Omeprazole and placebo have same long-term effect on dyspepsia

Treatment with omeprazole relieved symptoms in the first 2 weeks in about half of patients with dyspepsia—a better response than in the patients treated with placebo. However, by 6 weeks a similar number of patients taking placebo also had symptoms relieved, and at 1 year treatment offered no benefit over placebo.

Additionally, treatment (vs placebo) did not reduce the number of patients who eventually would need endoscopy to investigate the cause of their dyspepsia. Interestingly, treating patients first with either placebo or omeprazole reduced the need for endoscopy by almost half.