Zegerid

Has anyone failed on other PPI's but succeded (symptom relief or healing) with Zegerid?

From what I've read and even heard from the rep in my office -- this drug is a re-branded Prilosec with Tums added ... at 10x the cost that it should be. 

So far, the manufacturer has no head-to-head data, so I'm wondering what experiences (if any) has anyone had?

Okay, well the Zegarid will have to wait.  My copay would have been 246.00, 40mg x 2 a day.  Pharmacy suggests I talk to the doc about getting the 40mg generic omeprazole capsules instead.  I think I might try that since the GI was out of samples of the Zegarid and that's just a bit much for my wallet to handle right now .

Here's a link to the back story behind the Zegarid formula that I found pretty interesting, http://www.southcoasttoday.com/topics/moneymattersfeb05/story8.htm.  It seems it was developed by a university pharmacologist trying to figure out how to get trauma patients with EG tubes the ability to take PPI's...

ckgMD said...
Hey there CSN,

Wow! I would have never thought that a generic medication would have been so expensive!

If the Zegerid works for you --- you might be able to replicate some of the results for yourself. Zegerid (from my understading) works by immediately reducing gastric acid (via sodium bicarbonate) + a generic omeprazole. I would hypothesize that by taking an OTC medication like Maalox (calcium carbonate) with the omeprazole, you might be able to glean similar results. Again -- something that you'd definately have to discuss with your pharmacist. But, I don't see why it wouldn't work?

One very interesting point in the article that you posted was the fact that PPI's cannot be given through an IV. This is definately not the case -- as almost all of the branded PPI's have an IV formulation (Protonix, Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid) ... weird that they wouldn't know this.

Hope that this helps!

best,
ckgMD

Thanks for the tip ckgMD, I'll talk to the pharmacist.  Currently I am taking 4 Prilosec a day as my insurance balked at paying for even the generic omeprazole since it can be purchased over the counter.  Go figure!  They sent the GI's office a form to send back to the insurance company but we know how that goes...  Anyway, the Prilosec seems to be working okay, not as good as the Zegarid.  If I can accomplish the same thing for 1/3 of the money I'm willing to give it a try ;)

BTW, I dug a little deeper and it seems it's not that the PPI's don't come in an IV form it is that they work just as slowly.  At least that's what they say in this article, http://atmizzou.missouri.edu/jul04/Ulcers.htm

Cat

 

I know that this is 2 years past the time this post was written, but I'm glad to hear positive results from Zegerid. Because I've been suffering TERRIBLY and Zegerid is the only PPI I haven't tried yet.  I will ask the GI if I can give it a shot.  I want to have hope that SOMETHING will work!!

elcamino, thanks for the coupon info.  someone posted that his/her GI doc said that zegerid was the same as taking zantac??  Does YOUR GI say that?  Because I don't think it is...I think that it is like taking zantac + a PPI, all in one...

i tried the Zegerid, it didn't work for me.  But I found out that I have such major motility issues with my esopaghus and colon. And that is why I have severe reflux that is completely untamable.  So the GIs can't help me.  I'm sad.

Just wanted to welcome you to healingwell, melnms. Feel free to post with questions or comments, and I see you are already comfortable looking at older posts for information, which is a great thing to do. Again, welcome to the healingwell family. I hope you stay with us.

I am a 40 year old woman who has been suffering with stomach pain/spasms, acid reflux and so on for 20 years. My Father died at 62 with eosphogeal/stomach cancer. I am desperately trying to be proactive in maintaining my health through excercise, diet and regular doc. visits. However the symptoms persist and I am very frustrated. I too get severe chest pains. I always feel it coming on. It starts slowly and most of the time reaches a point where I can't even communicate or stand up straight for at least an hour. I feel it all the way up to my neck/throat and through my back. My new doc. thinks this may e eosophogeal spasms and has now put me on zegerid. I can't stand having to be on meds. regularly but if that is what I have to do I guess I'll deal but I am not confident with this diagnosis. I know my chest pain is not related to any meds. - it's a symptom of something that they just can't figure out. Has anyone had their gallbladder checked to make sure the symptoms they have are gallbladder related? Don't just stop at a regular ultrasound. Stones may not be the problem - it could be the functioning and then that would not show on a ultrasound. I'm going for a CCK-Hida scan soon. I've had an internal endoscopic ultrasound also which came back fine. My Father ad tests done that showed his gallbladder was fine and when they operated the surgeon found a severely diseased organ. If anyone has an input or helpful advice please let forward.
Thanks....