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We did rice cereal at every feed by our ped's recommendation and it really did turn things around. And DS's ped preferred not going to any medications of we could avoid them because of side effects, so I can see that your GI might just be on the conservative side, as well. But follow your gut and push for the Prilosec if you really think it's best. I remember feeling so helpless during the time we were tying to fight out what to do. The doctors don't have to deal with it all day so it's hard to see them so calm when your baby is crying his heart out after every feed.

We took DS to a GI doc for reflux as well - he did tell us that it would improve once on solids (and it did) but in the meantime he switched us from Zantac (which wasn't working) to Prilosec and it worked really well!

It wasn't suggested for us to do Zantac 3x a day but I wouldn't have a problem trying that 1st before moving to Prilosec

Yes, Prilosec does have more serious potential side effects and I was amazed that our ped said our LO was the first he'd had to prescribe it to. But he was absolutely sure Zantac wasn't working and didn't think it was worth wasting time. He doesn't believe in causing babies pain. Just to show what happens without the Prilosec when it's needed, when we saw a resident GI who mistakenly took him off his meds, he ended up with persistent projectile vomiting until he started up the Prilosec again.

About the rice cereal, I think the rules for feeding are a little different with reflux babies. I tried thickening with rice cereal and don't remember it making a difference but then he was already on a very thick formula so that wasn't his issue. Here's a link that might help, although you might have read it already!
http://www.refluxrebels.com/Acid_reflux/Acid_reflux_formula_thickening.html

I agree with @spaniellove, reflux babies follow different rules for eating. It was also suggested for us to add rice to bottles to see if it helped keep it down, it did a little (around 3 months old) but not significantly. I would go with your doctor's recommendation, Zantac is a lot easier on a babies system than Prilosec with less side effects, as a mom of a Prilosec baby it makes me sad she's been on it so long.

Beause you are exclusively breast feeding I would also do everything I could for your diet to try and comfort your child. You've eliminated dairy but I would also try to eliminate soy and see if that helps, also my doctor said to stop eating anything acidic (most fruit, tomatoes, ect) because it makes it more painful for them. I made the choice to switch to formula (I wasn't strong enough to only eat like 5 bland things which is what my daughter could seem to handle) but I know other mom's have better will power

Our ped let us go right from 1 dose of Zantac to Prilosec, and never suggested rice cereal.

Does it seem to be affecting his willingness to breastfeed at all? At about that age, DS got fussier and fussier feeding, to the point where he wouldn't eat enough and it hurt my supply. Then we had weight gain issues. So if you ever feel that he really didn't eat enough, make sure to pump to keep up your supply. Also, if you are having any trouble, I'd suggest seeing an IBCLC soon. I don't want to scare you, it was just such an rough thing to deal with, I'd hate to see anyone else go there!

We did Enfamil AR which is essentially rice cereal, just already in it. It really did help keep the feeds down...

When we increased Prevacid from 1-2x a day it really did help, but I'd only give it a week or so before demanding something else...

I didn't cut any foods either be side the docs said it really wasn't the most likely issue. Prevacid was the only answer we needed...

@winniebee: I would give rice a try for a week too, even if that means pumping more than BF, it sucks and it's time consuming, but it might be an easier fix than costly (and possible side effects) from medicine.