How to Take Nexium

Talking to Your Doctor Before Taking Nexium

Use Nexium 24HR to treat persistent heartburn. If you are suffering from heartburn often, you can buy Nexium 24HR without a prescription. It’s still a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting to take Nexium 24HR. It's especially important to discuss this with your physician if you plan to take Nexium for more than 2 weeks at a time. Taking this medicine for a prolonged period of time might affect the bioavailability of certain vitamins, like iron.

Ask your doctor if Nexium can help your acid reflux disease. Your doctor is your best source of information about what medication can ease your acid reflux. If you are having frequent gastric acid-related issues or severe heartburn and you haven’t seen any improvement with over-the-counter medications, check with your doctor to see if prescription Nexium might help.

Discuss using prescription Nexium to heal esophageal damage. Nexium may help heal damage to your esophagus called erosive esophagitis. It can be caused over time by stomach acid wearing away the lining of the esophagus. Using Nexium gives the esophagus time to heal, which usually happens in about 4 to 8 weeks. Your doctor is the only one who can diagnose this condition and prescribe Nexium if need be.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to esomeprazole or similar medicines. Esomeprazole is the active ingredient in Nexium. You should not take Nexium if you have had a negative reaction to esomeprazole or a similar heartburn medication in the past. Medications similar to Nexium include lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex). Symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives, trouble breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Detail your medical history to find out if Nexium is right for you. You must be careful taking Nexium if you have suffered from particular medical conditions in the past. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have or have ever had severe liver disease, lupus, osteoporosis or osteopenia, or low levels of magnesium in your blood. Esomeprazole can cause lupus symptoms to worsen. If you have lupus, tell your doctor if you experience joint pain or a rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sunlight.

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Nexium may not be the best choice for relieving your symptoms if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk your doctor about the best choice in this case.

Use Nexium exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will determine the exact dosage and frequency you should take Nexium. Follow the dosage and schedule you are given by your doctor.

Taking Nexium Capsules

Take your Nexium or Nexium 24HR capsule at least 1 hour before eating. Take one Nexium 24HR capsule or the Nexium dose prescribed by your doctor one hour before you eat (often in the morning, before breakfast). This will ensure the medication has enough time to absorb into your system and it will be the most effective when you do have something to eat. You should only take one Nexium 24HR capsule once per day.

Swallow the capsule whole with a full glass of water. Drink a full glass of water to wash down the capsule whole. Do not chew or crush the capsule. If you prefer, you can take the capsule with a few sips of milk or a spoonful of applesauce. This can prevent any burning that occurs if the capsule breaks open or dissolves too quickly.

Sprinkle a Nexium capsule into applesauce for easier swallowing. If you can’t swallow the prescription Nexium capsule whole, you can carefully open up the capsule and sprinkle the contents into a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow immediately without chewing, then drink a full glass of water. If you cannot swallow a Nexium 24HR capsule whole, talk to your doctor. They can help you find a better option for you, such as taking Nexium in a different form. You should not open a Nexium 24HR capsule.

Using Nexium Packets

Pour the Nexium packet into at least 5 ml (1.0 tsp) of water. If you have a 2.5 or 5-mg dose, 5 millilitres (1.0 tsp) of water should be enough to dissolve the powder. Use 15 millilitres (1.0 US tbsp) of water for 10, 20, or 40-mg doses. You can ask your doctor for an oral syringe to help you measure the right amount of water for your dosage. However, it's okay to approximate the measurement. Just make sure you take all of the medicine.

Mix well and leave for 2-3 minutes. Stir the water and Nexium mixture with a spoon until the Nexium is dissolved. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken before drinking it.

Stir again and drink within 30 minutes. After waiting 2-3 minutes, give the liquid one last stir with your spoon. Drink the mixture immediately or within 30 minutes. If you don’t manage to drink the mixture within 30 minutes, throw it away and mix up a new batch.

Add more water if there are any bits of Nexium left in the glass. If there is anything left at the bottom of your glass, add a little more water and stir. Drink the new mixture immediately.

Drink a full glass of water and wait one hour before eating. Although you are drinking the Nexium powder in a small amount of water, it’s best to follow up with a full glass of water afterwards. Wait an hour before eating to let the medication absorb into your system.

Knowing When to Talk to Your Doctor During Treatment

Talk to your doctor if the side effects are particularly uncomfortable. Common side effects can include headache, drowsiness, mild diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, gas, constipation, or dry mouth. If you experience any of these mild effects, it is not a cause for concern; however, if you feel they are particularly uncomfortable, talk to your doctor.

Contact your doctor immediately if you are experiencing severe side effects. If you have severe stomach pain, watery or bloody diarrhea, dizziness, fast or irregular heart rate, muscle spasms in your hands and feet, tremors, or a cough or choking feeling, don’t ignore these side effects. Stop taking the Nexium and get in touch with your doctor. Watery or bloody diarrhea may be a sign of a new infection, so be sure to call your doctor if you experience it.

Seek emergency medical attention if you have signs of an allergic reaction. If you break out into hives, have difficulty breathing, or if your face, lips, tongue, or throat are swelling, don’t wait. Seek medical help immediately.

Call your doctor if you symptoms don’t improve or get worse. You should feel your symptoms improve when you are taking Nexium. If you don’t notice this improvement, or if the symptoms get worse, it may be a sign of another problem. Contact your doctor to determine the next steps.

Inform your doctor if there is anything unusual with your kidney function. Nexium can cause kidney problems if it's used in high doses or for a long time. Let your doctor know if you are peeing more or less than usual, or if you suspect blood may be in your urine. Other signs of kidney problems and inflammation include fever, rash, and aches and pains in the lower back. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking the Nexium and contact your doctor.

Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using esomeprazole. Esomeprazole, the active ingredient in Nexium, can interact negatively with other drugs and can affect the results of some medical tests. Be sure to tell any doctors treating you that you are taking Nexium so they can adjust accordingly.