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A doctor is warning anyone who takes a common type of medication commonly used for heartburn. In the UK, omeprazole is a popular drug that works as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It is often used to manage problems such as acid reflux and stomach ulcers.
Millions of NHS prescriptions for the drug are given out each year. It is seen by many as an essential medication for patients dealing with acid-related stomach problems, reports the Mirror.
But with so many people taking omeprazole, a doctor has issued a word of warning to anyone taking it.
Dr Ana Pérez Ballesta, a family doctor with a master's degree in Emergency Medicine, says taking the medication for the sake of it can be doing more harm than good.
She said: "If you take it unnecessarily, it can