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Medical Forum / General / Pharmacy / October 2003Dangers of Prilosec OTC?
I have been bothered by acid reflux for about a year now and have cornered the market on Tums and Pepcid. It's still not the "beat all," but I'm too cheap to go to the doctor for advice (one of America's uninsured). I was interested in trying Prilosec when it came OTC, but when I went to buy it for the first time, all of the information said to use it only for two weeks and not again for four months. I thought that might be either because it had some lasting effect or was actually dangerous in some way. Anyway, I started taking it and from the first day--oh my god--it's fabulous! As far as I can tell that's exactly what I needed. Sadly, in the middle of the 15th day, the pills being all gone, the symptoms started to return. I really, really, really want to keep using Prilosec, but I don't know what the ramifications are of continued use. I know the OTC version differs from the Rx version, but I don't know in what ways. Can anyone give me a little info or help with this issue? >From: misslabeled@yahoo.com (MissLabeled@yahoo.com) >Subject: Dangers of Prilosec OTC? >Date: 3 Oct 2003 14:22:16 -0700 >I have been bothered by acid reflux for about a year now and have >cornered the market on Tums and Pepcid. It's still not the "beat [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >months. I thought that might be either because it had some lasting >effect or was actually dangerous in some way. >Anyway, I started taking it and from the first day--oh my god--it's >fabulous! As far as I can tell that's exactly what I needed. Sadly, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >use. I know the OTC version differs from the Rx version, but I don't >know in what ways. >Can anyone give me a little info or help with this issue? MissLabeled, The package labeling, and instructions, on OTC Prilosec are pretty self-explanatory...if after taking the nightly dosage for 14 days, during which symptoms become worse, stop taking Prilosec and consult your physician. After the 14 days, if symptoms reoccur within 3 months, it is advised to consult your physician for a complete exam. At the examination, you should inform your doctor that you have tried the Prilosec 14 day treatment, this will help them make a better decision on the next step. Sometimes, you may need to take another 14 day treatment of Prilosec after 3 months. Your doctor should be able to help you in this process. Most of the displays of Prilosec OTC also have pamphlets with a full range of information. C U L8R! Wiz <{;-) Wizard57M Glenn Gilbreath Jr. Registered Pharmacist http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm -- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! -- Glenn Gilbreath Jr. <Wizard57M@SurfBest.net> wrote in sci.med.pharmacy: > MissLabeled, > The package labeling, and instructions, on OTC Prilosec are pretty > self-explanatory...if after taking the nightly dosage for 14 days, > during which symptoms become worse, stop taking Prilosec and consult > your physician. That's interesting. The package actually instructs that it be taken every morning. >From: "Brandy?Alexandre" <brandy@kamikaze.org?> >Subject: Re: Dangers of Prilosec OTC? >Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2003 06:32:13 -0000 >Glenn Gilbreath Jr. <Wizard57M@SurfBest.net> wrote in sci.med.pharmacy: >> MissLabeled, >> The package labeling, and instructions, on OTC Prilosec are pretty >> self-explanatory...if after taking the nightly dosage for 14 days, >> during which symptoms become worse, stop taking Prilosec and consult >> your physician. >That's interesting. The package actually instructs that it be taken >every morning. Yes, every morning is what the instructions read. Though over the years in experience with Prilosec Rx, I've had more patients take it at bedtime. So, maybe I should have said "daily"...either way, read the instructions, that is what they put them in the package for. Failure to heed your body's signs that something serious is possibly underway is the primary reason I still do not think PPIs should be OTC. "It's just heartburn", I've heard that on more than one occassion that turned out to be heart attack, or cancer! C U L8R! Wiz <{;-) ps...you do notice the advertising for all those Rx PPIs and even the Zantac 75 illustrate the person in distress at...bedtime? <{;-) Wizard57M Glenn Gilbreath Jr. Registered Pharmacist http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm -- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! -- Actually the best time to take any PPI is 30 minutes prior to a meal. PPI's only stop acid secretion in proton pumps actually secreting acid (ie, those that are dormant are unaffected by the drug) There are fewer inactive proton pumps after eating a meal (acid secretion increased in response to food in order to aid digestion). Taking the pill 30 minutes before eating assures the drug is being absorbed at nearly the same time most of the proton pumps are active. I've actually seen quite a few PPI "failures" due to inappropriate administration. >>From: "Brandy Alexandre" <brandy@kamikaze.org > >>Subject: Re: Dangers of Prilosec OTC? [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm >-- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! -- <snip> I still do not think PPIs should be OTC. "It's just heartburn", I've heard that on more than > >one occassion that turned out to be heart attack, or cancer! > >C U L8R! [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm > >-- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! -- Prilosec was put on OTC status mainly to save the insurance companies money. Now they will not have to cover it. Some people will not go to a doctor unless they are carried in the office feet first. They may not trust doctors, they are afraid of them, they do not have health insurance, so forth. I used to be that way. If you are young enough and healthy enough you probably don't have a heart attack or cancer and you can treat yourself. I notice when they advertise the OTC heartburn medications they show people pigging out on pizza or Mexican food. If you can't tolerate the stuff then why not just not eat it? No, go ahead and eat it, get heartburn, then buy our wonder drug to cure your heartburn. James Pinkerton <tompink@megagate.com> wrote in sci.med.pharmacy: > Prilosec was put on OTC status mainly to save the insurance > companies money. Now they will not have to cover it. I talk about that all the time. People think it's a great thing and I have to remind them it's so that insurance companies don't have to pay for it. That's why the most common prescribed drugs are becoming OTC. Some may think it's great that they can get some drug for $20, but you're getting less for more. You aren't getting the wisdom of your physician to prescribe it to you, and the office co-pay is usually about $10 and the prescription $5. Well, to cover all of the messages, I'm not having a heart attack or I would have been dead by now. My question was not what I should do with regard to doctors, but about the drug itself and if it is dangerous to keep taking it. That's all I wanted to know. Does it become toxic? Carcinogenic? Build up a tolerance? Those kinds of things. I actually do expect to get health insurance in the next few months either through my employer or self-paid, so it's really for just a relatively short period of time I'm asking. > <snip> > I still do not think PPIs should be OTC. "It's just heartburn", I've heard [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > why not just not eat it? No, go ahead and eat it, get heartburn, then buy > our wonder drug to cure your heartburn. Many of us are on long-term use of a PPI such as Prilosec for treatment of GERD or Barrett's. I believe the principal "danger" of continuing self-treatment is that you may not be aware of the damage to your esophagus, and you may need a different dose to ensure proper healing or you may have other problems. If you are concerned about the cost of a doctor visit, I guess a 'scope at ~1000-1500 USD to check the damage and look for Barrett's or other problems is out of the question? Just my $.02 as a reflux and Barrett's sufferer and PPI user... >I have been bothered by acid reflux for about a year now and have >cornered the market on Tums and Pepcid. It's still not the "beat >all," but I'm too cheap to go to the doctor for advice (one of >America's uninsured). Are there public clinics where you can get seen? Most areas do have such. A teaching hospital with "pay what you can" rates? Please look into facilities for low-income or uninsured people. They do exist. I'd worry about your continuing w/o medical advice, because you may actually have GERD, and need to be on permanent medication. Been there! Don't postpone a medical screening until, heaven forbid, you develop a serious esophageal problem!! -- OsteoMama I was interested in trying Prilosec when it >came OTC, but when I went to buy it for the first time, all of the >information said to use it only for two weeks and not again for four [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Can anyone give me a little info or help with this issue? |
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