Have you ever experienced some kind of pain around the stomach area after eating food especially after eating a lot of food or after eating spicy food? This could be a sign of heartburn. Such symptoms may not bother some people but it could be very discomforting for others. Stomach pain may seem harmless but in the long run it could actually cause severe damage to the stomach such as ulcer bleeding. There are many medicines either prescribed or available as over-the-counter (OTC) medicine used to help treat such an experience such as Nexium 40mg. Some might wonder, is Nexium good for the stomach?
Before answering that, it would be best to know more about Nexium first. Nexium contains esomeprazole as its active ingredients. This ingredient belongs to a class drug of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The way PPI works in the human body especially in treating heartburn symptoms is by manipulating the amount of acid produced by stomach. The stomach produces acid by the work of a proton pump in the cell of the stomach, specifically the parietal cells. Thus, when PPI is used, it blocks the proton pump from acting which then lead to reduction of the production of stomach acid. This then helps to reduce symptoms of heartburn and its associated symptoms such as stomach pain.
Thus, the answer to is it good for the stomach? Yes, it does. Besides reducing symptoms, it helps to protect the stomach. As mentioned, PPI works in decreasing the amount of acid production in the stomach. It is true that the stomach needs acid to digest food and process food but the excess amount of acid will eventually lead to damages to the lining of the stomach. Damages to the lining of the stomach will then cause disruption of the stomach wall integrity that leads to ulcer and bleeding. Hence, Nexium is indeed good for the stomach as it acts as a protector.
Nexium is commonly prescribed to treat many medical conditions that lead to excess stomach acid in the stomach such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastric ulcer and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Apart from treating these conditions, it is also being prescribed as prevention against gastric for those at risk for gastric ulcer such as those using NSAID. Nexium is also used to treat stomach ulcers linked to infection caused by Helicobacter pylori.
In order for Nexium to work effectively, patients need to take it as directed by doctors. This means it has to be taken from the right dose to the right way. Doses of Nexium vary according to the goal of treatment. For example, the dose of Nexium is 20mg per day for those with heartburn and acid reflux whereas Nexium 80mg per day is prescribed for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Patients cannot change the dose of this medication and cannot change the number of times of taking it. It is best to take the medication at the same time of the day to help patients remember to take the medicine. It is recommended to take the medication as a whole and avoid crushing or chewing it as doing so may reduce the optimal effectiveness of the drug since the medicine is meant to work in the stomach environment when taken as a whole. The best time to take Nexium is at least an hour before a meal. Studies show that taking esomeprazole with a meal or within 30 minutes reduces the effectiveness of the medicine by 50 percent. Patients should not be taking this medication for more than 14 days unless instructed by the doctor. If a patient is unsure of the dosage or how to take it, they can always ask their doctor or pharmacist.
Despite Nexium being good for stomach, this does not mean it does not pose potential side effect. Potential side effects do come with every medication but patients need to understand that the benefits of the medicine weighs more than the side effects. Common side effects of this medication are headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and flatulence. Should these side effect gets worst, patient need to tell their doctor and have discussion. If serious side effect such as hypomagnesemia, a condition of low magnesium level in the body which is usually characterised by fatigues, dizziness, seizures or muscle spasm, they should go to emergency department immediately. Other serious side effects include severe stomach pain, blood in stool, rash on face and joint pain that never occurs right after taking the medication.
It can be concluded that Nexium is good for the stomach as it helps to protect the stomach and to reduce symptoms associated with excessive stomach acid. It is important to take this medication as directed by doctors by following the dose and to take it regularly. The best way to take it before having a meal. If a person has already taken Nexium for a long time, they should not stop the medicine abruptly as it could lead to the stomach producing much more excess acid than before. These patients need to talk to their doctor on the safe way to stop the medication. If there is still any question or doubt when taking Nexium, or even any medication, it is wise to address it or raise such enquiry to the doctor or pharmacist.
