Heartburn Pill Available Over The Counter
Some Doctors Dispute Safety Of Making Drug Readily Available
UPDATED: 8:55 am EDT September 18,
2003
BOSTON -- About 50 million Americans with frequent heartburn now have a new pill at their fingertips.
Prilosec is making its way into stores this week for the first time available without a prescription. While some say this will provide easier access to a revolutionary medication, there are concerns.In the late '90s, Prilosec was the No. 1 prescription drug in the country. It prevents heartburn by stopping the production of acid at its source in the stomach.Joanne Bullock started taking it two years ago."One hundred percent difference. I knew I would never have that pain again, knowing I was taking the Prilosec," she said.The over-the-counter version of Prilosec has the same active ingredient -- pink in color, though --and it costs about one-fourth the price of the prescription form or about $1 a pill."Prilosec is a very safe medication. It's been around for 12 years. It has a wonderful track record,"said Dr. David Cave, of St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston.Unlike any other heartburn medication on the shelf, Prilosec is only for those with frequent heartburn -- more than two times per week. But the idea of making it available to everyone is causing some upset among experts. Pharmacist Stephen Bernardi said that many consumers won't take the time to read the label warning of side effects and drug interactions. Most won't realize that unlike other heartburn drugs, it can take days to begin working."At least when it's on prescription, a physician has the opportunity to review it and see if it's appropriate," Bernardi said.It also must be taken once a day for 14 days and then shouldn't be taken again for another four months."There is concern that obviously they're going to be disguising something. Are you going to miss a tumor, are you going to miss an ulcer. Yes, you might, but not for very long," Bernardi said.
| Video |
New Pill Available Without Prescription
Previous Story:
- June 23, 2003: FDA Approves Over-The-Counter Prilosec
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Authorities release a chilling 911 call from a 19-year-old woman who hid in the back bedroom of a Central Florida home while four men attempted to break into the house.
An ex-wife of the man who found the remains of Caylee Anthony says that she thought her ex-husband was responsible for or involved in the girl's death.
Five people are dead after a mobile home fire broke out in Central Florida.
Officials question the credibility of a female deputy who called 911 in September to report a masked man had attacked her.
Dashcam video shows a Florida woman offering an officer sex instead of getting a ticket.
South Carolina police say an obese man died after not moving from his recliner for the past eight months. Police say the man's body was physically stuck to the chair and firefighters had to cut him out. He died a few hours later at the hospital.
A 3-year-old boy was left stranded at a commuter train platform when a door on the train malfunctioned, separating the toddler from his dad. A good Samaritan stayed with the child until the father could return. (Nov. 20)
A woman tired of hearing her son say he lost another sock has come up with an idea to prevent it from happening again.
A Nebraska man says romance turned to revenge when he was victimized by his girlfriend and then exposed on Facebook. 
Thirty Victoria's Secret supermodels take over New York's Times Square this week.
Take a quick look at the flicks headed to your multiplex. Check out the trailer, too.
A man who passed a teller at a Central Florida credit union a note announcing a robbery turned around and walked away without any money, deputies say.
Email Alerts
RSS News Feeds
Mobile
Live Streams
Slideshows
Video
Search
