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| Pronunciation |
|
 (es
oh ME pray
zol) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Nexium™ |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Proton Pump Inhibitor |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to lansoprazole, omeprazole, rabeprazole,
esomeprazole, or any other part of the
medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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|
- This medicine is used to treat irritation of the esophagus (swallowing
tube). It helps to heal the irritated area and to keep it healed. It prevents
further irritation to the esophagus caused by your stomach acid.
- It treats and prevents heartburn.
- It is also used to treat and prevent ulcers in the small intestine
when the ulcers are caused by infection. Esomeprazole must be used with 2
antibiotics to treat the infection.
|
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| How does it work? |
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|
- Esomeprazole prevents the stomach from making acid. This acid can get
into the esophagus and cause redness, irritation, and
ulcers.
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| How is it best taken? |
|
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- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before meals.
- Take at a similar time everyday.
- Swallow capsule whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
- If you cannot swallow capsule, you may sprinkle contents of capsule on
1 tablespoon of applesauce. Swallow mixture right after mixing. Do not
chew.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor), caffeine (for
example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake and cigarette smoking. All may
worsen stomach or esophagus problems.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Diarrhea.
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| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same?
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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