Esomeprazole 20mg and 40mg Tablets

Esomeprazole 20mg and 40mg tablets can effectively relieve the painful symptoms associated with acid reflux. For most people, acid reflux can be treated by making simple changes to diet and lifestyle, for others; acid reflux can be a chronic condition that requires acid reflux medicine such as Esomeprazole to help relieve symptoms.

You can buy Esomeprazole tablets for effective acid reflux treatment online from Medicine Direct following a consultation with one of our UK prescribers.

What is Esomeprazole?

Esomeprazole belongs to a group of medicines known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It works to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. Esomeprazole is taken to relieve the symptoms of acid reflux, as well as several other conditions caused by excessive stomach acid.

It is available in doses of 20mg and 40mg. You can buy Esomeprazole in low doses from pharmacies. Higher doses are also available on prescription.

It is often sold under the brand name Nexium.

What is Esomeprazole used to treat?

Esomeprazole is used in the treatment of acid reflux (heartburn). Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid travels into your gullet, which can cause pain, inflammation and discomfort.

It is also prescribed for people who are suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD), stomach ulcers and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Esomeprazole can be taken by adults and children aged 12 and over.

Why is Esomeprazole recommended for treating acid reflux?

Esomeprazole is the newest member of the PPI family, with that comes a level of apprehension and lack of trust when compared to other commonly prescribed PPI's. Despite that, Esomeprazole is reported to have a higher potency in acid suppression than some of the more well-known proton pump inhibitors.

Clinical studies have shown that over an 8-week period, Esomeprazole is more effective at treating GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease) when compared to Omeprazole 20mg, lansoprazole 40mg and pantoprazole 20mg.

Esomeprazole has a very similar safety profile to Omeprazole, the most common side effects that have been reported include, headache, nausea and diarrhoea.

How does Esomeprazole work?

Proton pumps are very small substances within your stomach lining. They help your stomach to make the acid it requires to digest food.

Acid reflux is caused by excessive stomach acid, which travels into the gullet. Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), which works by stopping the proton pumps from being able to work properly. As a result, the amount of acid your stomach makes is reduced, which works to relieve acid reflux.

Who can take Esomeprazole 20mg and 40mg tablets?

Esomeprazole is not suitable for everyone. Children under the age of 12 must not take this medicine.

Do not take Esomeprazole if any of the below apply to you:

• You are allergic to esomeprazole or any of the ingredients contained in these tablets
• You are taking any medication that contains nelfinavir
• You are allergic to any other proton pump inhibitor medicines, such as lansoprazole, omeprazole or pantoprazole

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start taking Esomeprazole if:

• You have severe kidney problems
• You have severe liver problems
• You have ever had a skin reaction after taking any other medicine that reduces stomach acid
• You are due to have a Chromogranin A blood test
• You have osteoporosis or you are taking any corticosteroids

This list is not exhaustive. Always refer to the patient inflammation leaflet for a full list of reasons why you should not take Esomeprazole. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Can you buy Esomeprazole over the counter?

You can buy Esomeprazole 20mg (the lowest strength) over the counter from pharmacies. Higher doses are available on prescription from your doctor.

Can you buy Esomeprazole online in the UK?

Yes, you can buy Esomeprazole online from Medicine Direct. All you need to do is answer a few questions in a confidential online consultation. These answers will be reviewed by one of our certified doctors, pharmacists or prescribers, to make sure that Esomeprazole is suitable for you to take.

Next day delivery is available if you place your order by 2pm.

Never buy any form of medication online unless you are ordering from a regulated pharmacy, like Medicine Direct. We are regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), meaning we can assure all our customers that their medicine will be genuine, safe and approved for sale in the UK. You can find out more about our regulatory standards on the About Us page.

Esomeprazole alternatives

There are a number of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications available. At Medicine Direct, we also stock Lansoprazole gastro resistant capsules, Pantoprazole and Omeprazole capsules that can be purchased online following a consultation with one of our UK prescribers..

If you find it difficult to swallow whole capsules or tablets, Lansoprazole is also available as orodispersible tablets, which will dissolve in the mouth without needing to be swallowed whole.

