Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJKcyZ6PDwM/If you are taking a proton pump, inhibitor such as omeprazole, Prilosec, esomeprazole, Nexium, or lansoprazole, Prevacid, you are likely not taking it at an optimal time with respect to meals. Most directions given with these drugs vaguely recommend taking them an hour or so before eating.  Lab data pinpoints a more specific time.It turns out that the best time to take any of these drugs is exactly 20 to 30 minutes before you begin eating. Let’s find out why. The role of these proton pump inhibitors is to shut off acid production in the stomach. They work on acid producing cells in the stomach lining known as parietal cells. However, the drugs as you swallow them are not capable of performing this task. They must first be converted to active forms within the acidic crevices of the parietal cells called canaliculi. This process requires approximately 20 to 30 minutes to occur.If you begin eating before taking these drugs or before 20-30 minutes after taking the