Reply #19: Nexium is a dangerous drug which is not listed

[Kennah]

When patent protection for AstraZeneca's Prilosec (omeprazole) ran out, they trotted out Nexium (esomeprazole).

When I was diagnosed with GERD in 2003, my gastro doc prescribed Nexium and never even mentioned generics or alternatives. Nada, zip, nothing.

After 18 months of COBRA, then starting to pay for private insurance myself, drug pricing felt more invasive than anything the TSA could muster.

I set about researching it myself, asked my gastro doc (different doc, different state) about going generic to omeprazole, formerly the patented Prilosec, and they switched me from 40 mg Nexium to 20 mg omeprazole. Nurse said something to the effect of, "When we've had people switch, 20 mg omeprazole seems to do just as well as 40 mg Nexium, but we could always up it to 40 mg omeprazole if needed."

I've been fine with 20 mg omeprazole. The kick in my ass, aimed at my wallet, was the price differential.

$9 a month for generic Prilosec (omeprazole).
$157 a month for brand Nexium (esomeprazole).

There are a whole lot of dangerous drugs out there--only they are dangerous to one's financial health. However, it furthers the Plutocracy, so it's business as usual.