Neksium general information
What is Neksium used for?
Neksium tablets 40mg are used to treat conditions caused by gastric reflux, which is when the acidic contents of the stomach flow back into the oesophagus 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). Neksium tablets 40mg are 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. Neksium tablets 40mg 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 Neksium work?
Neksium tablets 40mg 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 your 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 Neksium 40 inhibits the functioning of the H+/K+-ATPase, which prevents acid secretion by blocking the source of acid production. This action of esomeprazole 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 Neksium tablets 40mg also help 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 Neksium contain?
Neksium tablets 40mg contain the active ingredient esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate, which is a proton pump inhibitor that is used to treat conditions caused by excess gastric acid secretion. They also contain glyceryl , monostearate 40-55, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, magnesium steartate, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, polysorbate 80, sugar spheres, talc, triethyl citrate, gelatin, FD&C blue #1, FD&C red #40, D&C blue #28, titanium dioxide, shellac, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, D&C yellow#10.
Treating gastric reflux with Neksium
Neksium tablets 40mg 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 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 Neksium tablets 40mg 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 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.
Neksium for peptic ulcers
Neksium tablets 40mg contain the active ingredient esomeprazole, which is used to treat and prevent 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). Neksium tablets 40mg 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 Neksium tablets 40mg 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 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 Neksium?
The most commonly reported side effects when taking Neksium tablets 40mg, include: constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, wind (flatulence), headache, dry mouth, skin rash, dizziness, sensation of tingling in the skin (paraesthesia), insomnia.
When should Neksium not be used?
You should not use Neksium tablets 40mg if you:
- are allergic to esomeprazole, any other proton pump inhibitor or any ingredients in Neksium
- taking medication that interacts with Neksium, including: the antifungals ketoconazole and itraconazole, the anticoagulant warfarin, phenytoin for epilepsy, the antiretroviral atazanavir, the antibiotic clarithromycin, the immunosuppressive tacrolimus, the sedative diazepam
How should Neksium be taken?
You should take your Neksium tablets 40mg with a glass of water at least one hour before a meal. You should continue to take your Neksium tablets 40mg 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 Neksium?
You should continue to take your Neksium tablets 40mg 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 Neksium
If you miss a dose of Neksium tablets 40mg 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 Neksium be stored?
You should keep your Neksium tablets 40mg in their packs until use and store below 30°C in a cool dry place.