Details

Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Esomeprazole is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Esomeprazole is also used to promote healing of erosive oesophagitis (damage to your oesophagus caused by stomach acid). Esomeprazole may also be given to prevent gastric ulcer caused by infection with helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), or by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). To make sure esomeprazole is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease osteoporosis low bone mineral density (osteopenia) or low levels of magnesium in your blood. Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as esomeprazole may increase your risk of bone fracture in the hip, wrist, or spine.

Typical Uses

Esomeprazole is used to treat certain stomach and oesophagus 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 persistent cough. This medication helps heal acid damage to the stomach and oesophagus helps prevent ulcers, and may help prevent cancer of the oesophagus. Esomeprazole belongs to a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

Side Effects

Common side effects of esomeprazole include severe stomach pain, diarrhoea that is watery or bloody seizure (convulsions) kidney problems-urinating more or less than usual, blood in your urine, swelling, rapid weight gain or symptoms of low magnesium-dizziness, confusion fast or uneven heart rate tremors (shaking) or jerking muscle movements feeling jittery muscle cramps, muscle spasms in your hands and feet cough or choking feeling.

Drug Interactions

• Esomeprazole+atazanavir- Using atazanavir together with esomeprazole is not recommended. By reducing stomach acid, esomeprazole can decrease the absorption and blood levels of atazanavir and make the medication less effective against HIV.

• Esomeprazole+citalopram- Talk to your doctor before using citalopram together with esomeprazole. Combining these medications may increase the blood levels of citalopram and increase the risk of certain side effects, including an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious or life-threatening.

• Esomeprazole+clopidogrel- Talk to your doctor before using clopidogrel together with esomeprazole. Combining these medications may reduce the effectiveness of clopidogrel in preventing heart attack or stroke.

• Esomeprazole+methotrexate- Talk to your doctor before using methotrexate together with esomeprazole. Using these medications together can increase the blood levels and side effects of methotrexate.

• Esomeprazole+nelfinavir- Using nelfinavir together with esomeprazole is not recommended. By reducing stomach acid, esomeprazole can decrease the absorption and blood levels of nelfinavir and make the medication less effective against HIV.

• Esomeprazole+rilpivirine- Using rilpivirine together with esomeprazole is not recommended. By reducing stomach acid, esomeprazole can decrease the absorption and blood levels of rilpivirine and make the medication less effective against

Mechanism of action

Esomeprazole belongs to class of medications called proton pump inhibitors. It blocks the activity of the proton pumps in the stomach wall that produce acid, thereby reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach.