Prilosec OTC

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Go4alOngbOmB's avatar

Go4alOngbOmB

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673 posts
Jul 21, 2013 3:37 AM
I have been having nasty nasty heartburn for a while now. I notice I only get it after eating acid rich foods. I even went to the ER once (I never go to a doctor or the er) because I was concerned it was a heart attack. I just started Prilosec OTC today, and well. It made me feel kinda funky through the day. Not BAD per say, just funky. Also I am gassy as hell...to the point where my wife was blaming my kid for my gas!

Anyone else have any positive or negative experiences with this Over The Counter drug?
Jul 21, 2013 3:37am
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jul 21, 2013 9:39 AM
It always worked for me without problem. I don't take it anymore since I changed my diet and dropped some weight...the heartburn/acid reflux went away
Jul 21, 2013 9:39am
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Jul 21, 2013 9:43 AM
Need to change your diet first to see if that helps....sometimes it doesn't though and then you'll need medicine.

Add milk somewhere to your day....even chocolate.
Jul 21, 2013 9:43am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jul 21, 2013 12:01 PM
I take generic Prevacid (lansaprozole). Works for me, and I drink a lot, and often eat acidic foods.
Jul 21, 2013 12:01pm
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Jul 21, 2013 1:29 PM
ernest_t_bass;1476019 wrote:I take generic Prevacid (lansaprozole). Works for me, and I drink a lot, and often eat acidic foods.
this
Jul 21, 2013 1:29pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jul 21, 2013 7:37 PM
Never had heart burn in my life. Heard it sucks so hopefully I never have to experience it.
Jul 21, 2013 7:37pm
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Jul 21, 2013 7:41 PM
mcburg93;1476225 wrote:Never had heart burn in my life. Heard it sucks so hopefully I never have to experience it.
How old are you? It generally hits as you get older.
Jul 21, 2013 7:41pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jul 21, 2013 8:03 PM
I don't get heartburn.. Hope this helps
Jul 21, 2013 8:03pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jul 21, 2013 8:08 PM
Belly35;1476237 wrote:I don't get heartburn.. Hope this helps

At your age hod good did that feel to say.
Jul 21, 2013 8:08pm
GoChiefs's avatar

GoChiefs

Resident Maniac

16,754 posts
Jul 21, 2013 8:11 PM
bases_loaded;1476241 wrote:At your age hod good did that feel to say.

/Belly'd
Jul 21, 2013 8:11pm
bases_loaded's avatar

bases_loaded

Senior Member

6,912 posts
Jul 21, 2013 8:12 PM
GoChiefs;1476244 wrote:/Belly'd

Karmaed
Jul 21, 2013 8:12pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jul 21, 2013 8:49 PM
believer;1476227 wrote:How old are you? It generally hits as you get older.
39.
Jul 21, 2013 8:49pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 21, 2013 11:10 PM
Go4alOngbOmB;1475817 wrote: Anyone else have any positive or negative experiences with this Over The Counter drug?
I take it twice a day and have a prescription for the generic stuff. (omeprazole) Started taking it in high school and got a prescrption when I was 19 or 20. It's considerably cheaper if you go to the doctor and ask for it because it's not patented anymore so they can dispense generics.

If you just started taking it, you won't notice it working for a few days. It's a "therapy" drug, so you'll have to take it on a consistent basis for it to work. For one-time deals, it won't help a bit. Stuff like Pepcid is better for that.

I never noticed any side-effects, and I don't think there should be any...but I guess it's a medicine so your mileage may vary depending on your body. It's a PPI, so it works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach creates. It makes GERD more-manageable, but my stomach still acts up on certain foods and any alcohol.
Jul 21, 2013 11:10pm
F

friendfromlowry

Senior Member

6,239 posts
Jul 22, 2013 1:36 AM
dlazz;1476366 wrote:It makes GERD more-manageable, but my vagina still acts up on certain foods and any alcohol.
FIFY LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 22, 2013 1:36am
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Jul 22, 2013 5:48 AM
dlazz;1476366 wrote:If you just started taking it, you won't notice it working for a few days. It's a "therapy" drug, so you'll have to take it on a consistent basis for it to work. For one-time deals, it won't help a bit. Stuff like Pepcid is better for that.
Correct.

