What is Nexium (esomeprazole) used for?

Nexium is a prescription and over-the-counter medicine used to treat conditions in which there is excessive stomach acid production, such as heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) stomach ulcers caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, duodenal ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, and rare digestive disorders like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

How does Nexium (esomeprazole) work?

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor. These medications work by blocking the proton pump, which is the final pathway for the secretion of stomach acid by certain cells in the stomach lining. Proton pump inhibitors decrease the amount of acid the stomach makes and thereby relieve heartburn symptoms. These medications reduce the risk of ulcer formation and can also help to heal damage to the stomach and esophagus caused by stomach acid. 

What are Nexium (esomeprazole) doses?

Nexium is available as capsules and packets containing a powder for oral suspension. The typical oral human dose of Nexium is 20 mg or 40 mg once daily in adult patients and pediatric patients over the age of 12 years. In children between 1 and 11 years old, the recommended oral doses are 10 mg or 20 mg of Nexium once daily. In children below the age of 1 year, Nexium dosing is based on weight.

Doctors usually prescribe Nexium 20 mg or 40 mg by mouth once a day for up to 8 weeks to treat GERD. To reduce the risk of stomach ulcer formation due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, continuous drug therapy may be recommended for up to 6 months. Nexium is also a part of the triple therapy for eradication of H. pylori infection - for this purpose, it is taken at a dose of 40 mg once daily for 10 days along with two antibiotics. Pathological conditions in which there is hypersecretion of stomach acid may require higher doses, such as Nexium 40 mg twice a day. 

OTC Nexium can be taken by mouth once a day for 14 days to treat heartburn. You should not repeat a course of Nexium more than once every 4 months unless advised by your doctor