Dr. Simón Pardillas, MD: "I'm sure you've been told that taking omeprazole would protect your stomach. That's completely false."

Many patients believe that omeprazole protects the stomach from alcohol , antibiotics, or heavy meals , but this widely held assumption is not only incorrect, but can have medical implications if taken unnecessarily. This was recently explained by a healthcare professional who refuted this belief with clinical arguments.

The confusion surrounding this medication is so widespread that some people take it without medical advice, mistakenly associating it with a kind of preventive gastric shield. The reality, however, is more precise and requires distinguishing between specific indications and widespread habits without scientific basis.

It is only indicated in specific clinical cases

Dr. Simón Pardillas , a physician and YouTube channel contributor on Dentalk , was blunt: "You've probably been told that taking omeprazole will protect your stomach; that's completely false." As he explains in the video, this drug "will not create a protective film on the stomach, as is commonly believed."

Omeprazole belongs to the group of proton pump inhibitors, which means it works by "inhibiting acid production in the stomach." Its uses are well-defined: treatment and prevention of ulcers , esophageal reflux, and in patients taking long-term anti-inflammatory drugs. "Long-term doesn't mean one or two weeks," the specialist clarifies.

The doctor himself reveals that many patients are surprised when he prescribes an antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drug without accompanying it with omeprazole. "Even if I explain to them that it's not necessary, this misconception is so deeply rooted in society that they don't believe it ," he says. Despite this, omeprazole remains "the best-selling drug in Spain," Pardillas concludes.