Pepcid works great for "immediate" relief but only works for about 24 hours. Pepcid works best if you take it just before you know you will be indulging in foods and drinks that cause you discomfort.

OTC drugs like Prevacid and Prilosec work over time and last longer. You take them for 14 days and then you're good to go for a while.
Jul 22, 2013 5:48am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jul 22, 2013 7:19 AM
friendfromlowry;1476399 wrote:FIFY LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reps
Jul 22, 2013 7:19am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 22, 2013 7:43 AM
believer;1476410 wrote: OTC drugs like Prevacid and Prilosec work over time and last longer. You take them for 14 days and then you're good to go for a while.

Oh... And I forgot to mention the "rebound effect" when you lay off of the pills. If you take them for a month and then suddenly stop, you'll get heartburn more severe than when you had it in the first place.
Jul 22, 2013 7:43am
W

wghfan

Senior Member

744 posts
Jul 23, 2013 12:48 AM
I take Omeprazole Magnesium, which has the same active ingredients as Prilosec. It is cheaper, and works just as good. Took the 14 day supply, and then stopped, but after a couple of weeks the heartburn started coming back. So what i have been doing is taking it like 3 times a week, or every couple of days, and then I'm covered for good.
Jul 23, 2013 12:48am
Go4alOngbOmB's avatar

Go4alOngbOmB

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673 posts
Jul 24, 2013 3:10 AM
The package said do the 14 day routine and then not do it again for 4 months. I'm on day 5, and its gotten better, its still there, but nowhere as bad as it was. So I imagine its decreasing the acid and healing whatever was messed up down there. Yes, I've done the diet change, in fact I lost 65 pounds, thinking it would help, and it got worse. (I blame my love for hot things and acidic veggies) The gas has started to subside a little. All in all, Ill do the 14 days, and see how it goes AFTER that. It was an 11 dollar investment. So no matter what, it will be worth the 11 dollar risk.

Also, thanks for the replies everyone. They were mostly helpful, until I got bellyd/
Jul 24, 2013 3:10am
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Jul 24, 2013 10:19 AM
Maybe you should just go to the doctor.
Jul 24, 2013 10:19am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Jul 24, 2013 12:29 PM
wes_mantooth;1475837 wrote:It always worked for me without problem. I don't take it anymore since I changed my diet and dropped some weight...the heartburn/acid reflux went away
Same thing here. When I start getting heartburn that is my body telling me that I need to start cutting back on some stuff.
Jul 24, 2013 12:29pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 24, 2013 1:01 PM
thavoice;1478003 wrote:Same thing here. When I start getting heartburn that is my body telling me that I need to start cutting back on some stuff.

For some people, it's more complicated than that. I'm not overweight (6"1', 165) and still get it. Poor genetics.
Jul 24, 2013 1:01pm
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Jul 24, 2013 7:50 PM
dlazz;1478021 wrote:For some people, it's more complicated than that. I'm not overweight (6"1', 165) and still get it. Poor genetics.
this
Jul 24, 2013 7:50pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

Senior Member

15,933 posts
Jul 24, 2013 11:31 PM
Heartburn is usually a sign of very little stomach acid. Taking something like Prilosec is only making it worse, and is a temporary band-aid on a bigger problem.

I'd start by removing acidic and gut-irritating foods (refined grains, seed oils, very spicy foods, nuts/legumes) and consider taking Betaine HCL (Hydrochloric acid) with protein-dominant meals and a full-blown digestive enzyme with protein/fat/carbohydrate meals.

Do you have any problems with digesting certain things? Do you have a gall bladder? Any prior issues with gall bladder issues?
Jul 24, 2013 11:31pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 25, 2013 7:51 AM
Azubuike24;1478323 wrote:Heartburn is usually a sign of very little stomach acid.
Heartburn is usually a sign of too much stomach acid, but nice try though.
Jul 25, 2013 7:51am