Merck launches Zegerid OTC

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. Merck on Thursday announced that its Zegerid OTC (omeprazole 20 mg/sodium bicarbonate 1100 mg capsules) solution for frequent heartburn now is available at retail.

Zegerid OTC is the only OTC proton-pump inhibitor product with two active ingredients, combining omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate, which protects the omeprazole in this product from acid in the stomach and allows it to be absorbed.

"To date, all other OTC PPIs have used an enteric coating to prevent the medicine from being broken down by acid in the stomach prior to absorption," explained Michael Rahmin, a gastroenterologist at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, N.J. and one of Castle Connolly's 2009 Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area. "Zegerid OTC capsules do not need an enteric coating, because the sodium bicarbonate offers built-in protection against stomach acid, so the omeprazole can be absorbed by the body and get to work treating frequent heartburn."

"With its strong history as an effective prescription product, we are excited to bring Zegerid OTC directly to consumers," stated Bridgette Heller, president, Schering-Plough Consumer HealthCare, a division of Merck. "Our consumer healthcare division is already home to a variety of industry leading OTC products, including Claritin, Dr Scholl’s, MiraLax, Afrin and Lotrimin. We are confident that Zegerid OTC will quickly join this list of highly regarded household brands."