Acidal
Acidal is a medicine that reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes to help treat conditions like heartburn and ulcers.
How to Use
Dosage
Your doctor will tell you how many capsules to take and for how long. Typical doses are 20 mg or 40 mg, taken once or twice a day.
Method
Swallow the capsules whole with water. Do not chew or crush them because they have a special coating. You can take this medicine with or without food.
The maximum daily dose is usually 80 mg twice a day, but your doctor will set your specific limit.
Possible Side Effects
- •Headache
- •Stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, or gas
- •Feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- •Small growths (benign polyps) in the stomach
- •Swelling of the feet and ankles
- •Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- •Dizziness, tingling, numbness, drowsiness, or spinning sensation (vertigo)
- •Dry mouth
- •Rash, hives, or itchy skin
- •Fracture of the hip, wrist, or spine (especially with high doses or long-term use)
- •General weakness, bruising, or more infections (due to changes in blood cells)
- •Weakness, vomiting, and cramps (due to low sodium in the blood)
- •Feeling agitated, confused, or depressed
- •Changes in taste
- •Eyesight problems, such as blurred vision
- •Sudden wheezing or shortness of breath
- •Inflammation inside the mouth
- •Fungal infection (thrush) in the gut
- •Liver problems, including yellow skin (jaundice), dark urine, and tiredness
- •Hair loss
- •Rash from sun exposure
- •Joint pain or muscle pain
- •General feeling of being unwell or tired, increased sweating
- •Aggressiveness
- •Seeing, feeling, or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
- •Muscle weakness
- •Severe kidney problems
- •Enlarged breasts in men
- •Inflammation in the gut (causing diarrhea)
- •Rash with possible joint pain
- •Low magnesium levels in the blood (can cause tiredness, muscle twitches, confusion, seizures, dizziness, and fast heartbeat)
- •Severe skin reactions, such as widespread rash, blistering, peeling skin, often with fever and joint pain, or flu-like symptoms
Important Warnings
- Do not take Acidal if you are allergic to esomeprazole, other proton pump inhibitors (like omeprazole), or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not take Acidal if you are taking nelfinavir (a medicine for HIV infection).
- Do not take Acidal if you have ever had a severe skin rash, peeling skin, blisters, or mouth sores after taking esomeprazole or similar medicines.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you notice unexplained weight loss, problems swallowing, stomach pain, indigestion, vomiting food or blood, or black stools.
- Stop taking Acidal and seek medical help immediately if you develop yellow skin, dark urine, and tiredness (possible liver problems), sudden wheezing, swelling of lips/tongue/throat/body, rash, fainting, or difficulty swallowing (signs of a severe allergic reaction), or a severe skin rash with blistering and peeling (e.g., Stevens-Johnson syndrome, DRESS syndrome).
Use in Elderly Patients
Suitable for older adults. For short-term use only. Consider the numerous potential interactions, especially with clopidogrel and (es)citalopram. Avoid long-term use. Long-term use carries an increased risk of adverse effects. Risk of hypomagnesemia in prolonged use. (updated 10.11.2025)