Prilosec Generic

About Prillosec

Prilosec is a medicine used to treat heartburn or irritation of the esophagus caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can also be used for the short-term treatment of ulcers in the stomach or small intestine. Omeprazole can also be used with certain antibiotics to treat ulcers of the small intestine. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Uses of Prilosec

When you buy Prilosec without a prescription, you should know that the drug can be used to treat:

• duodenal ulcer
• stomach ulcer
• Reflux of gastric juice causing inflammation of the esophagus (reflux esophagitis)
• Symptoms caused by reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus (reflux disease, heartburn)
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
• Prevent the recurrence of esophageal inflammation or ulceration of the stomach and duodenum
• Combined treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Prilosec Dosage

Take Prilosec by mouth on an empty stomach or on an empty stomach. Swallow Prilosec whole. Do not break, crush, chew or open Prilosec before swallowing. If you have trouble swallowing the capsule, add 1 tablespoon of applesauce to an empty bowl. Open the capsule and empty the granules on the applesauce. Mix the lozenges with the applesauce and swallow the mixture immediately, followed by a glass of cool water. The applesauce used should not be hot and should be soft enough to swallow without chewing. Do not chew or crush the granules.

Do not store the mixture for later use. You can take antacids while you use Prilosec if the doctor tells you to. If you also take antifungal imidazole (Ketoconazole), take it at least 2 hours before taking Prilosec. If you are also taking sucralfate, take Omeprazole at least 30 minutes before taking sucralfate. Keep taking Prilosec even if you feel better. Do not miss any dose. If you miss a dose of Omeprazole, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Never take 2 doses at a time.

Possible Side Effects of Prilosec

According to a recent study, short-term administration of Prilosec caused side effects similar to those of ranitidine. The individual cases reported are:

• diarrhea
• nausea
• Colonic abdominal pain
• asthenia
• vertigo
• headache
• A rash and a transient increase in alanine aminotransferase (ATAA).

Higher long-term doses of Prilosec can cause carcinoid tumors in the stomach.

These are apparently caused by hypergastrinemia. In specific animal species, long-term omeprazole drugs can lead to hyperplasia of argyrophilic cells in the gastric mucosa. Although in humans, the long-term administered dose of omeprazole causes only a non-significant increase in the density of these cells. This finding, however, refers to a small number of patients. Very rare side effects such as:

• Pancreatitis
• hepatitis
• Blood dyscrasias
• Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
• Visual disturbances were also observed.

Do not use Prilosec if:

• You are allergic to any ingredient of Prilosec
• You are taking an HIV protease inhibitor (eg, atazanavir).
• Contact your doctor immediately if any of these apply to you.

Some medical conditions may interact with Prilosec. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if one of the following applies to you:

• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding
• If you are taking a prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal preparation or dietary supplement
• If you have allergies to medicines, foods or other substances
• If you have liver or stomach or bowel problems.

Prilosec may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medications. Use Omeprazole with caution. Do not drive or perform other hazardous tasks until you know how you react to this medicine.

Contact your doctor if you have symptoms of a bleeding ulcer, such as black, tarry stools or coffee-bean vomit, or if you experience throat pain, chest pain, stomach pain or swallowing.

• Prilosec may interfere with some lab tests. Make sure your doctor and laboratory staff know you are taking Prilosec.
• Prilosec should be used with caution in Asian patients; the risk of side effects may be increased in these patients.
• Prilosec should be used with extreme caution in children under 2 years of age; the safety and effectiveness of these children have not been confirmed.
• Pregnancy and breast-feeding: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of Prilosec while you are pregnant. Prilosec is found in breast milk. Do not breastfeed while taking Prilosec.

Prilosec Drug Interactions

Rare drug interactions with Dilantin (phenytoin) and benzodiazepines have been observed. Similarly, a hepatic cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase mutation is known to sometimes cause a slower degradation of Prilosec within the human body. The clinical significance of the resulting interaction is not yet clearly defined, although the half-life is greatly expanded.
Even more, some medicines may interact with Omeprazole. Inform your health care provider if you are taking any other medications, including:

• Clarithromycin or voriconazole because they may increase the risk of Prilosec side effects
• Anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin), benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam), cilostazol, cyclosporine, digoxin, disulfiram, phenytoin or tacrolimus, as the risk of side effects may be increased by Prilosec
• Ampicillins, azoantifungals (e.g., ketoconazole), clopidogrel, ginkgo biloba, HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., Atazanavir) or iron because their effectiveness may be diminished by Prilosec.

This is not a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Prilosec may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before starting, stopping or changing the dosage of any medication.