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Electrolyte disturbance with omeprazole therapy
C Melville1, A Shah, D Matthew
1Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hospital for Sick Children, London, UK.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|January 1, 1994
Insights
Omeprazole, a gastric acid inhibitor, can cause severe electrolyte disturbances like sodium loss in children. Discontinuing omeprazole treatment resolved the issue, highlighting the need for monitoring electrolytes during therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor targeting gastric H+K+ ATPase.
- Acid suppression is crucial for managing pediatric gastrointestinal disorders.
Observation:
- A 5-year-old child developed severe electrolyte imbalance during omeprazole therapy.
- Excessive urinary sodium loss was a key feature of the disturbance.
Findings:
- The patient's electrolyte levels normalized after omeprazole withdrawal.
- This suggests a direct link between omeprazole and sodium wasting.
Implications:
- Clinicians should monitor electrolytes in pediatric patients on omeprazole.
- Understanding omeprazole's potential side effects is vital for safe pediatric prescribing.
Abstract:
Omeprazole is an antagonist to the H+K+ ATPase of the gastric parietal cell. We report a case of severe electrolyte disturbance in a 5-year-old child treated with omeprazole associated with excessive urinary sodium loss, that responded completely to omeprazole withdrawal.