What is Nexium?
Nexium treats acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It can help to reduce the symptoms of heartburn and is used to treat stomach and oesophagus problems. Using Nexium can help to heal damage to these areas from acid reflux.
Acid reflux happens when the muscle at the bottom of your oesophagus relaxes at the wrong time or the sphincter muscle becomes weak or fails to close tightly, allowing stomach acid back up into your oesophagus. The burning feeling that comes as a result of acid reflux is known as heartburn. Acid reflux can also cause other symptoms such as an unpleasant taste in your mouth, a cough, hiccups, a hoarse voice, bad breath, bloating and feeling sick. These symptoms can be worse after eating, when you’re lying down and when you bend over.
If these symptoms continue and they keep happening, it’s known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GORD. It’s a relatively common condition but can be uncomfortable, frustrating and cause problems with fairly simple day-to-day tasks like eating, exercise and lying down. There are also lifestyle changes that can be made to try and improve the symptoms of these conditions.
Nexium - a treatment for acid reflux and heartburn - is a branded version of medication called Esomeprazole. It’s available as a gastro-resistant capsule, as a tablet or as an oral suspension fluid.
How does Nexium work?
The active ingredient in Nexium, esomeprazole, works on the proton pumps in the wall of the stomach. These are responsible for the production and release of acids, which are essential in the breaking down of food. Nexium works to reduce the action of these pumps, which lowers the amount of stomach acids that are produced, helping to decrease the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn.
What doses of Nexium are there?
Nexium tablets are available in two doses: 20mg and 40 mg. The usual dose is one tablet or capsule daily for up to 4 weeks for the treatment of acid reflux. For long-term prevention of acid reflux you may need to take it for as long as your doctor tells you to.
There are also granules for oral suspension which you should take in accordance with guidance from your doctor and the instructions that come with your Nexium.