prilosec

How long does Omeprazole stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of omeprazole is about 0.5 to 1 hour (roughly half an hour to an hour) in healthy adults — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The half-life is longer in older adults (about 1 hour) and in people with chronic liver disease (nearly 3 hours); its metabolites have little or no activity, but because omeprazole irreversibly binds the stomach's acid pump, its acid-blocking effect lasts far longer than this short half-life would suggest.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: OMEPRAZOLE capsule, delayed release — DailyMed (FDA label), Clinical Pharmacology / Pharmacokinetics.

Frequently asked questions

What does Prilosec treat?

Prilosec (Omeprazole) may be used to treat duodenal ulcer, esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux, heartburn, stomach ulcer, zollinger-ellison syndrome, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Prilosec work?

Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors block the H+/K+ ATPase 'proton pump' in the stomach's acid-making cells, the final step in producing stomach acid. By binding this pump, they sharply and lastingly cut acid output, easing heartburn and helping ulcers heal.

How is Prilosec rated?

pharmaranks gives Prilosec a composite score of 3.5 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Prilosec cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $1.52 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Prilosec?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Prilosec. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Prilosec?

Prilosec is marketed by Astrazeneca. You can see Astrazeneca's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Prilosec a brand-name or generic drug?

Prilosec is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Omeprazole. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Omeprazole are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Prilosec available over the counter?

No. Prilosec is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Prilosec come in?

Prilosec is currently marketed as powder, delayed release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Prilosec?

Prilosec is classified as proton pump inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Prilosec FDA-registered?

Prilosec is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA019810. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Prilosec been recalled by the FDA?

Prilosec has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Prilosec safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Prilosec a recall-safety score of 70/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.