent to a clinic to have infusions of Furosemide to get rid of the fluid. They also monitored my kidney function and said it was low but OK. I was sent for a blood test by my own GP and referred to a kidney specialist as I had been admitted to hospital with Acute Kidney Injury stage 3. The consultant told me that Omeprazole had likely caused damage to the tube going into the kidney as I had a rare reaction to Omeprazole. So having just tapered off steroids for PMR, I had 2 weeks free, I was then put on massive doses of steroids to hopefully sort out the problem. After 6 months I have now taken my last steroids kidney function has improved slightly (40 should be about 80 for my age) and providing it stays stable I should be ok and avoid dialysis or at worst a kidney transplant. The moral of the story is to insist on a blood test if you have a change of tablet or put on omeprazole, as one phlebotomist said to me a blood test is the cheapest diagnostic test the NHS has, I would not want anyone to have the same experiences I have had this year it was no fun being admitted to hospital for tests and biopsies with Covid wards just around the corner!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Your phlebotomist needs to do a general PR action with the GPs who treat blood tests as if they are a precious commodity too good for the likes of patients!!!

Thanks for posting the warning and hope it all progresses well.

[Casia]

Thank you for this. I’ve been put on omeprazole for 4 to 6 weeks due to gastritis. I will definitely come off them after that period. Did it help your gastritis and do you know what caused it? I don’t have H Pylori. I think it may be the steroid plus the medication I had during and post my hip surgery.

[Chengdu18 in reply to Casia]

According to the Dr my age 69 and my diet amongst other things. Most people have it but don't know? I had a bit of heart burn before taking the tablets nothing now, just more wind.

[RoadTrip]

Is there a specific name of the blood test to ask for?

Am getting CRP every two weeks at the moment for Inflammation levels associated with GCA. Taking either 20 mg or 40 mg omeprazole daily depending on how stomach/ reflux is.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to RoadTrip]

Specifically creatinine and eGFR probably - renal panel more generally:

labtestsonline.org/tests/re...

Many of the tests are done on the same autoanalyser but only the requested ones are reported.

[RoadTrip in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks.