Nursing Teaching on How to Take Prilosec

Nurse educated the patient and caregiver on how to take Prilosec as follows:

  1. Do not crush or chew the tablet/capsule. Take them as a whole. This medication can also be prescribed as a delayed release and crushing the delayed release tablet/capsule can result in too quick absorption of the medication and compromise the therapeutic benefit of the medication.
  2. If you encounter difficulty swallowing the capsule, you may open the capsule, if the capsule is not sealed, and sprinkle the contents on a spoonful of soft jelly or applesauce and swallow the jelly or sauce without chewing it.
  3. Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, before food, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication.
  4. Maintain strict compliance with intake of the medication as ordered, with regards to dosage and frequency, to derive the benefit of the medication.
  5. Do not change the dose on this medication without consulting your doctor.
  6. Your physician could change the dose of Prilosec, based on the relief obtained or side-effects developed. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments, to have your doctor updated. Be accommodative to the plan of frequent dose changes, until you show an optimum response.
  7. This medication could also be obtained OTC for relief of heartburn and dyspepsia symptoms. If using OTC products, do not continue using the medication beyond one or two weeks. After obtaining relief from the exacerbation of symptoms, report this to your doctor for further advice.
  8. Continue taking it as ordered, even if your symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux are under control. Discontinuing the medication abruptly, without physician recommendation, can lead to recurrence of the symptoms.