I'm A Gerd Girl By RachelReviews on - Updated Oct 15, 2011
When I was just out of college, I started experiencing odd symptoms in my sleep. I would get this shooting, burning pain running through my chest, and I would get sour fluid in my mouth. This would wake me from my sleep. It was jarring, disruptive and a bit scary. Other times, I would wake up naturally in the morning with an acrid taste in my mouth and a really sore throat.
I tried a bunch of medications: Pepcid, Tums, Pepto Bismol - you name it. Nothing worked. I saw my doctor at the time, and she prescribed Omeprazole. She told me I had GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease). It worked for me quite well. I was not awakened from my sleep by my acid reflux. Nor, did I awake in the morning with stomach acid in my mouth.
And boy, was that a rude awakening.
Eventually, I switched insurance companies, and the Omeprazole the doctor prescribed was not covered by my new provider. Interestingly, they cover boxes of Prilosec OTC free of charge. They are essentially the same thing. A 20.6 milligram omeprazole magnesium delayed-release tablet of Prilosec OTC is equivalent to a 20 milligram tablet of the Omeprazole I was taking before.
The directions on Prilosec OTC, says it is intended for a 14 day course of treatment. This can be repeated every 4 months, unless directed by your doctor. I actually take this nightly, for the whole month, every month, per my doctor's instructions.
About The Author:
Procter & Gamble Prilosec OTC Purchased at: My pharmacy Price: Covered by insurance
I too was taking Prilosec for GERD and it helped. I told my doctor I stopped because it had been 14 days and she said many people take it for years and not to worry about it. She said drug companies are just protecting themselves when they say these things. I'm not sure who or what to believe, but Prilosec definitely helps.