A patient with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease is prescribed omeprazole. When should the patient take this medication for optimal effectiveness?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Before meals. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that works by reducing stomach acid production. Taking it before meals allows the medication to be most effective in inhibiting the proton pumps before they are stimulated by food intake. This timing optimizes the drug's ability to reduce acid secretion during the digestion process.
Choice A (With meals) is incorrect because taking omeprazole with meals may reduce its effectiveness as it will not have enough time to inhibit acid production before food intake. Choice B (At bedtime) is also incorrect as omeprazole works best when taken before meals to prevent acid production. Choice D (After meals) is incorrect because waiting until after meals to take omeprazole means that acid production has already been stimulated by the food consumed, reducing the drug's effectiveness in inhibiting acid secretion.