I generally take the first before breakfast, and the second either before or after dinner (trying to get them roughly 12 hours apart). But I haven't found it to be as sensitive to taking it on an empty stomach as you have, and I don't think it wears off as fast.
For me, it was more that my morning dose wasn't cutting it by nighttime. I was having problems usually stating in the evening (more Tums) and continuing late at night to interfere with my sleep and/or make me wake up with a sore throat. Also a chronic feeling of needing to clear my throat that persisted for some months before I talked to a GE and he recommended the dosage increase. (And an upper GI endoscopy.)
I've also found that when I have eaten too much too late for the Prilosec to do the job, sleeping on an incline (I use our reclining couch) combined with Tums can help reduce the reflux symptoms enough to get through the night. (My whole back has to be on an incline though-- just trying to prop myself up with pillows doesn't help, and may make things worse.)
no subject
For me, it was more that my morning dose wasn't cutting it by nighttime. I was having problems usually stating in the evening (more Tums) and continuing late at night to interfere with my sleep and/or make me wake up with a sore throat. Also a chronic feeling of needing to clear my throat that persisted for some months before I talked to a GE and he recommended the dosage increase. (And an upper GI endoscopy.)
I've also found that when I have eaten too much too late for the Prilosec to do the job, sleeping on an incline (I use our reclining couch) combined with Tums can help reduce the reflux symptoms enough to get through the night. (My whole back has to be on an incline though-- just trying to prop myself up with pillows doesn't help, and may make things worse.)