Omeprazole begins to work by reducing stomach acid secretion usually within 1 hour after oral administration, with the maximum acid-suppressing effect occurring around 2 hours after taking the dose
. However, while the drug starts acting quickly at the cellular level, noticeable symptom relief typically takes longer. For most people, it takes about 1 to 4 days of daily use before they begin to feel improvement in symptoms such as heartburn or acid reflux
. The full therapeutic effect, especially for conditions like GERD or stomach ulcers, may take up to 2 to 4 weeks to be fully realized
. In summary:
- Onset of acid suppression: within 1 hour
- Maximum acid suppression: about 2 hours
- Initial symptom relief: 1 to 4 days
- Full effect: up to 2 to 4 weeks with consistent daily use
This timeline reflects that omeprazole inhibits the proton pumps irreversibly, but symptom improvement depends on acid reduction over time and healing of the affected tissues
. For best results, it is recommended to take omeprazole before meals and consistently as prescribed. If symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, consulting a healthcare provider is advised to reassess treatment
