What is Nexium
Nexium is a medication that reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach. It is also available as a generic medication, going by the name of its active ingredient, esomeprazole.
It is used to effectively treat several conditions relating to the overproduction of acid, including:
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- ulcers caused by long-term use of NSAIDs
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- (alongside antibiotics) bacterial infections in the intestine or stomach
In addition to treating the above conditions, Nexium also eases many of their symptoms, such as heartburn.
How does Nexium work
Nexium contains the active ingredient esomeprazole - a type of medicine known as a proton pump inhibitor.
The cells lining the stomach contain proton pumps, which work to produce the stomach acid that is an essential part of the body's digestive process. Esomeprazole inhibits the action of these proton pumps, reducing acid production and preventing the overflow into the oesophagus (food pipe).
Take ONE daily.
Do not chew or crush your tablets.
Swallow your tablets whole with a glass of water.
If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, add them to a glass of water and stir until they begin to break up. Drink this mixture either immediately or within 30 minutes.
Common side-effects include:
flatulence
gut disturbances, such as constipation
diarrhoea
nausea
abdominal pain
headache
Active ingredients
Esomeprazole which comes as 20mg or 40mg.
Inactive ingredients
Glycerol monostearate 40-55, hyprolose, hypromellose, iron oxide (20 mg reddish-brown, yellow, 40 mg reddish brown) (E172), magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) dispersion 30 per cent, microcrystalline cellulose, synthetic paraffin, macrogol, polysorbate 80, crospovidone, sodium stearyl fumarate, sugar spheres (sucrose and maize starch), talc, titanium dioxide (E171) and triethyl citrate.
