I heart “regulars”!

 

I have this patient I like to consider a regular….he comes to the pharmacy to get his meds a couple of times a month while I’m working.  I don’t normally get repeat patients because of my work location and hours, so I’m always excited to see him.  Most times, we will have a quick conversation about a drug question he has, and last night he came in with this question:

 

Why do the directions on the OTC Prilosec box say it can only be used for 14 days in a row every 4 months?

 

First and foremost, Prilosec is used to treat such conditions as heartburn, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, indigestion, and H. pylori (a bacterial infection of the stomach or top part of the small intestine). 

 

It is available over-the-counter and by prescription as omeprazole (its generic name) or Prilosec (this is the brand name).  OTC omeprazole is geared toward patients who have 2 or more episodes of heartburn per week, otherwise you should visit your doctor to discuss the need for Prilosec.

 

NOTE: Prescription only Prilosec is approved for long-term use in a few situations, including for patients that have a disorder where their stomach releases way too much acid on a daily basis. 

 

A couple of the OTC Prilosec side effects are the reason why it should only be used for 14 days.  One such side effect is that it can cause low vitamin B12 levels.  Also Prilosec has the ability to increase the acid released by your stomach (“stomach juice”) – this means more acid will be hanging out in your stomach.  Studies have shown that higher acid levels can lead to extra growth in the tissue (more tissue cells are made, to be more specific) that lines your stomach and gut. 

 

It has been suggested that this extra growth of the tissue can lead to cancer/tumors during the long-term use of Prilosec.  However, so far studies have shown that Prilosec can be given for up to 5 years without having to worry about developing cancer or tumors – longer studies have not been done yet.

 

With the reasons discussed above in mind, if you want to take Prilosec for longer than 14 days in a row or more often than every 4 months, you should be under the watchful eye of your doctor – it may be a hassle, but it’s safer this way!

 

Send your questions and comments my way at cate@getpharmacyadvice.com or post a comment on this article.

 

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