Esomeprazole 20 Mg Tablet

Esomeprazole 20mg is used to treat certain stomach and esophagus problems (such as acid reflux, ulcers). It works by decreasing the amount of acid your stomach makes. It relieves symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and cough. This medication helps heal acid damage to the stomach and esophagus, helps prevent ulcers. If you are self-treating with this medication, over-the-counter esomeprazole products are used to treat frequent heartburn (occurring 2 or more days a week). Since it may take 1 to 4 days to have full effect, these products do not relieve heartburn right away. To use the capsule: Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush or chew it. If the capsule cannot be swallowed, open it and sprinkle the contents on one tablespoonful of applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away. Do not chew or crush the granules.

Take this medicine at least 1 hour before a meal and for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you are taking this medicine to treat an ulcer caused by an H. pylori infection, take it together with the antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) at the same time of day.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Side effects may include headache, diarrhea, nausea, flatulence, abdominal pain, constipation, somnolence, regurgitation, tachypnea, and dry mouth.

Avoid use of this drug during pregnancy and prescribe an alternative. Evidence has demonstrated fetal abnormalities or risks when used during pregnancy. Evidence has demonstrated harmful infant effects when used during breastfeeding.

Esomeprazole may cause a serious type of allergic reaction when used in patients with conditions treated with antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has itching, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth. Taking this medicine for a long time may make it harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about vitamin B12 deficiency. Serious stomach conditions may occur while taking this medicine alone or together with antibiotics. Check with your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). This is more likely to occur if you are using this medicine for more than one year, or if you are using it together with digoxin (Lanoxin®) or certain diuretics (water pills).

Product Information: NEXIUM(R) oral delayed-release capsules, suspension, esomeprazole magnesium oral delayed-release capsules, suspension. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP (per FDA), Wilmington, DE, 2020. Product Information: Nexium oral tablet, esomeprazole oral tablet. AstraZeneca AB (per SFDA; Saudi Arabia), 2017. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA Drug Safety Communication: Low magnesium levels can be associated with long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Silver Spring, MD. 2011. Available from URL: http://www.fda.go... . As accessed 2011-03-02.

Esomeprazole magnesium, a proton pump inhibitor, blocks the final step in acid production by specific inhibition of the H(+)/K(+)-ATPase in the gastric parietal cell, thus suppressing gastric acid secretion.

Gastrointestinal Agent