What is the best time to take Nexium 40 mg?

Having stomach pain can be an annoyance. Sometimes it could be so hurtful that it begins to affect daily life activities. Stomach pain can be caused by numerous causes. One of the known causes is excessive stomach acid affecting the lining of the stomach and at times this acid can be tasted at the back of the throat.  When the lining of the stomach is compromised, it causes inflammation signs such as pain. In severe cases, it could lead to ulcer and bleeding. There are a number of medicines that can help relieve stomach pain while protecting the stomach, one of them is Nexium 40 mg.

Nexium contains esomeprazole as its active ingredients. Esomeprazole belongs to a class of drugs named proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPI works by affecting the amount of acid produced by the stomach. This is done by blocking the proton pump in the stomach from enabling the cells of the stomach called the parietal cells from producing excess stomach acid. In turns, this helps to reduce the acid amount which then leads to relief of symptoms.

Nexium is commonly prescribed to treat many conditions involving excess stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastric ulcer associated with usage of NSAID. Nexium may be used as a means of prevention against gastric ulcer for those using NSAID therapy and at risk for the ulcer. It is also used to help treat stomach ulcers associated with infection caused by Helicobacter pylori apart from antibiotics.

You probably wonder what is the best time to take Nexium. It is best to take this medicine at least an hour before a meal to optimise the benefit. Studies show that taking esomeprazole with a meal or within 30 minutes reduces the effectiveness of the drug by 50 percent. Dose may vary according to the goal of treatment. For example, to treat  heartburn and acid reflux is 20 mg per day whereas in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome it is 80mg a day. Take this medication as directed by doctors. Never change the dose or the frequency of taking it. Take this medication as a whole and avoid crushing or chewing it. This may reduce the effectiveness of the drug since the drug is meant to work optimally in the stomach environment. You should not take this medication for more than 14 days unless directed by your healthcare provider. Should there be any questions related to dose and how to take it, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Just as with any other medicine, Nexium does have potential side effects. Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea and flatulence. If these side effects get worse, do tell your doctor. In cases of serious side effect such as symptoms of low magnesium level (hypomagnesemia) like fatigue, dizziness, seizures, muscle spasm (tetany) or irregular heartbeat, severe stomach pain, blood in stool and rash on face including joint pain, do tell a doctor immediately. If there are any other unwanted side effects not listed here, you should consult with your healthcare provider.

It can be concluded that Nexium is used to treat symptoms related to excess stomach acid such as heartburn. Dose of this medicine varies according to the goal of treatment. This medicine may be taken more than 14 days under medical supervision. It is important to take this medicine regularly and best taken before meals. You should not stop taking this medicine especially after taking it for a long period. Stopping the medicine abruptly may lead to symptoms resurface as the stomach produces more acid than before. If you have doubts regarding this medicine, you should address this issue to your doctor or pharmacist.

Treating stomach pain especially caused by excess stomach acid may not be enough just from taking medicine prescribed by your doctor alone. You may need to do some adjustment and lifestyle changes to help alleviate this issue. This includes:

• Avoid eating food, especially heavy meals right before bed. This is because when you lie down, the digestive juice including stomach acid is likely to sip through the food tube or oesophagus. It is best to eat food 3 to 4 hours before your bedtime to reduce heartburn symptoms.
• Elevate your head while sleeping. By making sure you are sleeping with your head higher than your stomach, ensure that gravity puts pressure on the possible stomach contents from travelling up into the oesophagus. Simply use extra pillows under your head.
• Eat smaller meals more often rather than eating big meals fewer times. This helps satisfy your appetite and avoid excess stomach acid. Smaller and frequent meals also help to train your body for better metabolism and utilise nutrients.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and stop smoking. This not only triggers the stomach to produce more stomach acid but also is not good for the health in general. Plus, it reduces the likelihood of acquiring cancer since gastric ulcer is a factor for developing stomach cancer.
• Learn to manage stress. Stress is said to slow down digestion and triggers acid production in the stomach. Stress in entirety throws off the body system. Relaxation techniques such as meditation and controlled breathing are among practices that help to tone down stress.