Nexium

Drug name

Nexium (Esomeprazole)

Drug Uses

Nexium is intended to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that means a heartburn and injury of esophagus caused by the acid flow from the stomach. The medicine treats the GERD symptoms and is also prescribed to avoid stomach ulcers. The medicine reduces the amount of the acid produced in the stomach.

How Taken

Nexium comes in the form of the capsule and used orally. The common dosage of the medicine is one time each day in one hour before the meal. It is recommended to take the medicine at the same time each day not to miss the dose. It is also recommended to swallow the whole capsule without chewing or breaking it. In case you cannot swallow the whole capsule open it and sprinkle the pellets onto the tablespoon of the applesauce and swallow it at once. Avoid chewing the pellets mixed with applesauce and keeping it for the next dose.

Missed Dose

In case you have missed to take the medicine do it at the moment you have remembered but skip it in case it is the time of your next dosage and follow your usual schedule. You shouldn’t use double dose simultaneously unless the doctor advises it.

Storage

Keep the medicine at the room temperature in the dry and cool place.

Warnings Precautions

Tell your doctor your medical history and especially about your liver disease before using the medicine. The doctor may prescribe you special dosage or monitoring or prohibit you to take this medicine. The medicine should not make any injury onto the human fetus, however consult you doctor before taking the medicine. Moreover, contact your doctor before taking the medicine throughout the breast-feeding period. The patients treated by penicillin can experience serious reactions. These reactions can strengthen in case the patient is a penicillin hypersensitive person. Taking the medicine along with antibacterial agents can cause pseudo membranous colitis. That is why the diagnosis of the patients taking the antibacterial agents and experiencing a diarrhea should be considered well.

Possible Side Effects

Taking the medicine can lead to headache, constipation, cough, or diarrhea. Contact you doctor in case these side effects last for a long time. Consult your doctor at once in case you have throat pain, chest pain, severe stomach pain, or coffee-ground vomit. Contact you doctor in case you experience any allergic reaction to the medicine. Allergic reactions may have following symptoms rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble breathing. Contact you doctor in case you have any other side effect not mentioned above that bothers you.

More Information

Do not take the medicine and contact your doctor in case you have an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

Do not stop the therapy but contact your doctor in case you have:

o headache;
o diarrhea;
o nausea, flatulence, abdominal pain, or constipation; or
o dry mouth.
Contact your doctor in case you experience any other side effect not mentioned here that bothers you.