Not really looking for medical advice.
I’ve been having some heartburn and occasional reflux, and decided to try OTC Prilosec. After taking it for a few days, its definitely working. It comes in a box of 14 pills, to be taken daily, described as “one 14-day course of treatment.” The instructions warn against taking it for more than 14 days. My question: what horrible fate befalls a person who continues taking Prilosec for more than 14 days?
Nothing. They don’t want you taking it for more than 14 days in case your heartburn is masking some more serious medical problem. If you’re certain it’s not, it’s fine to take it daily. I do.
I’m confused; why *would *you only want to treat heartburn for 14 days?
Valete,
Vox Imperatoris
The instructions on the OTC pack are to not repeat a 14 day course more than once every 3 months. My doctor, however, said to take it more often if needed, which seems to be pretty common advice from the medical profession. He also said something like what Q.E.D. did, that they are trying to protect themselves legally in case somebody is taking the stuff when they actually have stomach cancer.
See what YOUR doctor says.
At least it’s finally gone generic (omeprazole is the generic name).
As my doctor explained it to me (back when Prilosec was prescription-only), recurring heartburn is often caused by damage to the cardiac sphincter (the “valve” at the top of your stomach) and the esophagus, which is then further inflamed & irritated by stomach acid. Prilosec and other proton-pump inhibitors reduce the acid level in your stomach sufficiently so that the damage can heal. (You’re also supposed to avoid certain acidic foods while on Prilosec.)
Even though you’re not looking for medical advice, it wouldn’t hurt to get some and might end up saving you some money in the long run. Even though it’s available OTC, you can also get it by prescription for daily use (I do) and your insurance might pay for it.
I took it daily for years (as a prescription). No bad side effects…other than having to take a pill every day. I eventually switched to Protonix, which I could take every three days with the same benefit. I was selected to participate in a clinical trial for a physical barrier for GERD called Gatekeeper. I stopped the meds in March 2004 for the study and have not taken one since.
I feel your pain.
I’m on prescription Prilosec (generic) too. Go see your doc, and get a scrip if you have insurance.
WAY cheaper if it really is GERD and not something more horrible.
Another prescription taker here. I was on Nexium, but the insurance company decided they were smarter than the doctor who prescribed it, so I went back to generic Prilosec.
So what’s the story on this thing? I take 2 Nexium a day and it costs me $100 per month plus it doesn’t work all the time. Can you burp?
I see Omeprazole 20mg on Sam’s website but I didn’t see it in the store the last time I bought Prilosec there. Did this just come out in generic form?
From my nutritionist:
Stomach acid serves to break down food so that it can be readily absorbed. Suppression of stomach acid COULD mean that food passes into the colon in a less absorbable form, therefore you could absorb less of the nutrients you need.
Common sense being queen, take a vitamin with the stuff…your RDA may be higher while you’re on them. I’ve always assumed this is why you’re not supposed to take them for very long. But IANAD, just got the info in seminars on nutritient absorbtion.
I take Prilosec until things heal up which is usually a couple of weeks. I’ve never had to take it for a whole month. $1.20 per pill per day. Generic should be .55 cents a pill. For me it’s as described above, stomach acid tears up the valve and some of the esophagus. I’ve had acid reflux while I’m sleeping to the point where I’ve inhaled it which is extremely painful.
The generic has been out for about a year.
This might be psychosomatic or something but Prilosec always used to give me severe rebound heartburn for at least two days after I discontinue it even if I take it only for three or four days. After I stopped taking Prilosec, I started to get a lot less heartburn.
But could you also be absorbing fewer calories and carbs? Taking that to an extreme, could antacids be used for weight loss?
I’ve had this, on and off, for years . . . and was my primary reason to try the Prilosec. And since I have no health insurance, I’m sticking with the OTC.
I’m guessing…and I think a professional would be too, as nutrient absorbtion varies among individuals and is difficult to gauge. But yes, my point was that lack of stomach acid can possibly result in less absorbtion period. Fewer calories, nutrients, whatever. If you’re like me, try taking a handful (i.e., over the recommended dose) of Tums and see how fast you get diarrhea. I believe your food exits your stomach in a form that’s less broken down than if you had normal stomach acid production.
I have had a gastric bypass, so the pouch where my food ends up does not produce acid. As I understand it, acid is still produced in my “old stomach” and meets what I eat lower down in my digestive system. For this and other reasons, I’m expected to take a handful of vitamins every morning (and I do). I do not get acid reflux and I only throw up if something gets stuck. When I do throw up, it’s not the same as it used to be…no acid, just mushed up food.
I know a doctor or someone I know will come along soon and tell meI’m talking out of my arse…and I am, this is all just a guess about why it might be bad to take too much antacid. But I worked for years in biotech too. My guess is that it’s effect on nutrient absorbtion is minimal and that enough of it to cause weight loss would simply make you sick. And yes, even if there is minimal to no effect you have to be warned or you can sue. A biotech company’s main function is to avoid fines and law suits.
My guess is that this advice was the price of making it OTC. The idea is that if the difficulty persists more than two weeks, see your doctor and follow his advice.
My wife took losec (what they call it here) for years (since 1995), then the doctor suggested she try nexium, but that didn’t work as well and now she takes omeprazole which seems to work better (but she feels it is because at some point losec changed from a capsule to a tablet, while the omeprazole is again a capsule (timed release). None of these is sold OTC here, BTW.