Nexium
Nexium contains esomeprazole, a medicine that reduces the amount of acid produced in your stomach.
How to Use
Dosage
For adults, the usual dose is 20 mg or 40 mg once daily. For children 1-11 years, the dose is 10 mg or 20 mg once daily, and for 12-18 years, it's 20 mg or 40 mg once daily.
Method
This medicine is given as an injection or infusion into a vein by a doctor or nurse. The administration may take up to 30 minutes.
For most conditions, the maximum daily dose for adults is 40 mg. If you have severe liver problems for reflux disease, the maximum is 20 mg per day. To prevent re-bleeding from stomach or duodenal ulcers, an initial 80 mg infusion is given, followed by a continuous infusion.
Possible Side Effects
- •Headache
- •Stomach or gut problems: diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation, flatulence
- •Nausea or vomiting
- •Reactions at the injection site
- •Benign polyps in the stomach
- •Swelling of feet and ankles
- •Sleep problems (insomnia)
- •Dizziness, tingling sensations, drowsiness
- •Vertigo
- •Vision problems, e.g., blurred vision
- •Dry mouth
- •Abnormal liver test results
- •Rash, hives, and itching
- •Hip, wrist, or spine fracture (if Nexium is used long-term at high doses)
- •Changes in blood cell counts, like low white blood cells or platelets, leading to weakness, bruising, or infections
- •Low sodium levels in blood, causing weakness, feeling sick (vomiting), and cramps
- •Agitation, confusion, or depression
- •Taste changes
- •Wheezing or shortness of breath (bronchospasm)
- •Inflammation of the mouth
- •Thrush (fungal infection in the mouth, throat, or esophagus)
- •Liver problems, including jaundice, causing yellow skin, dark urine, and tiredness
- •Hair loss
- •Rash from sun exposure
- •Joint or muscle pain
- •General feeling of being unwell or lack of energy
- •Increased sweating
- •Aggressiveness
- •Hallucinations (feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there)
- •Breast enlargement in men
- •Inflammation in the gut (causes diarrhea)
- •Rash with possible joint pain
- •Changes in blood count, including agranulocytosis (lack of white blood cells)
- •Muscle weakness
- •Severe kidney problems
Important Warnings
- Do not use if you are allergic to esomeprazole or other similar stomach acid-reducing medicines.
- Do not use if you are taking nelfinavir (used for HIV infection).
- Stop treatment and contact your doctor immediately if you develop a severe skin rash, blistering, or peeling skin, especially with fever or joint pain.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained weight loss, difficulty swallowing, stomach pain, vomiting blood, or black stools.
- Tell your doctor if you have severe liver or kidney problems, or if you experience symptoms of low magnesium such as tiredness, muscle twitching, confusion, or seizures.
Show 1 more warnings
- Long-term use (over a year) may slightly increase the risk of bone fractures. Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis or take corticosteroids.
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)