The generic name for prilosec is omeprazole magnesium. This drug is prescribed to patients suffering from duodenal ulcers, stomach ulcers, heartburns, erosive esophagitis and other types of ailments caused due to excessive acid formation. The prilosec dosage will generally depend on many factors like age, ailment that you are being treated for, other medical conditions and the other medicines you are taking. This medicine is available in capsules and depending on the condition of the patient, a single capsule is taken once or two times a day. This capsule is more effective before meals. Therefore, doctors advise you to take the capsule at least half an hour before meals.
Precautions for Prilosec treatment
You should be careful about certain things while using this medicine. A prolonged use of this medicine can be very harmful. If you keep on using prilosec for a very long term, it might result into a severe inflammation of the stomach. People with allergy to prilosec should avoid its use. A person, who is allergic to some antibiotics better known as microlides, should not take the Biaxin/Prelosec combination.
Another very important thing is that you must give the complete details of you disease to the doctor. You must inform the doctor regarding your current problem, previous medical history, medicines that you are currently using and all the allergies. Even if you are taking any herbal medicines, you should mention it to the doctor. You medical history becomes of utmost importance if you have suffered with any liver disease.
Prilosec treatment in various ailments
As mentioned earlier, the prilosec dosage for different types of ailments will not be the same. If you are suffering from Active Duodenal-Ulcer then the treatment is likely to be of a short term. Generally, a doctor would prescribe a 20 mg capsule once a day to adults. It is normally cured in 4 weeks time. However, in exceptional cases it can take a longer period.
In the case of stomach ulcers in adults, the dosage becomes 40 mg once a day. It will take about 4 to 8 weeks to cure. The heartburn is a condition caused due to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. People suffering with heartburns are required to take 20 mg of prilosec dosage daily. This treatment is to be continued 4 to 8 weeks.
In the case of children weighing between 11 to 22 pounds with GERD symptoms the dosage will be 5 mg a day, for children of 22 to 44 pounds weight the dosage will become 10mg daily and for children above 44 lbs weight the dosage will be 20mg daily. For treating excess stomach acid the dose to be taken will be 60mg or 80mg a day depending on the requirement. The doctor will break a dosage of 80mg to smaller doses.
Taking Prilosec
The prilosec dosage has to be taken before eating anything, as it is effective in an empty stomach. Many times it is given along with an antacid. The prilosec capsule must be swallowed intact. You are not supposed to chew or break the capsule.
If you are not able to swallow a capsule, then you must use the prilosec oral delayed-release suspension. You can empty the sachet's contents in a glass of water. Stir the water until the granules dissolve. Wait for some time to allow thickening of the suspension. Drink the suspension.
