Nexium & Prilosec

By Angela Young 12 months ago

Nexium and Prilosec are medications that doctors commonly prescribe to patients in an effort to control severe indigestion issues such as GERD, severe heartburn, and some types of ulcers. Prilosec and Nexium are both proton pump inhibitors or PPI. Prilosec was first on the market and is a very similar molecule to that of Nexium, which came to market after Prilosec.

Nexium & Prilosec Warnings and Precautions

Patients taking Nexium and Prilosec should tell their physician or pharmacist of their medical history prior to starting the medication, particularly if there is a history of liver disease or liver failure issues such as cirrhosis, allergies to good dyes or preservatives and if there is any concern of stomach cancer as many of the conditions that Nexium and Prilosec treat have similar symptoms as the symptoms of stomach cancer.

Patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or planning to become pregnant should discuss their use of Prilosec and Nexium with their physician. Prilosec and Nexium can pass through breast milk so woman who are breast-feeding or are planning to start breast-feeding should consult their physician about the risks.

Nexium & Prilosec Uses

Prilosec and Nexium treat the same conditions. Doctors commonly prescribe either Nexium or Prilosec for the treatment of duodenal ulcers or ulcers that are in the first part of the intestine after the stomach, gastric ulcers, Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD or heartburn. Doctors can prescribe Prilosec for patients as young as two, but Nexium is not a medication that children can take.

Nexium & Prilosec Side Effects

Both Nexium and Prilosec are normally medications that patients tolerate well, but as with any medication there are potential side effects that can occur.

Common side effects of Prilosec and Nexium include diarrhea, upper respiratory infections similar to the common cold, dizziness, constipation and back pain. Serious side effects of Prilosec and Nexium include depression, agitation, aggression, hallucinations and confusion, inflammation of the pancreas, liver damage and signs of allergic reaction that include rash, hives, itching and swelling of the face, throat and tongue.

Rare side effects of Nexium and Prilosec include loss of appetite, dry mouth, weight gain, muscle cramps and pain, joint pain, insomnia, drowsiness, vertigo, dry skin, hair loss, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, changes in taste, dry eyes, urinary tract infections and anemia.

If patients experiences any of the common side effects for a long period of time or if the common side effects occur they should contact their physician. Additionally patients experiencing any of the rare or serious side effects should contact their physician or seek medical attention right away.

Nexium & Prilosec Interactions

Patients should tell their doctor or pharmacist of any and all medications they are currently taking including all over the counter medications and herbal supplements in order to prevent an possible drug interactions.

Patients taking ampicillin, celexa, Valium, medications to treat HIV, iron supplements, Nizoral, Dilantin, Prograf, certain antifungals such as Vfend or warfarin should not take Prilosec or Nexium without discussing the possible risks of drug interactions with their physicians.

Other medications that can interact negatively with Prilosec and Nexium include Digoxin, Erlotinib, Mesalamine and some protease inhibitors such as Nelfinavir.

Most of the drug interactions that can occur while taking Nexium and Prilosec have to do with how the medications are absorbed. Most of the drugs listed above cause both Nexium and Prilosec to not be fully absorbed which makes Nexium and Prilosec lose the efficacy, which can lead to increasing problems from the conditions that the Nexium and Prilosec are supposed to be treating.

Nexium & Prilosec Overdose

Symptoms of Nexium overdose include confusion, drowsiness, blurry vision, increased heart rate, nausea, headache and dry mouth. Patients who may be suffering from an overdose of Nexium or Prilosec should contact they physician or seek immediate medical attention.

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