Ask Dr. Rao

Prilosec OTC® is in the strongest class of over-the-counter acid reducers available. With just one pill a day, it goes to work blocking heartburn all day and all night, so you can have a restful night without the pain. And you don't have to take my word for it. Prilosec OTC is the number-one doctor-recommended over-the-counter acid reducer. Plus, more than 10 million frequent heartburn sufferers trust it as well.

For many of my patients, heartburn often seems worse at night. Why is that? Well, for a few reasons. First, when you lie down it makes it easier for stomach acid to make it into your esophagus and more difficult to clear that acid. Also, if you're eating too close to bedtime that can increase the chance of nighttime heartburn, which can interrupt your sleep. Good sleep, of course, is important for your quality of life. Fortunately, Prilosec OTC can block heartburn before it starts, so you can have a restful night without the pain.

Prilosec OTC is the number-one doctor-recommended OTC acid reducer. It is also the number-one pharmacist-recommended OTC heartburn medicine. I know I trust the strength of Prilosec OTC enough to recommend it to all of my patients with frequent heartburn.

Prilosec OTC has been available over the counter for treating heartburn since 2003—when it became the first proton pump inhibitor available over the counter. Before that, the medicine in Prilosec OTC was only available by prescription. I prescribed Prilosec for years, and when the medicine became available over the counter, I instantly began recommending Prilosec OTC to my patients. And I'm not alone—it's the number-one doctor-recommended OTC acid reducer. To date, more than 10 million frequent heartburn sufferers trust Prilosec OTC as their solution for treating heartburn.

You may have heard a lot of confusing terms such as acid reflux, GERD, and frequent heartburn. Let's take a moment to understand these related terms.

• Acid Reflux is what we call the actual backflow of stomach acid into your esophagus. The action of acid reflux is what causes the pain of heartburn.
• Heartburn is the burning sensation that you feel in your chest. Heartburn happens when the acids in your stomach back up into your esophagus.
• If you're experiencing heartburn two or more times a week, then we call it frequent heartburn. Fortunately, Prilosec OTC is formulated to block the pain of frequent heartburn before it starts.
• In extreme cases of chronic, persistent heartburn, you might have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, usually referred to as GERD. Associated symptoms of GERD include difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, and chest pain. If you think you may have GERD, please talk to your doctor.

My patients often ask me to help them make sense of all of the different types of heartburn treatments out there. Let's take a quick look at the three primary types.

• Let's start with PPIs, or proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec OTC. These block the pumps that produce acid in your stomach. They still allow your stomach to produce enough acid for digestion, but block the excess acid that can be produced and lead to heartburn, proactively treating the condition instead of the symptoms after the fact. PPIs can begin working as early as the first day of treatment.
• Next we have antacids, such as Tums® or Rolaids®. These neutralize the acid in your stomach, providing temporary relief for your symptoms, and begin working within a few minutes.
• Finally, Histamine-2 Blockers, also known as H2 Blockers, such as Pepcid®, Tagamet® and Zantac® relieve symptoms by reducing acid production. They begin working within an hour and last for 12 hours. H2 Blockers are not as effective in treating severe heartburn as PPIs.

Many people treat their heartburn before it begins. Others wait to treat it after it occurs. The fact is, if you're getting heartburn two or more times a week, you have frequent heartburn. When my patients have frequent heartburn, I recommend a proactive course of action. Prilosec OTC will block the pain of heartburn before it starts, with just one pill a day for 14 days.

Prilosec OTC is indicated for a 14-day course of treatment, up to three times a year—and my patients often ask me, "Why is that? What happens after 14 days?"

• Prilosec OTC is extremely effective in relieving symptoms. While Prilosec OTC is safe for use when treating heartburn, it's also strong enough to mask more serious conditions. Symptoms, especially if they persist more than a couple of weeks, may actually be a warning sign of serious disease. This is why you should stop taking Prilosec OTC after 14 days and consult your doctor.
• Also, if you think you need to take Prilosec OTC more than the three recommended times per year, you should talk to your doctor first. That way, you can be sure you're not missing a bigger problem.
• On another note, if you miss a day of treatment, you can continue your treatment on the next day as usual.

Patients often ask me how Prilosec OTC works to block their heartburn. In your stomach, there are millions of little pumps that generate the acid you need to break down your food. But in people with heartburn, those pumps generate excess acid, which can flow up into your esophagus—causing irritation and pain. Prilosec OTC goes to work blocking those pumps from producing excess acid, while still letting them generate enough acid for proper digestion. Prilosec OTC proactively treats the condition of frequent heartburn, and not just the symptoms like some other over-the-counter treatments do.

You're probably aware of the many heartburn treatment options available these days. I've been letting my patients know about additives in other treatments that can be harmful to their health—and why I recommend Prilosec OTC over these treatments. Unlike Prilosec OTC, some options contain large amounts of sodium—equaling 20 percent of your recommended daily sodium intake. As you probably know, high sodium intake can contribute to many health problems, including high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.