comedian Larry the Cable Guy The marketing campaign will continue to feature comedian Larry the Cable Guy, who has acted as a Prilosec OTC spokesperson since last year.

Omeprazole (Prilosec) is a medication commonly used to treat symptoms of heartburn and other conditions involving too much stomach acid. It's available both with a prescription and over the counter (OTC).

Omeprazole was first made in 1979 by Swedish AB Hässle, part of Astra AB. It was the first of the proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Astra AB, now AstraZeneca, launched it as an ulcer medicine under the name Losec in Sweden.

Prescription Prilosec is only available with a prescription from your doctor. Prilosec OTC is used to help relieve frequent heartburn, which is defined as heartburn that occurs two or more days per week.

Long-term Prilosec use has been linked to kidney damage, bone fractures and other dangerous side effects. Unlike prescription Prilosec, Prilosec OTC is safe to treat frequent heartburn.

People who filed a Prilosec lawsuit allege the drug caused kidney failure, kidney disease and other problems. Manufacturers failed to warn about the risk. Lawsuits claim Prilosec is unreasonably dangerous and defective. Plaintiffs are suing for compensation for injuries.

It contains one active ingredient: Omeprazole, in its salt form Omeprazole magnesium. Omeprazole is a medication used to improve the symptoms of heartburn, and to treat related conditions such as ulcers, tissue damage and infection with the bacteria called H.

But in 2003, the Food and Drug Administration decided to allow AstraZeneca to keep selling prescription Prilosec alongside Prilosec OTC -- even though they both contain the same medicine, 20 milligrams of omeprazole -- because patients are not supposed to take Prilosec OTC for more than two weeks at a time without a ...

There is some evidence that Nexium provides more effective acid control, lasts for longer, and works faster than Prilosec; however, some studies have failed to find a difference between the two medicines and the American College of Gastroenterology states that there are no major differences between PPIs when used to ...

Food Tips when taking Omeprazole: Greasy or fatty foods like french fries, pizza, deep fried chicken slow the digestive system down and often causes indigestion, heartburn and nausea. Onions, garlic, chocolate, coffee, peppermint and some spices can also cause an increase in gastric symptoms.

Prilosec OTC is available over the counter, so you don't need a prescription to purchase it.

Researchers continue to find new Prilosec dangers almost 30 years after the drug won approval. Recent studies have linked PPIs to risks ranging from heart attacks to cancer. Prilosec can also cause problems for children. Women should consider risks before taking Prilosec during pregnancy.