Nexium (Esomeprazole 20mg) Tablets

Nexium general information

What is Nexium used for?

Nexium tablets 20mg are used to treat conditions caused by gastric reflux, which is when the acidic contents of the stomach flow back into the oesophagus (gullet), because the sphincter (muscle at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach) that normally acts as a one-way valve and prevents backflow of stomach contents, does not function properly or is damaged.  Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), as this condition is known, causes symptoms like heartburn and dyspepsia (indigestion and abdominal pain), and can damage the oesophagus causing inflammation (oesophagitis).  Nexium 20 is also used to treat and prevent peptic ulcers in the stomach (gastric ulcers or damage to the stomach lining) and duodenum (duodenal ulcers or damage to the lining of the upper intestine); and gastric ulcers caused by use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID); also as combination therapy to treat gastric ulcers that are caused by infection of the stomach with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, in conjunction with using antibiotics.  Nexium tablets 20mg are also used to treat symptoms of acid-related dyspepsia that can be caused by eating high fat or acidic foods, or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome in which increased levels of the hormone gastrin causes an excessive production of gastric acid.

How does Nexium work?

Nexium tablets 20mg contain esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that is used to treat conditions caused by excess gastric acid, by reducing the amount of gastric acid released into the stomach.  Stomach acid is needed for digestion of proteins in the diet and is made by the parietal cells of the stomach wall.  Gastric acid production is dependent on the action of the enzyme H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, which is the proton pump responsible for pumping positive hydrogen ions out of the cells into the stomach, which increases the acidity of the stomach contents.  Esomeprazole in Nexium tablets 20mg inhibits the functioning of the H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, which prevents acid secretion by blocking the source of acid production.  This action of esomeprazole in Nexium tablets 20mg reduces the acidity of the stomach contents, which reduces the acid damage that can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and oesophagitis and relieves symptoms caused by excess gastric acid like heartburn and dyspepsia.  By inhibiting gastric acid secretion Nexium 20 also helps prevent the formation of gastric (stomach) and duodenal (upper intestine) peptic ulcers and also helps ulcers and damage caused by gastric reflux to heal.   

What does Nexium contain?

Nexium tablets 20mg contain the active ingredient esomeprazole, which is a proton pump inhibitor that is used to treat conditions caused by excess gastric acid secretion.  They also contain glycerol monostearate 40-55, hyprolose, Hypromellose, iron oxide (reddish-brown and yellow) (E 172), magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) dispersion 30 per cent, cellulose microcrystalline, synthetic paraffin, macrogols, polysorbate 80, crospovidone, sodium stearyl fumarate, sugar spheres (sucrose and maize starch), talc, titanium dioxide (E 171), triethyl citrate

Treating gastric reflux with Nexium

Nexium tablets 20mg contain esomeprazole, which is used to treat conditions caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD).  Gastric reflux is when the acidic contents of the stomach flow back into the oesophagus (gullet), because the sphincter (muscle at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach) that normally acts as a one-way valve and prevents backflow of stomach contents, does not function properly or is damaged.  Symptoms caused by gastric reflux include heartburn and dyspepsia (indigestion and abdominal pain), and damage to the oesophagus causing inflammation (oesophagitis).  Esomeprazole in Nexium tablets 20mg reduces acid secretion by parietal cells of the stomach wall, by blocking the action of the enzyme H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, which is responsible for acid production.  This action of esomeprazole in Nexium tablets 20mg reduces the acidity of the stomach contents, which reduces the acid damage that can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and oesophagitis, relieves symptoms caused by excess gastric acid like heartburn and dyspepsia; as well as helping damaged tissues caused by excess acid to heal.  

Nexium for peptic ulcers

Nexium tablets 20mg contain the active ingredient esomeprazole, which is used to treat and prevent peptic ulcers in the stomach (gastric ulcers or damage to the stomach lining) and duodenum (duodenal ulcers or damage to the lining of the upper intestine), caused by excess secretion of gastric acid; and gastric ulcers caused by use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).  Nexium tablets 20mg are also used as combination therapy to treat and prevent gastric ulcers that are caused by infection of the stomach with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, in conjunction with using antibiotics.  Esomeprazole in Nexium tablets 20mg reduces acid secretion by parietal cells of the stomach wall, by blocking the action of the enzyme H⁺/K⁺-ATPase, which responsible for acid production.  This action of esomeprazole in Nexium tablets 20mg reduces the acidity of the stomach contents, which reduces the acid damage to the stomach wall and allows ulcers that have already developed to heal.  

What are the side effects of Nexium?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Nexium tablets 20mg include constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, wind (flatulence), abdominal pain, headache, dry mouth, skin rash, dizziness, sensation of tingling in the skin (paraesthesia), insomnia.

When should Nexium not be used?

You should not use Nexium tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to esomeprazole, any other proton pump inhibitor or any ingredients in Nexium
• are taking medicines that interact with Nexium including the antifungal voriconazole, the anticoagulant warfarin, phenytoin for epilepsy, the antiretroviral atazanavir, the antibiotic clarithromycin, the immunosuppressives methotrexate and tacrolimus, the sedative diazepam, the antibiotic rifampicin and St. John's wort for depression

What medications interact with Nexium?

Several medications interact with Nexium tablets 20mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Nexium or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that affect Nexium: the antibiotic rifampicin and St. John's wort for depression
• Drugs that are affected by Nexium: the antifungal voriconazole, phenytoin for epilepsy, the sedative diazepam, the antiretroviral atazanavir, the immunosuppressives methotrexate and tacrolimus

How should Nexium be taken?

You should take your Nexium tablets 20mg swallowed whole with a glass of water at least one hour before a meal.  You should continue to take your Nexium tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, usually for a few weeks to 6 months, depending on the condition you are being treated for. 

How long should you take Nexium?

You should continue to take your Nexium tablets 20mg for as long as recommended by your doctor, usually for a few weeks to 6 months, depending on the condition you are being treated for. 

Missed dose of Nexium

If you miss a dose of Nexium tablets 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Nexium be stored?

You should store your Nexium tablets 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.