Difference Between Zantac and Prilosec
Zantac and Prilosec are over the counter medicines. Zanatc is a name for omerprazole while Prilosec is ranitidine. Both of these are used in treated acidity and heartburn but are different from each other.
Here is a list of differences between these two;
- Certain foods cause acidity and heartburn because of the presence of the some receptors in the stomach. Zantac inhibits these receptors from producing these acids and relieves you from acidity while Prilosec interrupts the functioning of these acids which are already produced in the body.
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a condition when stomach starts producing too much of acid and Prilosec is the most common medicine prescribed for this rare condition. Zantac is not suitable for this condition.
- Although both these medicines are prescribed for treating similar problems like heartburn, esophageal erosion, gastro-esophageal refluxdisease and ulcers but they are given at different stages of these medical conditions.
- Prilosec is usually prescribed for 12 weeks or less while Zantac for up to a period of 1 year.
Zantac is a medicine which is continued for a long period to avoid reoccurrence of ulcers and esophageal erosion and this hardly has any side effects while Prilosec is given for short duration as it has some known side effects. If used for long period, it can cause stomach ulcers