Walgreens, Hy-Vee promote OTC Nexium

Retailers are promoting the over-the-counter status of heartburn medication Nexium.

“Frequent heartburn making your summer uncool?” Walgreens wrote in a Facebook post. “The Purple Pill is now available over the counter. Stop in today and start living heartburn-free.”

The FDA approved Nexium (esomeprazole) 24-Hour (20 mg) as an OTC product in March. A higher dose remains available by prescription only.

Nexium works as an acid blocker, providing relief to many patients that suffer from overproduction of acid in the stomach, leading to unpleasant conditions like heartburn and acid reflux disease.

In 2012, Pfizer acquired exclusive global rights from AstraZeneca to market non-prescription Nexium.

Along with Walgreens and other drugstore chains, traditional food retailers are making it known that they now stock the non-prescription version. Waldbaums and other A&P banners are among them:

Hy-Vee has promoted the fact that shoppers can earn fuel rewards by purchasing the product: