Esomeprazole

What is this medication for?

Esomeprazole is used to treat various conditions of the gastrointestinal tract including:

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (a condition where the acid from the stomach goes back up the food tube and throat, causing pain and a burning sensation known as heartburn)
• Ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract (treatment and prevention)

You can also find out this medication by watching these videos:

For videos in 中文, Melayu and தமிழ், click here

How should I take or use this medication?

• Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• Take this medication 60 minutes before a meal. Tablets should be swallowed whole with water and should not be chewed or crushed.
• If you have difficulty swallowing or are using a gastric tube,
  • Put the tablet into an appropriate syringe with 25-50ml of water to prevent the pellets from clogging the tube and shake the syringe for about two minutes to dissolve the tablet.
  • Hold the syringe with the tip up to check it has not been clogged then attach the syringe to the tube whilst maintaining the tip up and shake the syringe. Turn the syringe upside down and inject 5-10ml into the tube. Repeat this step until the syringe is empty.
  • Refill the syringe with another 25ml of water and repeat the procedure to wash any sediment left in the syringe.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
• If symptoms (including abdominal pain) persist despite taking this medicine or you develop bloody stool (including blackened stool) or blood-stained vomit.
• This medication may hide the symptoms of other diseases. Inform your healthcare professional if you experience weight loss for no reason or are vomiting food or blood.
• This medication may cause the level of magnesium in your body to decrease. Inform your healthcare professional if you experience muscle cramps, dizziness or shaking.
• This medication may increase your risk of diarrhoea caused by a type of bacteria called Clostridium difficile. Inform your healthcare professional if you have watery or bloody stools that do not stop after a few days.
• This medication may increase your risk of bone fractures if you have osteoporosis, a condition where your bones become weak or fragile.
• Some preparations containing esomeprazole contain sucrose as an excipient. If you have a rare hereditary condition such as fructose intolerance, glucose-galactosemal absorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

Side effects of esomeprazole include headaches, gastrointestinal side effects (e.g. abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and wind).

• If persistent please consult your healthcare professional.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body.

Furthermore, unusual symptoms such as muscle spasms (tetany), palpitations, dizziness and seizures may be a sign of low magnesium in the body.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medicine and see your healthcare professional immediately.

You can also find out about drug allergies by watching these videos:

For videos in 中文, Melayu and தமிழ், click here

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medicines, supplements and/or traditional and herbal remedies.

This includes:

• Medications used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
• Certain blood thinners (e.g. clopidogrel).
• Certain anti-fungal medicines (e.g. itraconazole and ketoconazole).
• Certain medicines to treat mood (e.g. citalopram, imipramine and clomipramine).
• Certain medicines to treat seizures (e.g. phenytoin).
• Other medicines such as digoxin, tacrolimus, methotrexate and iron salts.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely? ​

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin. 

What else should I know about this medication? 

The length of treatment with esomeprazole depends on your condition and how well you respond to the medication.

For heartburn and reflux symptoms:

• Most people experience relief within the first few days to weeks of starting esomeprazole. Your doctor will usually prescribe this medication for 4-8 weeks initially to allow healing.

For ulcer treatment:

• Treatment typically lasts 4-8 weeks, depending on the type and severity of the ulcer.

Some people may need to stay on esomeprazole for a long time to manage their condition, whilst others may only need this medication for a short period.

Do not stop taking or change your dose without checking with your healthcare professional. If you have been taking esomeprazole for more than a few months, discuss with your healthcare professional whether you still need it. This ensures the medication remains suitable and beneficial for you.

Important reminders:

• If your healthcare professional suggests reducing the dose, this may be done gradually to minimise the return of symptoms.
• It is normal for some people to experience temporary return of symptoms when stopping or lowering the dose - this usually improves within a few weeks.
• During this time, your healthcare professional may suggest lifestyle measures such as avoiding spicy (or consider replacing with trigger) foods, eating smaller meals, or using antacids for temporary relief.
• Keep track of your symptoms and inform your healthcare professional of any changes.