|
What is the most important information I should know about
esomeprazole?
|
|
• |
Do not use esomeprazole if you have an allergy to a
benzimidazole medication such as albendazole (Albenza), or mebendazole (Vermox). |
|
• |
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
ever had any type of liver disease. You may not be able to use
esomeprazole, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests
during treatment. |
|
• |
Take this medication for the entire length of time
prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before your
treatment is completed. |
|
• |
Do not crush, break, or open a delayed-release capsule.
Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly
in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the
drug to be released at one time. |
|
• |
Esomeprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the
stomach. |
|
• |
Esomeprazole is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD), and also to promote healing of erosive
esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid). |
|
• |
Esomeprazole may also be given to prevent gastric ulcer
caused by infection with helicobacter pylori, or by the use of
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). |
|
• |
Esomeprazole may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide. |
|
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
esomeprazole?
|
|
• |
Do not use esomeprazole if you have an allergy to a
benzimidazole medication such as albendazole (Albenza) or mebendazole (Vermox). |
|
• |
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
ever had any type of liver disease. You may not be able to use
esomeprazole, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests
during treatment. |
|
• |
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to
be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or
plan to become pregnant during treatment. |
|
• |
It is not known whether esomeprazole passes into breast milk
or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without
telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. |
|
How should I take esomeprazole?
|
|
• |
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you.
Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than
recommended by your doctor. This medicine is usually given for 4 to 8
weeks only. Your doctor may recommend a second course of treatment if
you need additional healing time. |
|
• |
Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. |
|
• |
Esomeprazole should be taken at least one hour before a meal.
Follow your doctor's instructions. |
|
• |
Do not crush, break, or open a delayed-release capsule.
Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly
in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the
drug to be released at one time. |
|
• |
You may open the delayed-release capsule and sprinkle the
medicine into a spoonful of pudding or applesauce to make swallowing
easier. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the
mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule. |
|
• |
Esomeprazole can be given through a nasogastric (NG) feeding
tube. Open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a 60-milliliter
syringe. Mix in 50 milliliters of water. Place the plunger into the
syringe and shake the mixture well. Make sure there are no medicine
granules stuck in the tip of the syringe. Attach the syringe to the NG
tube and push the plunger down to empty the syringe into the tube. Then
flush the tube with more water to wash the contents down. |
|
• |
It is important to use esomeprazole regularly to get the
most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of
medicine completely. |
|
• |
Take this medication for the entire length of time
prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before your
treatment is completed. |
|
• |
Store esomeprazole at room temperature away from moisture
and heat. |
|
What happens if I miss a dose?
|
|
• |
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is
almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the
medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra
medicine to make up the missed dose. |
|
What happens if I overdose?
|
|
• |
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used
too much of this medicine. |
|
• |
Symptoms of an esomeprazole overdose include confusion,
headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, nausea, dry mouth,
sweating, flushing, shortness of breath, tremor, loss of coordination,
or seizure (convulsions). |
|
What should I avoid while taking esomeprazole?
|
|
• |
There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activities
while taking esomeprazole, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. |
|
What are the possible side effects of esomeprazole?
|
|
• |
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs
of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of
your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
|
• |
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur,
such as: |
| |
· |
nausea, stomach pain, gas, constipation; or |
|
• |
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur.
Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
|
What other drugs will affect esomeprazole?
|
|
• |
Before taking esomeprazole, tell your doctor if you are
using any of the following drugs: |
| |
· |
digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); |
| |
· |
itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral); or |
| |
· |
iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others). |
|
• |
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
esomeprazole, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during
treatment. |
|
• |
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect esomeprazole.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter
medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products,
and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new
medication without telling your doctor. |
|
Where can I get more information?
|
|
• |
Your pharmacist has additional information about esomeprazole
written for health professionals that you may read. |
|
• |
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and use this
medication only for the indication prescribed. |
|
• |
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 3.01. Revision date: 6/
6/ 06. |
