Is Nexium used for gastric problems?

It can be more than just a feeling of discomfort in the stomach when pain strike. At times, it can cause great pain that interferes with a person’s ability to have a normal life and to perfectly perform their daily routine. Many causes of stomach pain may occur, and the most common one is an excessive amount of hydrochloric acid that affects the lining of the stomach. These will cause complications of gastric ulcer, This is due to a weakness in the lining of the stomach, which leads to inflammation. There are a number of medicines that can help relieve stomach pain or gastric problems while protecting the stomach, one of it is Nexium 40 mg.

Nexium contains esomeprazole as its active ingredients. Esomeprazole belongs to a class of drug known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Generally speaking, PPI medicines work by affecting the amount of stomach acid. It blocks the proton pump inhibitor in the stomach by blocking the cells of the stomach, specifically the parietal cells from producing excess stomach acid. By reducing the excess acid production, it helps provide relief to symptoms such as from gastric ulcer.

Nexium is commonly prescribed to treat many conditions involving excess stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastric ulcer associated with usage of NSAID. Nexium may be used as a means of prevention against gastric ulcer for those using NSAID therapy and at risk for the ulcer. It is also used to help treat stomach ulcers associated with infection caused by Helicobacter pylori apart from antibiotics.

Nexium is a unique medication as the only way for it to work maximally in the body is to pay close attention when taking it. This means it has to be taken from the right dose to the right way. Dose of Nexium varies according to the goal of treatment. For example, the dose of Nexium is 20mg per day for those with heartburn and acid reflux whereas Nexium 80mg per day is prescribed for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Patients are advised to not change the dose of this medication and the number of times when taking this medicine. It is best to take the medication at the same time of the day to help patients remember to take the medicine. It is recommended to take the medication as a whole and avoid crushing or chewing it as doing so will reduce the optimal effectiveness of the drug since the medicine is meant to work in the stomach environment when taken as a whole. The best time to take Nexium is at least an hour before a meal. Studies show that taking esomeprazole with a meal or within 30 minutes reduces the effectiveness of the medicine by 50 percent. Patients should not be taking this medication for more than 14 days unless instructed by a doctor. If a patient is unsure of the dosage or the right way to take it, they should confirm with their doctor or pharmacist.

Since a patient taking Nexium might be taking other medication to help treat the stomach symptoms arising from the excessive stomach acid, the patient might wonder if they can take Nexium with antacid. It is okay to take Nexium with antacid but it is best to leave a gap in between the medication. This means to take antacid 1 hour before or after the Nexium. If you are unsure if it is okay to take more than one medication together, it is wise to confirm with the doctor. Always have a thorough discussion with doctors if taking medication does not provide any sort of relief. This may mean the need for a doctor to review the medications or re-assess the condition.

Nexium, just as any other medication, does have potential side effects. Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea and flatulence. If these side effects get worse, do tell your doctor. In cases of serious side effect such as symptoms of low magnesium level (hypomagnesemia) like dizziness, fatigue, muscle spasm, seizures, muscle spasm (tetany) or irregular heartbeat, blood in stool, severe stomach pain and rash on face including joint pain, do visit the emergency room promptly. If there are any other unwanted side effects not listed here, you should consult with your healthcare provider.

It can be concluded that Nexium is used to treat symptoms related to excess stomach acid such as gastric problems. Dose of this medicine varies according to the goal of treatment. This medicine may be taken more than 14 days under medical supervision. It is important to take this medicine regularly and best taken before meals. You should not stop taking this medicine especially after taking it for a long period. Stopping the medicine abruptly may lead to symptoms to resurface and cause the stomach to produce more acid than before. If you have doubt regarding this medicine or any enquiries regarding medication, you should address this issue to your doctor or pharmacist.