Relief from acid reflux and from the pricey pills used to treat it. Right now it costs more than $100 for a month's supply of the most popular heartburn drug. Just as it recently became easier to get your allergy drugs, the same is about to happen with heartburn. 7Healthcast reporter Janet Wu has the details.
It's so widely used, many simply call it "The Purple Pill." Starting next month you'll no longer need a prescription for Prilosec. Just like the allergy drug Claritin, Prilosec is going over-the-counter.
"As long as it's good for the consumer, that's all I care about."
It will be good for the consumer. According to this mass general specialist, there are two reasons for this move.
Dr. Stephen Goldfinger, Mass General Gastroenterologist
"One, it's very effective. And two, it's proven itself to be extraordinarily safe."
Millions of people, especially those who don't watch their diets, suffer from heartburn. Prilosec, and similar drugs, block the secretion of hydrogen, which leads to that acidity.
The Prilosec you'll eventually find here won't be exactly the same. It will be a pink pill, instead of purple. And the biggest change will be the cost.
It will cost just 70 cents a pill, much less than the prescription price of $4 a pill. Furthermore, Prilosec will now compete with generics.
Dr. Stephen Goldfinger
"Every gastroenterologist I know, every expert feels that these drugs are virtually interchangeable."
…And very effective. The only better way to treat heartburn is to avoid the foods that can trigger it.
You can safely transition into taking Prisolec yourself. But tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual when you do.
