Patient Leaflet Updated 07-Oct-2024 | AstraZeneca UK Limited
Nexium 10 mg Granules for gastro-resistant oral suspension in sachet
Nexium 10 mg Granules for gastro-resistant oral suspension in sachet
esomeprazole
1. What Nexium is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Nexium
3. How to take Nexium
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Nexium
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Nexium contains a substance called esomeprazole. This belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors. These work by reducing the amount of acid that your stomach produces.
Nexium is used to treat the following conditions:
Children over 1 year of age
Nexium is used to treat a condition called “gastroesophageal reflux disease” (GERD).
Children over 4 years of age
Do not take Nexium if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Nexium.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Nexium:
Nexium may hide the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if any of the following happen to you while you are taking Nexium, you should talk to your doctor immediately:
If you have been prescribed Nexium “on demand” you should contact your doctor if the symptoms are persistent or change character. “On demand” treatment has not been investigated in children and is therefore not recommended in this patient group.
Taking a proton pump inhibitor like Nexium, especially over a period of more than one year, may slightly increase your risk of fracture in the hip, wrist or spine. Tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis).
If you get a rash on your skin, especially in areas exposed to the sun tell your doctor as soon as you can, as you may need to stop your treatment with Nexium. Remember to also mention any other ill-effects like pain in your joints.
Serious skin rashes have occurred in patients taking esomeprazole (see also section 4). The rash can involve ulcers of the mouth, throat, nose, genitals and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes). These serious skin rashes often come after flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body ache. The rash may cover large parts of the body with blistering and peeling of the skin.
If at any time during the treatment (even after several weeks) you develop a rash or any of these skin symptoms, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription. This is because Nexium can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Nexium.
Do not take Nexium if you are taking nelfinavir (used to treat HIV infection).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
If your doctor has prescribed the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin as well as Nexium to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, it is very important that you tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking.
This medicine may affect the way that your body absorbs vitamin B12, particularly if you need to take it for a long time. Please contact your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms, which could indicate low levels of Vitamin B12:
Nexium gastro-resistant granules can be taken with or without food.
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will decide whether you can take Nexium during this time.
It is not known if Nexium passes into breast milk. Therefore you should not take Nexium if you are breast-feeding.
Nexium is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use tools or machines. However, side effects such as dizziness and blurred vision may uncommonly or rarely occur (see section 4). If affected, you should not drive or use machines.
Nexium contains sucrose and glucose which are both types of sugars. Careful oral hygiene and regular tooth brushing are therefore important. If you have been told by your doctor, that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking Nexium.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your medicine comes as granules in individual sachets. Each sachet contains 10 mg of esomeprazole. Your doctor will tell you how many sachets to take each day. He or she will also tell you how long you should take them for.
Nexium gastro-resistant granules can be taken with or without food.
If you are being fed using a feeding (gastric) tube, your doctor or nurse can give you Nexium through your tube. Information for your doctor or nurse is provided at the end of this leaflet.
Use in children aged 1 to 11 years
To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Use in children aged 4 years and older
To treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and to stop them coming back.
Use in adults and adolescents
Nexium oral suspension may also be used by patients having difficulty swallowing dispersed Nexium gastro-resistant tablets. Information on dosing for patients from the age of 12 years is in Nexium gastro-resistant tablet product information (ask your doctor or pharmacist if you require further information).
Elderly
There is no need to alter the dose if you are elderly.
People with liver problems
People with kidney problems
If you have taken more Nexium than prescribed by your doctor, seek medical advice.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time to take the next dose, wait until then. Do not take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Other side effects include:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
Nexium may in very rare cases affect the white blood cells leading to immune deficiency. If you have an infection with symptoms such as fever with a severely reduced general condition or fever with symptoms of a local infection such as pain in the neck, throat or mouth or difficulties in urinating, you must consult your doctor as soon as possible so that a lack of white blood cells (agranulocytosis) can be ruled out by a blood test. It is important for you to give information about your medication at this time.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
The active substance is esomeprazole. Each sachet contains 10 mg of esomeprazole (as magnesium trihydrate).
The other ingredients are:
Esomeprazole granules:
Glycerol monostearate 40-55
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Hypromellose
Magnesium stearate
Methacrylic acid – ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) 30% dispersion
Polysorbate 80
Sugar spheres (sucrose and maize starch)
Talc
Triethyl citrate
Excipient granules:
Citric acid anhydrous (for pH adjustment)
Crospovidone
Glucose
Hydroxypropyl cellulose
Yellow iron oxide (E172)
Xanthan gum
Each sachet of Nexium contains pale yellow fine granules. Brownish granules may be visible.
The oral suspension is a thick yellow liquid containing suspended pellets.
Each carton contains 28 or 30 sachets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
The Marketing Authorisation for Nexium in the United Kingdom is held by
Nexium is manufactured by
Distributed by
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge:
0800 198 5000 (UK only)
Please be ready to give the following information:
Product name Reference number
Nexium Sachet 10 mg 17901/0253
This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
This medicinal product is authorised in the Member States of the EEA under the following names:
Member State Name of medicinal product
Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom Nexium
Belgium, Luxembourg Nexiam
France Inexium
This leaflet was last revised in August 2024.
GI 24 0006a
© AstraZeneca 2024
Nexium is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
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