Keywords: USA, Consumer Reports, Heartburn, Nexium, GERD

Americans with heartburn paying too much for Nexium's 'Purple Pill,' claims Consumer Reports

Article | 30 October 2009

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Last year, US consumers and their insurance companies spent $4.8 billion on Nexium (esomeprazole, a blockbuster drug from AstraZeneca) one of six proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) currently available, making "the purple pill" the second highest-selling drug in 2008, behind Lipitor (atorvastatin, the cholesterol-lowering, all-time biggest selling drug from Pfizer, reports Consumer Reports’ Best Buy Drugs. “It's no wonder: a month's supply of Nexium has a retail price tag of up to $240 a month, compared to just $24 a month for an over-the-counter PPI,” it observes.

"For most consumers, over-the-counter, generic drugs will treat their frequent heartburn and acid reflux just as well as more expensive prescription drugs, and save them money too," said Lisa Gill, editor, prescription drugs, Consumer Reports Health. Enjoying this article? To continue reading you need to login, take a FREE trial or subscribe.