Esomeprazole

Generic Name: esomeprazole (ee so MEP ra zol)

Brand names: NexIUM, NexIUM I.V.

What is esomeprazole?

Esomeprazole is in a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. Esomeprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Esomeprazole is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Esomeprazole is also used to promote healing of erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).

Esomeprazole may also be given to prevent gastric ulcer caused by infection with helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), or by the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Esomeprazole is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Esomeprazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about esomeprazole?

Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to esomeprazole or to any other benzimidazole medication such as albendazole (Albenza), or mebendazole (Vermox).

Before you take esomeprazole, tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease or low levels of magnesium in your blood.

Esomeprazole is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of esomeprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the condition is fully treated.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking esomeprazole?

Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to esomeprazole or to any other benzimidazole medication such as albendazole (Albenza), or mebendazole (Vermox).

To make sure you can safely take esomeprazole, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

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  severe liver disease; or

  
  


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  low levels of magnesium in your blood.

  
  

Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as esomeprazole may increase your risk of bone fracture in the hip, wrist, or spine. This effect has occurred mostly in people who have taken the medication long term or at high doses, and in those who are age 50 and older. It is not clear whether esomeprazole is the actual cause of an increased risk of fracture. Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone mineral density).

Some conditions are treated with a combination of esomeprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

FDA pregnancy category B. Esomeprazole is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether esomeprazole 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.

How should I take esomeprazole?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. 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. Esomeprazole should be taken at least one hour before a meal. Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release capsule. Swallow it whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

You may open the delayed-release capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding or applesauce to make swallowing easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule.

Esomeprazole can be given through a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube. Open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a 60-milliliter syringe. Mix in 50 milliliters of water. Place the plunger into the syringe and shake the mixture well. Make sure there are no medicine granules stuck in the tip of the syringe. Attach the syringe to the NG tube and push the plunger down to empty the syringe into the tube. Then flush the tube with more water to wash the contents down.

Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the condition is fully treated. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse while you are taking this medicine. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Esomeprazole dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include confusion, headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, nausea, dry mouth, sweating, flushing, shortness of breath, tremor, loss of coordination, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking esomeprazole?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Esomeprazole side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using esomeprazole and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of low magnesium such as:

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  dizziness, confusion;

  
  


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  fast or uneven heart rate;

  
  


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  jerking muscle movements;

  
  


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  jittery feeling;

  
  


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  muscle cramps, muscle weakness or limp feeling;

  
  


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  cough or choking feeling; or

  
  


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  seizure (convulsions).

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  headache, drowsiness;

  
  


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  diarrhea;

  
  


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  nausea, stomach pain, gas, constipation; or

  
  


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  dry mouth.

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Esomeprazole Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

20 mg orally once a day for 4 to 8 weeks. It may be administered by the intravenous route if unable to use oral route.

Usual Adult Dose for Erosive Esophagitis:

Healing: 20 to 40 mg orally once a day for 4 to 8 weeks. It may be administered by the intravenous route if unable to use oral route.

Maintenance of healing: 20 mg orally once daily, for up to 6 months.

Usual Adult Dose for Helicobacter pylori Infection:

40 mg orally once a day for 10 days along with amoxicillin 1000 mg and clarithromycin 500 mg orally twice a day for 10 days.

Usual Adult Dose for NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer:

20 to 40 mg orally once daily for up to 6 months.

Usual Adult Dose for Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome:

40 mg orally twice daily. Doses up to 240 mg daily have been used.

Usual Adult Dose for Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions:

40 mg orally twice daily. Doses up to 240 mg daily have been used.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

Short-term treatment:
1 to 11 years old: 10 mg orally once daily for up to 8 weeks.
12 to 17 years old: 20 mg to 40 mg orally once daily for up to 8 weeks.

When oral therapy is not possible or appropriate (GERD with Erosive Esophagitis):
1 month to less than 1 year of age: 0.5 mg/kg once daily IV over 10 minutes to 30 minutes.
1 year to 17 years:
Body weight less than 55 kg: 10 mg once daily IV over 10 minutes to 30 minutes
Body weight 55 kg or greater: 20 mg once daily IV over 10 minutes to 30 minutes

Usual Pediatric Dose for Erosive Esophagitis:

Healing:
Less than 20 kg: 10 mg orally once daily for up to 8 weeks.
Greater than or equal to 20 kg: 10 mg to 20 mg orally once daily for up to 8 weeks.

What other drugs will affect esomeprazole?

Esomeprazole should not be taken together with atazanavir (Reyataz) or nelfinavir (Viracept). Tell your doctor if you are taking either of these medications to treat HIV or AIDS.

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

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  a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

  
  


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  a diuretic (water pill);

  
  


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  cilostazol (Pletal);

  
  


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  clopidogrel (Plavix);

  
  


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  digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

  
  


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  diazepam (Valium);

  
  


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  ketoconazole (Nizoral);

  
  


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  saquinavir (Invirase); or

  
  


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  iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others).

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with esomeprazole. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More esomeprazole resources

• Esomeprazole Side Effects (in more detail)
• Esomeprazole Dosage
• Esomeprazole Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Esomeprazole Drug Interactions
• Esomeprazole Support Group
• 54 Reviews for Esomeprazole - Add your own review/rating

• esomeprazole Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Esomeprazole Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)


• Esomeprazole MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Esomeprazole Magnesium Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Nexium Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Nexium Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Nexium Delayed-Release Capsules MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Nexium Consumer Overview


• Nexium I.V. Consumer Overview


• Nexium I.V.

Compare esomeprazole with other medications

• Barrett's Esophagus
• Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis
• Erosive Esophagitis
• GERD
• Helicobacter Pylori Infection
• NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer
• Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about esomeprazole.

See also: esomeprazole side effects (in more detail)