Can you buy nexium over the counter

I've spent nearly a decade reading, " squinching " at, and interpreting health research, and another couple of years looking at why medications cost so much.

In my spare time, you'll find me giving unsolicited health advice to friends and family, practicing my asanas, biking, and juggling. Yes, juggling! Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at If not used carefully, the 'purple pill' can cause dangerous side-effects and mask serious disease.

By Ginger Skinner. January 30, Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up. Heartburn is difficult enough. Making sense of your medication choices for gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD can make it even more challenging.

Two of the most commonly prescribed proton pump inhibitors PPIs are omeprazole Prilosec and esomeprazole Nexium. Both are now available as over-the-counter OTC drugs. Proton pumps are enzymes found in the parietal cells of your stomach. They make hydrochloric acid, the main ingredient of stomach acid. Your body needs stomach acid for digestion. This causes the burning feeling in your chest and throat associated with GERD. They work best when you take them an hour to 30 minutes before a meal.

PPIs have been in use since PPIs like Nexium and Prilosec are used to treat gastric acid-related conditions, including:. Omeprazole Prilosec and esomeprazole Nexium are similar drugs. However, there are minor differences in their chemical makeup. Isomer is a term for a molecule that includes the same chemicals, but is arranged in a different way.

So, you could say that omeprazole and esomeprazole are made of the same building blocks, but put together differently. While the differences in isomers might seem minor, they can result in differences in how drugs work. This means that levels of the drug are higher in your bloodstream, and that esomeprazole may decrease acid production for a longer period of time. It may also work slightly faster to treat your symptoms compared to omeprazole.

Esomeprazole is also broken down differently by your liver, so it may lead to fewer drug interactions than omeprazole.

Some studies indicate that the differences between omeprazole and esomeprazole may offer some advantages to people with certain conditions.

An older study from found that esomeprazole provided more effective control of GERD than omeprazole at the same doses. According to a later study in , esomeprazole offered faster relief than omeprazole in the first week of use. After one week, symptom relief was similar. They cited concerns such as:. The authors analyzed 41 studies on the effectiveness of PPIs. Until March , Nexium was available only by prescription and at a significantly higher price.

You can repeat a day regimen once every four months. Do not take Nexium 24HR for longer than 14 days unless your healthcare professional directs you to do so. If you have questions, or concerns, or you continue to experience frequent heartburn, contact your primary healthcare professional. If you miss or forget to take a dose of Nexium 24HR and remember within 12 hours, take one as soon as possible. Then go back to the regular schedule.

However, if more than 12 hours have passed, do not take the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Just take the next dose on time. You should ask your physician or pharmacist before using Nexium 24HR while taking other medications. You should not change or stop taking any prescriptions without first consulting with your healthcare professional.

As always, it is important to discuss your frequent heartburn symptoms, lifestyle modifications diet and exercise and any acid-related conditions with your healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional may help determine if Nexium 24HR is the right option to treat your frequent heartburn.

Yes, Nexium 24HR has been available without a prescription for the treatment of frequent heartburn since It is also available online through accredited online pharmacies. However, Nexium 24HR is available without a prescription for the treatment of frequent heartburn.

McRorie, J. Histamine2-receptor antagonists: Rapid development of tachyphylaxis with repeat dosing. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 5 2 , All rights reserved.

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