Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) don't need to be taken before meals after the first few doses.

Some providers are telling patients that it's not necessary to take PPIs (omeprazole, etc) before meals...after the first few doses. They believe that the drug reaches steady state after a few days...and therefore timing of dosing doesn't matter.

But this isn't true.

The half-life of PPIs is only about 1 or 2 hours...so steady state can never be obtained with daily dosing. The drug will have washed out of the body before the next dose is given.

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