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Esomeprazole
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Description
Esomeprazole is an anti-ulcer medicine. It is used to treat stomach and intestinal conditions like peptic ulcers (sores in the lining of your stomach and intestine), esophagitis (swelling of your food pipe), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (a condition in which the stomach acid flows back into your food pipe), etc. It also relieves stress ulcers (sores in the stomach and intestine that may occur due to illness, infections, etc.) and acidity caused due to the intake of painkillers. It works by stopping the excess production of acid in your stomach.
Esomeprazole can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, diarrhoea, etc. Consult your doctor if these side effects remain for a long time or become worse.
Esomeprazole is available as tablets, capsules, injections, and granules (for oral suspension). For oral forms, take this medicine one hour before your meal. Take this medicine at the same time every day to maintain a constant level of Esomeprazole in your blood. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor as your symptoms may reappear. Esomeprazole injections are administered by qualified healthcare professionals in a hospital or a clinic.
Esomeprazole is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems, or any other health condition. Report all the medicines that you are taking to your doctor as they can interact with this medicine and reduce its effectiveness. If you are pregnant or are breastfeeding, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Esomeprazole
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Excessive gas in stomach
Stomach pain
Skin rash
Difficulty in breathing
Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
Irregular heartbeat
Diarrhoea
Decreased appetite
Dizziness
Uses of Esomeprazole
What is it prescribed for?
Erosive Esophagitis
Erosive Esophagitis is the swelling of the oesophagus, the tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach. It occurs when excess acid produced in the stomach flows back into your oesophagus, causing irritation and damage. Esomeprazole is used to treat erosive esophagitis.
Gastroesophagal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition that occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into your food pipe. The symptoms include heartburn, indigestion, difficulty in swallowing, etc. Esomeprazole helps in the treatment of GERD by decreasing stomach acid production.
Helicobacter pylori Infection
Helicobacter Pylori infection is a bacterial infection affecting your stomach and intestine caused by Helicobacter pylori. It is a very common infection that may cause ulcers in your stomach and intestion. Esomeprazole is used in combination with antibiotics to treat and prevent Helicobacter Pylori infection.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is a condition in which tumours form in the pancreas (an organ located behind the stomach) and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). These tumours produce a hormone called gastrin which in turn causes excessive stomach acid. Esomeprazole is used to reduce the excessive amount of acid produced in the stomach due to tumours.
Peptic Ulcer
Peptic ulcers are sores that are formed in the lining of your stomach and duodenum (the beginning of the small intestine). It occurs when excess acid produced in the stomach damages the protective layer of your stomach and small intestine. Esomeprazole is used to treat ulcers of the stomach and small intestine.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
You may start to feel better within 1 hour after taking Esomeprazole in oral forms. This medicine will start to work immediately after intravenous injection.Duration of effect
Esomeprazole may remain in your body for an average duration of 9 hours.Safe with alcohol?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is it habit forming?
No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Esomeprazole.Usage in pregnancy?
Esomeprazole is not recommended for use during pregnancy as there are not enough data to understand its safety in pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefit outweighs the risk. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.Usage while breast-feeding?
It is not known if Esomeprazole passes into breastmilk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor to understand the risks and benefits associated with this medicine.
Allergy
Esomeprazole is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling of the face/tongue/throat, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Esomeprazole is not recommended for use during pregnancy as there are not enough data to understand its safety in pregnancy. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine only if the benefit outweighs the risk. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
It is not known if Esomeprazole passes into breastmilk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor to understand the risks and benefits associated with this medicine.
General warnings
Driving or operating machines
Esomeprazole may cause sleepiness or dizziness. Hence, avoid performing activities such as driving vehicles or operating machines if you experience such symptoms.
Lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin, kidneys, brain, joints, and other organs. It occurs when the immune system of your body attacks its own tissues. Lupus erythematosus may occur or worsen while using Esomeprazole. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience tiredness, painful joints, rashes, or lesions on the skin while using this medicine.
Atrophic gastritis
Long-term use of Esomeprazole may cause atrophic gastritis (swelling in the lining of the stomach) Hence, use this medicine only for the prescribed duration.
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Long-term treatment with Esomeprazole may decrease the absorption of Vitamin B12 in your body. Your doctor may prescribe vitamin B12 supplements if this medicine is used for a longer time.
Hypomagnesaemia
Long-term use of Esomeprazole may result in hypomagnesaemia (low magnesium levels in your blood) due to excess excretion of it through urine. Inform your doctor if you experience symptoms such as dizziness, irregular heartbeat, shivering, muscle pain, seizures (fits). Your doctor may monitor your magnesium levels at regular intervals during treatment with this medicine.
Missed Dose
Oral forms: If you forget to take Esomeprazole, take it as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next dose then skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed one.
Injection: As Esomeprazole is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the likelihood of a missed dose is very low.
Overdose
Oral forms: Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical attention in case of an overdose of Esomeprazole.
Injection: Since Esomeprazole is administered in the hospital or clinical setting by a qualified healthcare professional, the chances of an overdose are very low. However, emergency medical treatment will be initiated by your doctor if an overdose is suspected.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Clopidogrel
Methotrexate
Warfarin
Nelfinavir
Digoxin
Fluconazole
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
Esomeprazole should be used with caution if you have liver problems. Impaired liver function may lead to an increase in the levels of unused medicine in your blood. Your doctor may adjust your dose or suggest another medicine in such cases.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones become weak and fragile. Long-term use of Esomeprazole can increase the risk of bone loss. Hence, this medicine should be used with caution if you have osteoporosis. Your doctor may recommend vitamin D and calcium supplements if you have such conditions.
Food interactions
Take Esomeprazole at least 1 hour before a meal as food may reduce the absorption of the medicine in your body.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Tablet/capsules: Take Esomeprazole as instructed by your doctor. Do not break, crush or chew the tablet/capsule. Take Esomeprazole for the recommended duration. Avoid taking more or less than the prescribed dose.
Injection: Esomeprazole should be administered by a qualified healthcare professional in the clinical or hospital setting. Do not self administer.
Granules: Empty the contents of the sachet in a glass of water, as prescribed by your doctor. Stir and mix the granules well and leave them aside for 2 minutes to thicken. Drink the suspension within 30 minutes of mixing. If any material is left after drinking, add more water and drink it immediately.
Avoid spicy and fatty foods, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks or beverages (such as coffee, tea, and cola) while taking this medicine.
Always check the date of expiry before taking this medicine. Throw away the unused medicine safely after it has expired. Keep it away from children and pets.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Esomeprazole decreases the acid production in your stomach. It also fastens the healing process for ulcers.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Proton pump inhibitors, Anti-Ulcer Agents
Schedule
Schedule H
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Medicines.org.uk. 2021. Esomeprazole 20 mg gastro-resistant capsules, hard - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc). [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2021].
Accessdata.fda.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 2 March 2021].
Astrazeneca.ca. 2021. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - NEXIUM I.V.- esomeprazole sodium injection. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 15 September 2021].
CiplaMed. 2021. ESOMAC Granules. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - NEXIUM 24HR- esomeprazole magnesium tablet. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 2 Nov 2021
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.