Re: Anyone here been on both Prilosec OTC and RX P... - Page 2

Tori3569 · ‎06-27-2010

@Mindy D wrote:
Anyone here been on both Prilosec OTC and RX Prilosec (not at the same time)? What was your experience?
Were you on Prilosec OTC first and then switched when you visited a specialist?

I was prescribed Prilosec by my gastroenterologist after my insurance changed to exclude Nexium because it went OTC. Recently, my prescription coverage changed to not cover any PPIs because they are almost all available OTC.

He started my on prescription strength Pepcid and it did not work at all for me. I had heartburn every day no matter what I ate.

I then started taking the otc Prilosec about a month ago and while I can tell it's not as effective, it is so much better than what had been happening for me.

I get blood tests frequently at my gastroenterologist and no issues.

depglass · ‎03-10-2010

I took OTC for years. Then a new neighbor, who happened to be a pharmacist, told me there is a definite rebound effect with that drug. I weaned myself off and now take an Alka Seltzer for the occasional case of heartburn. I should add I had a very stressful job when my stomach issues started and getting off might have been impossible at that stage in my life.

Xivambala · ‎07-26-2019

@Mindy D wrote:
@Xivambala wrote:
Only the generic version of OTC Prilosec, Omeprazole, that was recommended by my physician. It took a few rounds to knock out the heartburn problems I was having.
@Xivambala @Were the rounds separated by time intervals, or did you take them back to back? Did you take more than two rounds?

@Mindy D

This happened in 2018 just after I moved to Florida. The stress with the move and retirement at the same time just got to me. Anyway, I noticed the 1st 14-day treatment didn't completely stop the heartburn. I started a 2nd a few days later. I may have had partial of a third. Been too long to remember. I've been fine since.

HangingTen · ‎03-10-2010

I've taken the generic Prilosec OTC, the name brand Prilosec OTC, and prescription Omeprozole. The generic OTC did nothing for me so I eliminated it quickly. The prescription was twice the strength of the OTC but I didn't have any luck with it either. I've settled on the Prilosec OTC and take one pill each morning. When possible, I purchase in bulk at Costco or Sam's. It works great for me. Sometimes in the evening, I supplement it with a Rolaids. My doctor is aware of everything and performs yearly blood testing.

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

@HangingTen wrote:
I've taken the generic Prilosec OTC, the name brand Prilosec OTC, and prescription Omeprozole. The generic OTC did nothing for me so I eliminated it quickly. The prescription was twice the strength of the OTC but I didn't have any luck with it either. I've settled on the Prilosec OTC and take one pill each morning. When possible, I purchase in bulk at Costco or Sam's. It works great for me. Sometimes in the evening, I supplement it with a Rolaids. My doctor is aware of everything and performs yearly blood testing.

@HangingTen @May I ask what type of condition you take it for?

juanitalinda · ‎03-11-2010

Interesting thread. Life is so full of trade-offs.

I have taken the OTC Prilosec version for about three years at my gastroenterologists' recommendation. I have severe Barrett's esophogheus and go back for endoscopies every 3 years. So far, so good.

I guess everything is a risk. But, with the Prilosec OTC I can at least sleep all night without having to wake up with heartburn, and with any luck the esophogheus won't

get any worse.

While he did recommend bone density tests, but did not say anything about any additional kidney tests in addition to my annual blood test. I suppose I will ask him when I go in this summer.

Susan Louise · ‎03-14-2010

I started getting heartburn more frequently as the years passed from about 2006 til DH and I changed our lifestyle in September 2018..

It started as getting heartburn a few times a week after a meal...and no real specific foods either. I don't even care for spicy foods. At 1st, I would just use Pepto-Bismol until that alone wasn't helping.

By about 2007 I went to the Dr and he perscribed me a RX for the heartburn/GERD. By about 2010, I took it upon myself to start taking comparable OTC meds (my Dr knew - I was trying to save $)...like Zantac occassionally until I had to take even more meds because the heartburn/GERD kept getting worse. I was also, toward the end of the nightmare, was taking Prevacid daily...until even that was not enough. I would take one of those pills daily, a Zantac AND have to take Pepto-Bismol before bed.

I was starting to choke at night because of the acid reflux/GERD...difficulty breathing-catching my breath. I couldn't sleep in any other position other than having my head being propped up. It was frightening since I don't have 2 lungs anymore...17 yr lung cancer survivor.

Then fast forward to Sept 2018 when DH and I changed our lifestyle...because of his health - being diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. Within about 2-3 weeks of that change, I stopped having heartburn/GERD...no joke.

Now because I was so tramatized from months/years of the condition, I was at 1st hesitant on stopping all the meds I was taking, so I started to slowly wean myself off of them. Within 2 months I wasn't taking anymore at all.

Speed up to today...after 2.5 years of this new lifestyle - low carb/keto, I have not taken one pill or tablespoon of any RX or OTC PPI. It has literally been life changing.

Two takeaways...

1) It was all the excess carbs/sugar my body couldn't cope with anymore. I became a pre-diabetic with insulin resistance ramping up...heading down the same road as my DH.

2) This is also a fact: The pharma companies and Gov won't tell you because they will lose $. Many meds (I'm not saying all meds) really are unnecessary...I'm taking about those that if folks just changed their lifestyle, they wouldn't need.

Pharma/Gov want to keep folks needing meds. This is just one example. As one gets older, we produce less acid in our stomachs. We need a certain amount of acid to digest food. The more meds one takes to eliminate/rid the acid (what is actually left that one produces as they get older), the more difficult it is for one's body to digest/process food.

My body was literally fighting me to try and digest food and I was making it worse and worse for myself. I could have easily died in my sleep by choking if it continued. Let me add, my Dr should never have given me the RX to begin with and told me to just lower my carb intake. Sadly, so many Dr's are still work with patients - old school - under the belief that the food pyramid the gov developed as it stands is correct. In reality, it is upside down. If only DH & I had been eating the way we havve been all our lives, we would never had these particular health issues whatsoever.

We, along with many other folks thought keto/low carb was just a 'fad'. I'm so glad we took off our rose colored glasses and horse blinders. Better late than never...

I haven't been back to my Dr since I started the new lifestyle, so when I do eventually go back, it will be interesting to say the least. He doesn't even know I stopped all the OTC meds for heartburn/GERD!

Then add on all the other health risks by taking those PPI's. I am grateful every day for our lifestyle change. Not only has my health improved drastically, but the savings alone from not having to take any of them is also huge. We don't even have a bottle of Pepto-Bismol in the house for 'just in case'. That alone says a lot

And as for my DH, he doesn't have to take his diabetic meds anymore either...

Side note - For those interested, I recommend a book 'Lies my Dr Told Me' by Dr Ken Berry.

Quite eye opening...