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What is Nexium?
Nexium is a prescription-only medication used to treat patients with acid-related symptoms and diseases including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer rebleeding.[1] Nexium belongs to a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The active ingredient of Nexium is esomeprazole.[1] To date, Nexium has been launched in more than 100 countries and is now the most commonly prescribed PPI worldwide.[2]
More information about Nexium, acid reflux disease and ulcer treatment is given below.
Before prescribing any AZ products, Healthcare Professionals should view their country specific information.
About PPI therapy
PPIs work by binding to, and inhibiting, the acid pumps of a particular type of cell which is found in the stomach wall to stop the production of stomach acid. In doing so, they lower the level of acidity in the stomach and help to heal erosions in the esophagus or ulcers in the duodenum.[3]
Read more about Nexium mechanism of action
GERD treatment
Nexium provides the power and support to bring enduring relief from the disruption of GERD by offering:
- Powerful acid control for the disruption caused by GERD [4]
- Predictable and long lasting control of GERD symptoms
- Effective healing and maintenance treatment of erosions in the esophagus[4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9]
Find out more about gastroesophageal reflux disease
Treatment of ulcer rebleeding
Nexium i.v. is the first proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to be indicated in Europe for prevention of rebleeding following therapeutic endoscopy for acute bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcers. Nexium has also been shown to significantly reduce the use of hospital resources in patients by reducing endoscopic retreatment, blood transfusions, and length of hospital stay due to re-bleeding, compared to placebo.[10]
Find out more about peptic ulcer bleeding
Special formulations
MUPSTM
Nexium is available in 20 mg and 40 mg and supplied as tablets of enteric-coated granules, known as the Multiple Unit Pellet System (MUPS™) tablet. MUPS have been developed to be easy to swallow and dissolvable.[1]
Nexium i.v.
Nexium i.v. (esomeprazole sodium) is the intravenous formulation of esomeprazole, which is quicker than the oral version of Nexium.1
Nexium for children
Nexium is available as a 10 mg sachet formulation with an indication for the treatment of erosive reflux esophagitis and the symptomatic treatment of GERD in children aged 1-11 years.
References
- Nexium prescribing information
- AstraZeneca data on file
- Product Monograph, AstraZeneca
- Richter JE, et al. Efficacy and safety of esomeprazole compared with omeprazole in GERD patients with erosive esophagitis: a randomised controlled trial. Am J Gastroenterol 2001; 96:656-65
- Johnson D, Benjamin S, Vakil N, Goldstein J, Lamet M, Whipple J, et al. Esomeprazole once daily for 6 months is effective therapy for maintaining healed erosive esophagitis and for controlling gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efficacy and safety. Am J Gastroenterol 2001;96:27–34
- Labenz J, Armstrong D, Lauritsen K, Katelaris P, Schmidt S, Schütze K, et al. A randomised comparative study of esomeprazole 40 mg versus pantoprazole 40 mg for healing erosive esophagitis: the EXPO study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;21:739–46
- Labenz J,Armstrong D, Lauritsen K, Katelaris P, Schmidt S, Schütze K, et al. Esomeprazole 20 mg versus pantoprazole 20 mg for maintenance therapy of healed erosive esophagitis: results from the EXPO study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005;22(9):803-11
- Castell D, Kahrilas P, Richter J, Vakil N, Johnson D, Zuckerman S, et al. Esomeprazole 40 mg compared with lansoprazole 30 mg in the treatment of erosive esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol 2002;97(3):575-583.
- Lauritsen K, Devière J, Bigard M, Bayerdörffer E, Mózsik G, Murray F, et al. Esomeprazole 20 mg and lansoprazole 15 mg in maintaining healed reflux esophagitis. Metropole Study Results. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2003;17:333–41
- Sung J, Barkun A, Kuipers E et al., Intravenous esomeprazole for prevention of recurrent peptic ulcer bleeding: a randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine 2009:150:7
