I highly recommend you look into Pepcid Complete. I took Prilosec for years and it has some interesting side effects that even the experts don't know what they mean: it turns the lining of your stomach from smooth to all bumpy. I know I'm describing it badly, but when I had an endoscopy before and after being on Prilosec I noticed it in the pictures my Dr. showed me. When I asked him he said "no one knows what effect those will have on you long term." And this was from the premier Gastroenterologist in my area.

I immediately looked for an alternative.

The thing about Pepsid Complete (available at Costco for ~$20 for 100) is it has a weaker proton pump inhibitor and an antacid. I only take them when I need them and I take them far less than I did Prilosec.

Drug side effects are the dirty secret of the pharma industry. The FDA is just too weak to demand better and longer term studies on drugs.

Very related:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/10/25/high-prices