Dosage:

• In treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, 20 or 40 mg of esomeprazole is given once daily for four to eight weeks.
• For the treatment of H. pylori, 40 mg is administered once daily combined with clarithromycin and amoxicillin for ten days.
• Esomeprazole should be taken one hour before meals, swallowed whole - do not crush or chew. An alternative for people with difficulty swallowing is to open capsule and mix the contents in applesauce. The applesauce should not be hot and the capsule contents should not be chewed or crushed.

Drug interactions:

The absorption of certain medications can be affected by acidity levels in the stomach. Meaning, esomeprazole and other PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) that reduce stomach acidity also reduce the absorption and concentration in blood of Nizoral and increase the absorption and concentration in blood of Lanoxin. This can lead to lower effectiveness of Nizoral or increased Lanoxoin toxicity as a result.

Pregnancy:

Please consult with your physician before using esomeprazole if you are pregnant or nursing.

Side effects:

Overall, esomeprazole, like other PPIs, is well-tolerated with minimal side effects.

• The most frequent side effects are headaches, rash, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
• Muscle pain, weakness, nervousness, abnormal heartbeat, leg cramps and water retention may occur occasionally.