We also sell Losec MUPS, which is a branded medication containing omeprazole as its active ingredient.

View our entire range of medicines on the Acid Reflux product page.

Lifestyle changes

Acid reflux is a condition that is predominantly caused by diet and lifestyle. The first line treatment for acid reflux is tweaking and removing things from your diet that may trigger your acid reflux symptoms. Smoking and drinking can also hugely increase the risk of suffering from acid reflux.

If you have noticed that your acid reflux symptoms tend to appear after eating certain foods, we recommend trying to identify which foods may be triggering your symptoms.

Alternatively, we have a helpful guide on which foods can help and trigger acid reflux symptoms in our acid reflux diet medical guide.

Esomeprazole Indications and Dose

Always take Esomeprazole exactly as your doctor has told you. Read the patient information leaflet before you start to take it and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Esomeprazole 20mg Tablets

• To treat cases of acid reflux and GORD where the gullet is undamaged, the normal recommended dose is one 20mg tablet each day. Your doctor may tell you to take Esomeprazole as and when you require it as your condition eases. Do not take more than one 20mg tablet each day.

Esomeprazole 40mg Tablets

• To treat cases of acid reflux and GORD where the gullet has been damaged, the usual dose is one 40mg tablet each day for 4 weeks. This dose will be reduced to 20mg daily once the gullet has healed

How to take Esomeprazole

Always follow your doctor or pharmacist’s instructions when taking Esomeprazole.

• Esomeprazole can be taken with or without food.
• You can take Esomeprazole at any time of day.
• Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not crush or chew them.

What should I do If I forget to take Esomeprazole?

If you miss a dose of Esomeprazole, take it as soon as you remember as long as it is not nearly time for your next dose.

If it is almost time to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and take Esomeprazole at your usual time. Never take an extra dose to make up for missing a previous one.

Always read the patient information leaflet before you start taking a new medicine for full instructions on doses and how to take Esomeprazole.

Esomeprazole Side effects

Like all medicines, Esomeprazole can cause side effects, although not everyone will be affected by them.

The common side effects of Esomeprazole include:

• Stomach pain
• Flatulence
• Constipation
• Headache
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Benign stomach polyps

Serious side effects

The following side effects are rare and may only affect up to 1 in every 1,000 people who take Esomeprazole. Nonetheless, you must seek medical attention straight away if you notice any of the following:

• Skin redness with blisters or peeling. You may have blisters in your eyes, lips, mouth, genitals or nose
• Yellow skin, tiredness or dark urine (these may be signs of a liver problem)
• Severe allergic reaction symptoms: Breathing or swallowing difficulties, wheezing, swelling of the lips, face, throat, tongue or mouth, fainting or a skin rash

These lists are not exhaustive. Always read the patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects. Here, you will also find guidance on what to do if you get any. Speak to your doctor if you have any questions.

Esomeprazole warnings and drug interactions

Before you start to take Esomeprazole, read the patient information leaflet for comprehensive details on warnings and precautions. If you have any questions after reading this, please speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Esomeprazole and other medicines

Before you start to take Esomeprazole, always tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are already using any other medication. This includes any medicine you can buy without a prescription.

Esomeprazole must not be taken if you are already taking any medicine that contains nelfinavir, which is used to treat HIV.

Make sure your doctor or pharmacist is aware if you are taking:

• Erlotinib
• Ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole
• Atazanavir or saquinavir
• Clopidogrel
• Diazepam
• Citalopram, clomipramine or imipramine
• Phenytoin
• Blood thinners such as warfarin
• Cilostazol
• Digoxin
• Methotrexate
• Cisapride
• St John’s wort
• Rifampicin
• Tacrolimus

Esomeprazole during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Research has found that Omeprazole is the more preferred treatment choice when it comes to treating acid reflux during pregnancy. This is mainly because there have been more studies around Omeprazole and there is generally more data to assess its safety during pregnancy.

Esomeprazole is not suitable for breastfeeding women as it is unknown if this medicine passes into the breast milk.

Esomeprazole Ingredients

The main active ingredient within this medicine is: Esomeprazole

For a full list of the inactive ingredients, please read the Summary of Product Characteristics

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