I was prescribed zantac 150 mg twice daily , then was prescribed prilosec Dr 20mg once daily. I was never told to stop the first medication. Should I be taking both ?
Omeprazole - should I be taking zantac and prilosec both daily ?
Question posted by kimisclassy on 1 Jan 2013
Last updated on 24 December 2018 by Cat66g
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
5 Answers
Official Answer
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 8, 2020.
You should contact your doctor for clarification.
Zantac (ranitidine) belongs to a group of drugs called histamine-2 blockers. Ranitidine works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces. Zantac is used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines. It is also used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions in which acid backs up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn.
Prilosec (omeprazole) is a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Like Zantac it is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions caused by excess stomach acid. Prilosec is also used to promote healing of erosive esophagitis and may be given together with antibiotics to treat gastric ulcer caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
Inactive
1 Jan 2013
I agree with Marvel, but a quick call to your doc (in the morning probably) wil do the trick. As she said maybe lose the zantac & try ust the Prilosec & see how you react. The doc may want you on Prilsosec every 12 hours instead of once a day. Sometimes our stomachs just produce too much acid as in my case. Just be aware that proton pump inhibitors do cause probems such as thinning of bone mass, & also has been recognized recently as a catalyist for the C. Difficile infection of the intestines. This can be very tough to treat & get rid of at times. Best wishes to you... Mary
AquariusAnneCA
1 Jan 2013
If I had a choice, I would choose to stay with the Zantac if it is working... prilosec causes many other problems to a lot of us in this support group, as I have read. I would think if you are taking the one, you don't need the other but you need to ask the doctor what he/she meant...
AquariusAnneCA
Inactive
3 Jan 2013
Hi Anne, I talked to my doctor today, & altho' a catlyst for C. Diff. if I don't take the PPI's, I get erosions, so je wants me to sty on them even with the fracture problems. If one half dozen or another with meds isn't it... Mary
AquariusAnneCA
3 Jan 2013
Commenting to Mary's response regarding doctor's statement. Yes, it is sad that we take meds for the present time and the now but do not stop to realize the damage is much later. I am going through it right now with so much pain... had the knee replaced but all my bones seem like they have weakened. This must be from 12 years of PPI's. I was never warned that it affected my bones cause I had Hpylori and it helped that so doctor just kept me on it. When I tried to get off, it was horrible with the heartburn and chestpains but I did persist and now the Zantac does the trick. There is a minor procedure that can be done for some of these problems and wish there was more pushing for it. If you have erosions, you are best to do what the doctor suggests. Yes, it is a lot to think about.
AquariusAnneCA
Inactive
3 Jan 2013
Thank Anne. I have 6 shots of my Forteo left & then a year of waiting for the next DEXA scan so I am aware as my doctor is of the problems of fractures also(already had my share), but erosions along with a hiatal hernia also could lead to cancer down the road. I've tred to stop them so man times along with zantac, maalox, etc,,, & it never helps. Appreciate the heads up tho'... Mary
AquariusAnneCA
3 Jan 2013
So very sorry, Mary. Sounds like you have no choice except I wondered if the minor surgery would work for you? Ask your doctor. The hernia is tucked into the stomach and supposed to stop many problems but not sure about the erosions.
Good Luck to you!
AquariusAnneCA
Inactive
4 Jan 2013
Thanks Anne!
correctionsnurse
9 Nov 2014
I do not see a problem with taking them both. My GI recently added Zantac 150mg 4x's a day to my prilosec 40mg. I'm just hoping I see results. Good luck.
raines76
1 May 2017
Just curious if the 4x daily of zantac plus prilosec worked for correctionnurse
birdlegs621
12 May 2017
My doctor rx both medicines and i take them together. But then i realized i was supposed to be taking the zantac at night oooops! Wonder what the difference is?
memune001
6 Oct 2017
Hi.
I am taking prilosec on a daily basis. I am overseas and spicy food make my stomach very bad. Creating lots of mucus , pain and gas.
I got suggestion to take omerea 20 twice a day (not by a doctor )
Does omepra is like zinax?
Cat66g
24 Dec 2018
Can you take zantac daily
SmgJmg123
17 Sep 2018
I have been taking 20mg Prilosec for prob 4-5 years but started feeling like I needed to cough all the time but nothing to cough up so went to my ENT and he said that we can be having reflux without the pain and just think the 20mg Prilosec is completely helping. He said the acid can go all the way up behind our ears
bgoodgirl67
3 June 2018
I have been on Prilosec for years, but my doctor just took me off of it because he believes the Prilosec is causing a decline in my kidney function. I took the Zantac and still have acid reflux.
Pkclem6066
17 April 2018
Four months diagnosed with erosive gastritis after endoscopy. Put on Nexium and ranitidine. No one said not to take them at the same time as I was doing. After 8 weeks no relief. Called my gastrointestinal doctor, went over how and when I was taking medication, she said don’t take them together. Take nexium twice a day, preferably before evening meal and the ranitidine at night. Now they tell me, the course of treatment starts over again, another 4 to 6 weeks but hopefully some relief. Next option is another procedure that may affect the Hiatial hernia .
Related topics
prilosec, zantac 150, indigestion, omeprazole, gerd, medication, stomach pain
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.