myles,

Prilosec's generic name is Omeprazole (in Canada, the brand name is Losec).


you can look up the info. at the following link (i've copied the text
below in case you have trouble accessing the website....).  good luck!!

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/omeprazolesystemic202423.html

====================================
Omeprazole (Systemic)

Brand Names
Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -- Prilosec
In Canada -- Losec

Category
Gastric acid pump inhibitor
antiulcer agent

Description
Omeprazole (o-MEP-ra-zole) is used to treat certain conditions in which
there is too much acid in the stomach. It is used to treat gastric and
duodenal ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition in which
the acid in the stomach washes back up into the esophagus. Sometimes
omeprazole is used in combination with antibiotics to treat ulcers associated
with infection caused by the H. pylori bacteria (germ).

Omeprazole is also used to treat Zollinger-Ellison disease, a condition
in which the stomach produces too much acid.

Omeprazole is also used to treat dyspepsia, a condition that causes sour
stomach, belching, heart burn, or indigestion.

Omeprazole works by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Oral
Delayed-release capsules (U.S.)
Delayed-release tablets (Canada)


Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must
be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your
doctor will make. For omeprazole, the following should be considered:

Allergies--Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic
reaction to omeprazole. Also tell your health care professional if you
are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.

Pregnancy--Studies have not been done in humans. However, studies in
animals have shown that omeprazole may cause harm to the fetus.

Breast-feeding--Omeprazole may pass into the breast milk. Since this
medicine has been shown to cause unwanted effects, such as tumors and
cancer in animals, it may be necessary for you to take another medicine
or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed
the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children--There is no specific information comparing the use of omeprazole
in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults--Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older
people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the
same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects
or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing
use of omeprazole in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines--Although certain medicines should not be used together
at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even
if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are
taking omeprazole, it is especially important that your health care professional
know if you are taking any of the following:

Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or
Diazepam (e.g., Valium) or
Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin)--Use with omeprazole may cause high blood
levels of these medicines, which may increase the chance of side effects


Other medical problems--The presence of other medical problems may affect
the use of omeprazole. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any
other medical problems, especially:

Liver disease or a history of liver disease--This condition may cause
omeprazole to build up in the body

Proper Use of This Medicine
Take omeprazole capsules immediately before a meal, preferably in the
morning. Omeprazole tablets may be taken with food or on an empty stomach.

It may take several days before this medicine begins to relieve stomach
pain. To help relieve this pain, antacids may be taken with omeprazole,
unless your doctor has told you not to use them.

Swallow the capsule and tablet forms of omeprazole whole. Do not open
the capsule. Do not crush, break, or chew the capsule or the tablet.

Take this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin
to feel better . Also, keep your appointments with your doctor for check-ups
so that your doctor will be better able to tell you when to stop taking
this medicine.

Dosing--The dose of omeprazole will be different for different patients.
Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following
information includes only the average doses of omeprazole. If your dose
is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.


For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets):

To treat dyspepsia:
Adults--20 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for four weeks. Patients
may respond adequately to 10 mg once daily, so individual dose adjustment
may be considered.
Children--Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
Adults--20 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for four to eight weeks.
Or your doctor may tell you to take 40 mg a day for certain conditions.
Also, your doctor may want you to take omeprazole for more than eight
weeks for certain conditions.
Children--Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

To treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid:
Adults--60 mg taken once a day. Your doctor may change the dose as needed.
Your treatment may be continued for as long as it is needed.
Children--Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

To treat duodenal ulcers:
Adults--20 mg taken once a day. Or your doctor may tell you to take 40
mg a day for certain conditions.
Children--Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

To treat gastric ulcers:
Adults--40 mg taken once a day for four to eight weeks.
Children--Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

To treat ulcers related to infection with H. pylori :
Adults--40 mg once a day, taken along with clarithromycin 500 mg three
times a day, for the first fourteen days. For days 15 through 28, omeprazole
20 mg taken once a day.
Children--Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose--If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as
possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double
doses.

Storage--To store this medicine:

Keep out of the reach of children.
Store away from heat and direct light.
Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp
places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that
any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine
It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits.
If your condition does not improve, or if it becomes worse, check with
your doctor.

Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.
Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they
may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side
effects occur:

Rare:
Back, leg, or stomach pain; bleeding or crusting sores on lips; blisters;
bloody or cloudy urine; chills; continuing ulcers or sores in mouth;
difficult, burning, or painful urination; fever; frequent urge to urinate;
general feeling of discomfort or illness; joint pain; loss of appetite;
muscle aches or cramps; pain; red or irritated eyes; redness, tenderness,
itching, burning, or peeling of skin; skin rash or itching; sore throat
; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips, in mouth, or on genitals; unusual
bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness

Symptoms of overdose:
Blurred vision; confusion; drowsiness; dryness of mouth; fast or irregular
heartbeat; flushing; general feeling of discomfort or illness; headache;
increased sweating; nausea

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.
These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts
to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following
side effects continue or are bothersome:

More common
Abdominal or stomach pain

Less common
Back pain; chest pain; constipation; diarrhea or loose stools; dizziness;
gas; headache; heartburn; muscle pain; nausea and vomiting; skin rash
or itching; unusual drowsiness; unusual tiredness

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.
If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Revised: 02/05/2001

==============================

----    myles <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> We would want to try Prilosec but can't seem to find it locally......we
> are
> in the Philippines.......
>
> The reason i was asking for the generic name was because Prilosec to
> you
> might be marketed in Manila under a different label. Or perhaps i should
> be
> asking hwat the major component of Prilosec is?
>
> You are all so lucky to have health insurance. The kind of health insurance
> you have is not as expansive as even the private health insurance coverage
> we have here.......
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rayilyn Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2001 11:40 AM
> Subject: Re: Prilosec
>
>
> > Myles, don't think there is a generic and it is  very expensive,
> like
> $120+
> > for mo. supply.    Ask Dr. to add "do not substitute" to prescription.
>  My
> > insurance pays so my copay is $7.50.  I haven't had side effects,
> but
> those
> > listed are headache, diarrhea ( which helps with constipation problems.)
> It
> > is the only med besides Evista that I take that really works besides
> aspirin,
> > acetometaphin.  My cousin's dead son (cystic fibrosis 1997) took
> Prilosec.
> > It is worth a try.  It also was like a miracle for my last part-time
> job
> > boss.  Rayilyn
> >
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> >
> >
>
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