Baloney. Facts:
"Esomeprazole is the S-enantiomer of omeprazole (marketed as Losec/Prilosec), and AstraZeneca claims improved efficacy of this single enantiomer product over the racemic mixture of omeprazole. However, this greater efficacy has been disputed, with some claiming it offers no benefit from its older form."
"Esomeprazole and its metabolites are analytically indistinguishable from omeprazole and the corresponding omeprazole metabolites unless chiral techniques are employed."
"There has been some controversy about AstraZeneca's behaviour in creating, patenting and marketing of the drug. Esomeprazole's successful predecessor omeprazole is a mixture of two mirror-imaged molecules (esomeprazole which is the S-enantiomer, and R-omeprazole), and that the company was trying to "evergreen" its patent by patenting the pure esomeprazole and aggressively marketing to doctors that it is more effective than the mixture, claiming that omeprazole has no beneficial effects on the patient. However, in the acidic environment of the parietal cells both esomeprazole and omeprazole are converted to the same active drug which stops the gastric acid production."
Thomas A. Scully, head of the Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services also criticized AstraZeneca for their aggressive marketing of Nexium. At a conference of the American Medical Association he went so far as to suggest that Astra was using the new drug to overcharge consumers and insurance companies. "You should be embarrassed if you prescribe Nexium," he claimed, "because you're screwing your patients and you're screwing the taxpayers."
Esomeprazole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prilosec and Nexium are the same thing when metabolized. I think AstraZeneca just wants you to believe that it's better when in reality, it probably not any better than the old fashioned Prilosec.
Do NOT underestimate the power of suggestion - why do you think they used "purple?" Why do you think they try to imply that anything that's prescription is better and stronger for you? Their branding, literature, and choice of color is NO accident at all - it's a well planned marketing skill.
I feel the same with antidepressants - most are over-prescribed and many studies show no significant difference between placebos and treated groups.
I had a serious ucler and was prescribed Prilosec but TWICE the recommended dose and it works. It won't work if I take it only at recommended dose. Studies have done on people who took a few times the recommended dose and found no safety concerns and that it works fine.
) methane (cattle is the real problem!..etc.) is funny to me, just because of all the disbelief over "global warming" and the uncertainty about the impact of the baby boomers. 
seriously right?
