Back to Articles. Curist delivers FDA-approved heartburn medicines to your door at half the price of traditional brands. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time. Nexium and Prilosec are both proton pump inhibitors PPIs and are mainly used to treat frequent heartburn and ulcers.
They work by reducing acid production in the stomach to relieve heartburn and allow your stomach and esophagus to heal. Normally, our stomach produces acid during digestion to help with the breakdown of food, but too much acid can cause unwanted symptoms like a burning pain in the chest, stomach pain, or a sour taste in the mouth or throat. While Nexium and Prilosec both treat frequent heartburn, they do have a few key differences.
Nexium and Prilosec primarily differ based on their chemical structure. Both drugs have different isomers chemical compounds made of the same atoms but arranged in different ways that result in slightly different outcomes with how the medications work. The isomer in Nexium is broken down and metabolized more slowly in your body than Prilosec is. This results in Nexium having a longer effect in your body and may even treat symptoms more quickly. Since Nexium is also metabolized differently in the liver than Prilosec, it may have less potential drug interactions than Prilosec.
Both Prilosec and Nexium are best taken for frequent episodes of heartburn as they often take longer to see an effect. 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.
However, generic omeprazole may be less expensive than Prilosec OTC. Work with your doctor or pharmacist to decide which PPI is best for you. In addition to cost, consider things like:. A link to possible dementia risk was reported in , but a larger confirmatory study in determined that there was no increased risk of dementia from using PPIs.
Many people experience excess acid production when they stop using PPIs. At the end of the recommended treatment duration, you should taper off of the medication gradually. Work with your doctor to do so. Before taking either medication, talk to your doctor to learn about the risk factors and drug interactions associated with them. Always tell your doctor about all the drugs, herbs, and vitamins you take.
Prilosec and Nexium can interact with other medications you might be taking. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA has issued a warning that the drug in Prilosec reduces the effectiveness of the blood thinner clopidogrel Plavix. Other drugs can interact with Nexium or Prilosec, but may still be taken with either drug. In another study , patients treated with Nexium experienced faster symptom relief than patients treated with Prilosec and other PPIs.
Although Nexium may be more effective, both drugs are quite popular among prescribers. The best medication is the one that works best for you, with the least amount of side effects. Consult your healthcare provider, who can help select the best drug for you based on your symptoms, medical condition s , and other drugs you take that could interact with Nexium or Prilosec.
Sign up for Prilosec price alerts and find out when the price changes! Usually, the prescription generic version is covered. The OTC versions are usually only covered with a prescription under certain insurance. Copays vary by plan. Get a prescription coupon. The most common side effects of Nexium are abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, and nausea.
The most common side effects of Prilosec are headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. Both medications are generally well-tolerated. This is not a full list of side effects. Consult your healthcare provider for a full list of adverse effects.
Because Nexium and Prilosec are similar drugs with similar structures, they have similar drug interactions. PPIs should not be taken with antiretrovirals. Nexium or Prilosec could decrease levels of atazanavir or nelfinavir, so the antiretroviral would not properly, and the interaction could even cause drug resistance.
On the other hand, taking saquinavir with a PPI has the opposite effect, increasing levels of saquinavir, which could lead to toxicity. Combining Nexium or Prilosec with digoxin can increase levels of digoxin and lead to toxicity.
Taking Nexium or Prilosec with warfarin can lead to increased levels of warfarin, which could cause bleeding or even death. Nexium or Prilosec can interact with Plavix clopidogrel , diazepam , cilostazol , and other drugs. This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Consult your healthcare provider for a full list of drug interactions.
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