Monday, March 23, 2009

Common Side Effects of Nexium

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects that may occur with Nexium® (esomeprazole magnesium). Yet, not everyone who takes Nexium will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate Nexium well. When people do develop Nexium side effects, they tend to be minor; in most cases, they either require no treatment or can easily be treated by a healthcare professional.
Nexium has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with over 15,000 people worldwide having been evaluated.
In these studies, the side effects that occurred in a group of people taking the drug were documented and then compared to the side effects that occurred in another group of people taking a placebo (a "sugar pill" that does not contain any active ingredients). As a result, it was possible to see what side effects occurred, how often they appeared, and how they compared to the group not taking the medicine.
The most common side effects of Nexium, occurring in more than 1 percent of patients, were:
* Headache
* Diarrhea
* Nausea
* Flatulence
* Abdominal pain
* Constipation
* Dry mouth.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Nexium is used for treating gastro esophageal reflux disease.


Nexium (Esomeprazole) is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) used to treat heartburn, or gastro esophageal reflux. It may be used in combination with two antibiotics to treat helicobacter pylori (h. Pylori) infection and duodenal ulcers. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Treatment Area: Duodenal ulcer disease, erosive esophagitis, and gastro esophageal reflux disease

Nexium tablets are gastro-resistant. This means that the coated pellets in your tablet are resistant to the acid in your stomach.

Each gastro-resistant tablet contains the active ingredient esomeprazole.

Nexium tablets come in two strengths containing 20 mg or 40 mg of the active ingredient esomeprazole (as magnesium trihydrate). Each strength of tablet is a slightly different colour:

* 20 mg tablets are light pink with an

"A" over "EH"

on one side and 20 mg on the other side.

* 40 mg tablets are pink with an

"A" over "EI"

on one side and 40 mg on the other side.

A healthcare provider may recommend

Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) to treat certain conditions related to the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.

Nexium tablets are used for treating the following conditions:

• Heartburn with or without inflammation of the gullet (oesophagus) caused by acid from the stomach escaping into the gullet. Nexium tablets reduce acid production and help the healing of the gullet by reducing the pain and inflammation.

• Ulcers in the upper part of the intestine or stomach infected with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. Nexium tablets and the appropriate antibiotics get rid of the infection, which causes the ulcer to heal and prevents the infection and ulcer from re-appearing.

• Healing of stomach ulcers that have been caused by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as those used in the treatment of arthritis.

• To stop stomach ulcers forming, if you are at risk of developing them whilst taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as those used in the treatment of arthritis.

• To treat excess acid in the stomach caused by a growth in the pancreas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).

Nexium has been approved by the FDA for the relief of heartburn and other symptoms associated with gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and for the healing of erosive esophagitis, a potentially serious condition associated with GERD. The FDA also approved Nexium for maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis and, in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin, for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer disease.