Prilosec

Prilosec is both an over-the-counter and a prescription medication. The over-the-counter form is used to treat heartburn. The prescription form is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), certain types of ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, erosive esophagitis (EE), and infections caused by the bacteria H. pylori. This medication page refers to the prescription form of Prilosec.

Prilosec belongs to a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, which work by reducing the amount of acid made in the stomach.

This medication comes in delayed-release capsule form and in packets to be mixed with water to form a liquid (suspension). It is taken once or twice daily, one hour before a meal.

Common side effects of Prilosec include constipation, gas, nausea, vomiting, and headache.

Prilosec can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Prilosec affects you.

Prilosec is a prescription medicine used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), certain types of ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, erosive esophagitis (EE), and infections caused by the bacteria H. pylori.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Astrazeneca

Serious side effects have been reported with Prilosec. See the “Prilosec Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Prilosec include:

• headache
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• gas
• respiratory system propblems
• fever

This is not a complete list of Prilosec side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements. Prilosec may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Prilosec work. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• atazanavir (Reyataz)
• nelfinavir (Viracept)
• saquinavir (Fortovase)
• cilostazol (Pletal)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• voriconazole (Vfend)
• ampicillin (Unasyn)
• products that contain iron
• warfarin (Coumadin)
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxincaps)
• tacrolimus (Prograf)
• diazepam (Valium)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• clopidogrel (Plavix)
• St. John's wort

This is not a complete list of Prilosec drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Prilosec including the following:

• Serious allergic reactions. Tell your doctor if you any or all of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
  • rash
  • face swelling
  • throat tightness
  • difficulty breathing

People who are taking multiple daily doses of proton pump inhibitor medicines for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist or spine.

Do not take Prilosec if you are allergic to Prilosec or to any of its ingredients or are allergic to any other proton pump inhibitor.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Prilosec there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Prilosec.

Before taking Prilosec, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• have liver problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X - are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Prilosec falls into category C. There are no good studies that have been done in humans with Prilosec. In animals, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. However, this medication may sometimes still help human mothers and their babies more than it might cause harm.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.

Prilosec has been detected in human breast milk. Because of the possibility for adverse reactions in nursing infants from Prilosec, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop use of this medication. Determining the importance of the drug to the mother should be considered.

Take Prilosec exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in delayed capsule form and in packets to be mixed with water to form a liquid (suspension). It is taken once or twice daily, one hour before a meal.

Swallow Prilosec capsules whole. Never chew or crush Prilosec capsules.

If you have difficulty swallowing Prilosec capsules, you may open the capsule and empty the contents into a tablespoon of applesauce. Be sure to swallow the applesauce right away. Do not store it for later use.

If you miss a dose of Prilosec, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of Prilosec at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your age

Short-Term Treatment of Active Duodenal Ulcer

If you take too much Prilosec, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Prilosec is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Prilosec at room temperature between 20°-25°C (68°-77°F).
• Keep the container of Prilosec closed tightly.
• Keep Prilosec and all medicines out of the reach of children.