15th January 2007
Yes, there is a difference between OTC Prilosec and prescription.
When I started taking Prilosec in 1998 it was at 20 mg (the current OTC dosage). It came in a little purple capsule with spanules inside. If I remember correctly, there are 5 patents on the original prescription Prilosec. Two of those patents expired several years ago which allowed other companies to manufacture Prilosec using only the two patents.
This is why when you buy Prilosec OTC it is in tablet form and not in a capsule with spanules. Part of the Prilosec "recipe" is still protected so even if you get generic Prilosec (omeperazole) it is not the same.
Yes, the "active" ingredient is the same but the delivery mechanism is not.
When Prilosec 20 mg went OTC, my insurance would no longer pay the lower copay. I tried the OTC version and was nauseous really bad within 5 days. It did not work for me.
Now I get get the prescription Prilosec (20 mg) and pay $70 for a 90-day supply versus $50.
Nexium is a whole different matter. There is a method of manufacturing medications from the "parent" medication that makes the drug more pure. They remove/reverse an isomer, I believe (can't really explain it). This is the case with Nexium--it is a more pure form of Prilosec (contains only the "e" isomer; hence the name emeperazole.) The same is true for Celexa (an SSRI). It's "sister" drug is Lexapro.
When I started taking Prilosec in 1998 it was at 20 mg (the current OTC dosage). It came in a little purple capsule with spanules inside. If I remember correctly, there are 5 patents on the original prescription Prilosec. Two of those patents expired several years ago which allowed other companies to manufacture Prilosec using only the two patents.
This is why when you buy Prilosec OTC it is in tablet form and not in a capsule with spanules. Part of the Prilosec "recipe" is still protected so even if you get generic Prilosec (omeperazole) it is not the same.
Yes, the "active" ingredient is the same but the delivery mechanism is not.
When Prilosec 20 mg went OTC, my insurance would no longer pay the lower copay. I tried the OTC version and was nauseous really bad within 5 days. It did not work for me.
Now I get get the prescription Prilosec (20 mg) and pay $70 for a 90-day supply versus $50.
Nexium is a whole different matter. There is a method of manufacturing medications from the "parent" medication that makes the drug more pure. They remove/reverse an isomer, I believe (can't really explain it). This is the case with Nexium--it is a more pure form of Prilosec (contains only the "e" isomer; hence the name emeperazole.) The same is true for Celexa (an SSRI). It's "sister" drug is Lexapro.