Nexium

esomeprazole magnesium

Nexium relieves heartburn and other symptoms caused by the backflow of stomach acid into the canal to the stomach (the esophagus) - a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is also prescribed to heal the damage (erosive esophagitis) that reflux disease can cause.

Prescribed in combination with the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin, Nexium is also used to treat the infection that causes most duodenal ulcers (ulcers occurring just beyond the exit from the stomach).

What is Nexium?

Nexium tablets contain the active ingredient esomeprazole, which is a type of medicine called a proton pump inhibitor. It acts in the stomach to decrease the production of stomach acid.

Before taking Nexium

Use with caution in:

• Severely decreased kidney function.
• Severely decreased liver function.

Not to be used in:

• Children under 12 years of age.
• Breastfeeding.
• Nexium tablets contain sucrose and as a result are not suitable for people with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

How should I take Nexium?

Take Nexium exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. This medicine is usually given for 4 to 8 weeks only. Your doctor may recommend a second course of treatment if you need additional healing time.

Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Nexium should be taken at least one hour before a meal. Do not crush, break, or open a delayed-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

It is important to use Nexium regularly to get the most benefit. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before your treatment is completed.

Nexium side effects

Less serious Nexium side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• headache;
• diarrhea;
• nausea, stomach pain, gas, constipation; or
• dry mouth.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Precautions

The antibiotics prescribed in conjunction with Nexium for the treatment of ulcers have occasionally been known to cause severe side effects and life-threatening allergic reactions. If you've been prescribed this combination, be sure to check the entries on amoxicillin and clarithromycin for more information.

Drug interactions

Before taking Nexium, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: clopidogrel (Plavix); digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); diazepam (Valium); ketoconazole (Nizoral); HIV or AIDS medication such as atazanavir (Reyataz), nelfinavir (Viracept), saquinavir (Invirase), and others; iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others); or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Nexium, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

Preganacy

Nexium is in pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether Nexium passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of an Nexium overdose include confusion, headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, nausea, dry mouth, sweating, flushing, shortness of breath, tremor, loss of coordination, or seizure (convulsions).

Notes

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Nexium. If you have any other questions about Nexium, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.