Prilosec OTC is not as effective as Prilosec by prescription.

  Lots of patients are being switched from prescription Prilosec to Prilosec OTC because it costs less. Some insurance companies and state Medicaid programs have mandated using Prilosec OTC first before trying other PPIs.

  But, some patients are claiming that Prilosec OTC does not work as well as Prilosec Rx. Some patients are even choosing to pay extra to stick with Prilosec Rx.

  Although Prilosec OTC has the same active ingredient as prescription Prilosec, it is not therapeutically equivalent to Prilosec Rx. Prilosec OTC is formulated as the magnesium salt of omeprazole and comes as a tablet rather than a capsule.