Omeprazole

Omeprazole, often referred to by its American trade name Prilosec, is a drug used to treat digestive system conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease. In 1989, Astra AB (now AstraZeneca) began to market it as the first commercial proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Omeprazole and other PPIs block the release of stomach acid into other parts of the digestive tract.

Omeprazole was available only by prescription at first, but it is now sold over the counter in most parts of the world. AstraZeneca’s patents expired in 2001, allowing many manufacturers to sell it as a generic drug. Among its other uses, omeprazole and other PPIs are used to prevent stomach upset and bleeding ulcers caused by the frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen.