Prilosec — the heartburn medication I live and die by — is about to go over-the-counter and what’s more, the patent is about to expire. This is fantastic news for chronic, severe acid-reflux sufferers like me, who pay upwards of two bucks a pill (or have to hassle with insurance companies about our lifeline). No more calls to the doctor’s office to renew our scrips, and with luck the price will drop to the level of ranatadine (Zantac), about $0.60 a pill or so.