America has heartburn
Reader Liz Cox wrote me an e-mail this morning:
"Over the past two weeks (at least) there has been an acute shortage of Prilosec at stores where I shop in the Spokane Valley. The Fred Meyer at Sullivan and Sprague has been completely out for more than three weeks. I went to the Walgreen's at Sprague and Sullivan -- also completely out. Finally I went to the Albertson's at 32nd and Hwy. 27 and bought the last two boxes in the store. Both were small quantity boxes, so I'll be scouring the stores again in two weeks.
"Before stores began to run out completely, a few weeks ago all I could find were promotional boxes. So one time I bought Prilosec packaged with a free roll of 35 mm film. The next time, I had to buy a box packaged with a Thermocare heatwrap.
"So, what's going on? Is there a national shortage? Is this an after-effect of Pig Out In The Park?
"Seriously, since the stuff went OTC and insurance plans quit paying for it, it's been selling like crazy."
Here's the story, Liz:
There is indeed a national run on over-the-counter Prilosec, which is marketed and distributed by Procter & Gamble. It's a problem created by demand, said P&G spokesman Kurt Weigand. The heartburn medication went over the counter one year ago.
Production will be increased over the next three to four months, Weigand said.
