Does it matter which one? I ran out of prescription Prilosec (but have a ton of Zantac at home). Headed to store & might get something OTC just in case. Any suggestions on what works best?

You won't know till you try. Different PPI's can be more or less effective for different people. A lot of people have to try different ones before they find one that works for them. Ask your surgeon to be sure.

I was prescribed liquid Prilosec after my VSG, but it was near impossible trying to get my drug plan to cover it and kind of a pain to get it, even with self-pay, so I asked the pharmacist about alternatives. She said it was fine to buy Nexium capsules and just break them open. You can mix them in with applesauce, but I just put them on my tongue and then follow with some Water or other drink. Prilosec and Nexium are apparently almost identical; Nexium is just different enough for the manufacturers to acquire a patent, but that's it. I do recommend asking your doctor, of course, but this seems to work fine until I can swallow actual pills.

Zantac is not a PPI

Prilosec and nexium are both OTC

(basically the same) prescription Prilosec is just double the dose of OTC Prilosec

Prevacid is also PPI and OTC

Zantac is not a PPI

Prilosec and nexium are both OTC

(basically the same) prescription Prilosec is just double the dose of OTC Prilosec

Prevacid is also PPI and OTC

Thanks for clarifying. Even though Zantac is an acid reducer and used to treat GERD and ulcers like PPI's, it is by a different mechanism (histamine 2 blocker). Not sure if it's effectiveness is different for sleeve patients compared to PPI's.

I mix mine . I take Pepcid and Nexium and Pepcid complete chewable it was the only thing I found that gets read of the acid feeling abd the feeling of hunger the acid gave me !

Zantac and Pepcid will also reduce acid so good option. I have been using Pepcid in addition to nexium lately due to extra acid. the PPI turns off the acid pumps. the others reduce acid but not quite at the source.

I got something called "Zegrid OTC" the other day to start taking 2 weeks before my surgery. I looked it up online and it said it was basically the same thing as Prilosec.

I got something called "Zegrid OTC" the other day to start taking 2 weeks before my surgery. I looked it up online and it said it was basically the same thing as Prilosec.

Interesting! I just looked up Zegerid and yes, it's basically Prilosec (Omeprazole) mixed with sodium bicarbonate. So here's the interesting part....

Prilosec OTC comes as a coated tablet. The coating is there to protect the Omeprazole from stomach acid and the tablet is not supposed to be cut or crushed. I am a vet tech and we use Omeprazole in dogs and cats, too, but the doses are often smaller than the 20mg that is available. I consulted with a pharmacist years ago to figure out a way to make a suspension out of the crushed tablet so we could administer smaller doses. He suggested mixing it with liquid sodium bicarbonate instead of Water and that's what we do.

So I guess I'll look for Zegerid and use that instead. The capsules will be a lot easier to mix rather than having to crush the Prilosec and pick out the tiny pieces of coating.

Ok, sorry for my dorky tangent....

@@Kindle They had a $8 off coupon in the mail this past week, you might be able to find it online still!

I like trying to save money where I can.

I take Previcid OTC twice a day. I snip off the top of the capsule and either take with applesauce or just pour the beads on my tongue and take with water. No aftertaste

My surgeon told me zantac was fine

Thanks all! I guess it's all trial & error. I just hope my Dr will write a script for it. It's much cheaper for me than buying OTC.

I know Nexium is pretty new, but wonder how it compares to Prilosec.

Thanks all! I guess it's all trial & error. I just hope my Dr will write a script for it. It's much cheaper for me than buying OTC. I know Nexium is pretty new, but wonder how it compares to Prilosec.

Nexium is new OTC but it's been around almost as long as Prilosec and has the same molecule as Prilosec. They just used the mirror image version so they could renew the patten You can get generic Prilosec but not generic nexus. So the Prilosec is cheaper.

Nexium is new OTC but it's been around almost as long as Prilosec and has the same molecule as Prilosec. They just used the mirror image version so they could renew the patten You can get generic Prilosec but not generic nexus. So the Prilosec is cheaper.

Hmmmm....good to know! Thanks for saving me a few bucks!