Hello,

As of 01/01/2020 my insurance will no longer cover Prilosec as a prescription because its over the counter. Pricing it out to by it over the counter, I would need to take out of second mortgage. I cant take Protonix . Just wondering what other rx's people are taking after surgery. The Prilosec is working thus far for me.

What dosage do you need - is it greater than the usual OTC 20mg dose? The normal OTC omeprazole is usually $10-20 for 42 tablets depending upon what store you by it from; the brand name meds are $5-10 higher. Most of the other PPIs are also OTC now, so likewise probably wouldn't be covered by your insurance. I think that Dexilant is still Rx only and expensive, so would be covered by insurance, though your copay may well be more than the other OTC PPI's without insurance and you may have to jump through some hoops to get coverage (documenting that the other PPI's don't work for you, etc.)

There are also H2 Inhibitors such as Zantac and Pepcid, and their generic analogs, that also treat stomach acid but in a different way, though they are similarly priced to the OTC PPI's (that's a market for you!)

I take Nexium (technically the generic esomeprazole). I get 42 capsules for about $15 at Costco, less if it's on sale. I generally take the OTC dose. My doc says to up my dose to 1 capsule twice per day for about a week if I get breakthrough symptoms. It doesn't happen often so that $15 lasts me up to 6 weeks.

• Theoretically, if I had to take 2 capsules a day indefinitely:
  • $15 for 21 days
  • Broken down, that's about $0.71 per day or about $20/month

I haven't looked at Prilosec/omeprazole pricing, but I would think it's a similar cost (possibly even lower because it's been OTC longer).

When my symptoms were at their worst, I took a round of Dexilant. Had to get prior authorization from the insurance just to get it. I can honestly tell you that I didn't notice that it was much better than the standard OTC Prilosec and/or Nexium.

Well I am the Dexilent success kid, as long as I take it I have no further ulcer production, but I grew them while on Omperazolr both times, while under my gastroenterologist and my bariatric surgeon's care- just extremely LUCKY my insurance co-pay is only $8.30 because I COULD NOT AFFORD the OTC pricing. I take 60 mg but have been told the 30mg size will go generic in 2020 if not yet this year. An interesting FYI, my Doctor Needleman wrote a script for2 of!30mg capsules , Wal-Mart went and changed it to the 60 mg they had on hand anyway! Did they ask first? DOUBT IT STRONGLY, I once worked at Wally World but not in THAT department, and I know how devious they CAN be and often are. Like anybody that works at a place 11 YEARS, I know the skeletons and what closets they are hidden in.

Prilosec doesnt work taking consistantly for me. I find taking a acid reducers that i bought at winco as needed helps miracles for me. I tend to only need one tablet a day sometimes 2 in order to get to bed at night fighting the burning in my throat.