In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine
must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision
you and your doctor will make. For esomeprazole, the following
should be considered:
Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever
had any unusual or allergic reaction to esomeprazole. Also tell
your health care professional if you are allergic to any other
substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy—Esomeprazole has not been studied
in pregnant women. However, esomeprazole has not been shown to
cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.
Breast-feeding—It is not known whether
esomeprazole passes in human breast milk. Since this medicine has
been shown to cause unwanted effects in animals, it may be
necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop
breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the
risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.
Children— Studies on this medicine have been
done only in adult patients, and there is no specific information
comparing the use of esomeprazole in children with use in other
age groups.
Older adults—This medicine has been tested
and has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems
in older people than it does in younger adults.
Other medicines—Although certain medicines
should not be used together at all, in other cases two different
medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur.
In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other
precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional
if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription
(over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
Take esomeprazole at least one hour before a meal.
Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew the
capsule. If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may
open it and sprinkle the granules contained in the capsule on one
tablespoonful of applesauce or yogurt and swallow it immediately;
or you may mix the granules in some tap water or fruit juice and
drink it immediately. The applesauce should not be hot, and the
juices you may use include apple or orange juice. Do not chew
or crush the granules.
Take this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if
you begin to feel better. Also, keep your appointments with
your doctor for check-ups so that your doctor will be better able
to tell you when to stop taking this medicine.
Dosing—
The dose of esomeprazole will be different for different
patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the
label. The following information includes only the average
doses of esomeprazole. If your dose is different, do not
change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of doses you take each day and the length of
time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which
you are taking esomeprazole
 | To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
| Adults—20 or 40 milligrams (mg) taken once a day for 4
to 8 weeks.
| Children up to 18 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
|
| To prevent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
| Adults—20 mg taken once a day.
| Children up to 18 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
|
| To treat ulcers related to infection with H. pylori
| Adults—40 mg once daily, plus amoxicillin 1000 mg (1
gram) plus clarithromycin 500 mg, taken together before
meals twice a day for ten days.
| Children up to 18 years of age—Use and dose must be
determined by your doctor. |
|
|
| |
Missed dose—
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as
possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip
the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do
not double doses.
Storage—
To store this medicine:
| Keep out of the reach of children.
| Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in
other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to
break down.
| Store away from heat and direct light.
| Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your health care professional how you should dispose of
any medicine you do not use. Be sure that any discarded
medicine is out of the reach of children. |
| | |
It is very important that your doctor check you at regular
visits. If your condition does not improve, or if it becomes
worse, discuss this with your doctor.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some
unwanted effects.
The following side effects may go away during treatment as your
body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional
may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of
these side effects. Check with your health care professional if
any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if
you have any questions about them:
| More common
| Abdominal pain; diarrhea; headache |
|
| Less common
| Constipation; dryness of mouth; gas;
nausea |
|
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some
patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
