Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using omeprazole as follows:

Liver disease

• Omeprazole is mainly metabolized in the liver.
• If liver function is deficient, metabolism of omeprazole could be slowed down.
• Slowing down of the drug metabolism can result in increased risk for side-effects and toxicity with the medication.

Malnourishment

• A number of vitamins and supplements need acid environment in the stomach, to get absorbed into the body.
• Acid in the stomach is needed for activation of enzymes needed for digestion of food.
• Omeprazole use is discouraged in severely malnourished individuals, as the medication compromises the acid environment in the stomach needed for digestion and absorption of nutrients, thus complicating the malnourishment.

Drug Resistance

• Omeprazole reduces the absorption of some supplements and medications, such as, vitamin B₁₂, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, some anti-HIV medications, and blood thinners like Plavix, as they need acid environment for their absorption and activity.
• This results in compromised therapeutic benefits and contribute to development of drug resistance for those medications.