Ventra

What is Ventra?

Ventra was a branded treatment for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This is where stomach acid escapes from the stomach into your oesophagus, causing pain, inflammation, and discomfort.

The most common cause of GORD is the ring of muscle at the base of your oesophagus weakening. Usually, it closes to stop stomach acid leaking back up into your oesophagus. But if you have GORD, acid is able to make it into the gullet and cause symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux.^[1]

Ventra has been discontinued in the UK, but its active ingredient is still available on the market as unbranded generics (having the same name as the active ingredient, esomeprazole) and branded treatments (including Emozul, Nexium, and Guardium).

How does Ventra work?

Esomeprazole, the active ingredient in Ventra, is a type of proton-pump inhibitor. They target proton pump molecules on the surface of gastric parietal cells inside the stomach.^[2] These cells are responsible for secreting stomach acid, and esomeprazole inhibits them, resulting in less acid in your stomach.^[3]

By reducing the amount of acid in your stomach, Ventra relieved and prevented symptoms of GORD.

What doses of Ventra are there?

Before its discontinuation, Ventra came in two dosages: one contained 20 mg esomeprazole per capsule, and the other contained 40 mg. The prescribed dose depended on how severe your symptoms are and how much Ventra helped to control them.

If you don’t feel like your current dose is working well enough, speak to your clinician; they may increase your dose.

How to take Ventra

You could take your Ventra capsules whenever it suited you, either with food or on an empty stomach. The recommendations were to swallow the capsules whole, with water, around your chosen time each day.

If you had difficulty swallowing, you could dissolve the contents of your capsules in a glass of still water. You would’ve had to open the capsule, empty it into a glass of water, and stir thoroughly, drinking the mixture within 30 minutes, and always making sure it was mixed well before drinking. When you’d finished, you would’ve been advised to fill the glass half full with water and rinse it thoroughly, before drinking this as well. This ensured you’d taken all of the medicine.

How long does it take Ventra to work?

Ventra got to work as soon as you took it, and you should have felt the benefit within two or three days of starting treatment. However, it could’ve taken up to four weeks for your treatment to work fully.^[1]

What should I do if I make a mistake taking Ventra?

You should only ever take any medicine as you’re instructed to by your clinician. If you forgot to take your dose of Ventra, you just had to take it as soon as you remembered. Or, if it was almost time for your next dose, you would’ve been advised to skip the one you missed. Never take a double dose to make up for missing a dose.

If you take more medication than you should, get in touch with your clinician immediately. You may need treatment for any symptoms you experience.