Stomach pain can be more than just feeling discomfort. At times, it can cause great pain that interferes a person’s ability to have a normal life and perform their daily routine. Stomach pain can be caused by many causes, with excessive stomach acid affecting the lining of the stomach being the most common cause. Gastric ulcer is a complication caused by such a cause. This is due to the compromised lining of the stomach leading to an inflammation process. There are a number of medicines that help to improve gastric ulcers. Nexium 40 mg is one of the medicines that is used to help ease stomach pain but is Nexium good for gastric ulcer?
Yes, Nexium is good for gastric ulcers. Nexium contains esomeprazole as its active ingredients. Esomeprazole belongs to a class of drug known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In general, PPI medicines work by affecting the amount of stomach acid. It blocks the proton pump inhibitor in the stomach by blocking the cells of the stomach, specifically the parietal cells from producing excess stomach acid. By reducing the excess acid production, it helps to relieve symptoms such as from gastric ulcer.
Gastric ulcer in short is open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach due to excess acid disrupting the lining of the stomach. Common symptoms are usually indigestion, heartburn and nausea. Some people may or may not feel pain from the stomach ulcers. It is important to treat gastric ulcers because its complication can lead to the worst disease such as stomach cancer and may be life threatening especially if the stomach perforates (hole).
So how is Nexium good for gastric ulcers? By decreasing the amount of acid production, this helps to reduce the risk for the stomach lining to be disrupted more by the acid. PPI blocks more than 90% of stomach acid production. It is important to note that the stomach does need acid to digest food and to process food but not in excess amounts. When the gastric acid production is reduced, this allows the ulcers to heal better. Apart from that, it also helps to stabilise blood clot factors which decrease the chance of bleeding from the stomach. Thus, Nexium can be a protective measure for the stomach while simultaneously being the healer.
In order to make sure Nexium can provide the maximum benefits, it is necessary for patients to be taking the medicine the right way. Nexium must be taken according to the doctor’s direction or instructions. Do not change the frequency of taking this drug. It is best to take Nexium at least an hour before a meal. Studies show that taking esomeprazole with a meal or within 30 minutes reduces the effectiveness of the drug by 50 percent. Avoid crushing or chewing the medicine and it is best to take it as a whole. If a patient feels uncertain or unsure about the medication, they should ask their healthcare provider for more explanation.
Nexium, just as with any other medicine, do possess potential side effect. Common ones include headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea and flatulence. If any side effects become worst or severe, patient should let their doctor known. In case of serious side effect such as symptoms of low magnesium level (hypomagnesemia) marked by fatigue, dizziness, muscle spasm, seizures or irregular heartbeat, patient need to get to emergency room as soon as possible. Severe stomach pain, presence of blood in stool or sudden rash on face with joint pain should also be noted as serious side effects.
Nexium is not only used to treat gastric ulcers. It is also used to treat the many other conditions associated with excess stomach acid production such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Dose may vary according to the diseases such as 80 mg a day for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and 20 mg a day for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Nexium should not be taken more than 14 days unless instructed by doctors. Nexium should not be stopped abruptly after taking it for a long period as this may lead to resurfacing of the symptoms that produce more acid than before.
It can be concluded that Nexium is good for stomach ulcers. This medicine works best when taken regularly. This medicine may be taken for more than 14 days as long as the patient is under medical supervision. It is important to treat gastric ulcers as its complications can be devastating. Beside taking medication to treat gastric ulcer, patients should also take further steps by taking preventative measures such as avoiding eating food or drink beverages that can trigger stomach acid production such as caffeine, acidic food such as sour taste food and fried food. Practising good healthy eating habits can help to treat gastric ulcers while improving a person’s general wellbeing. Talk to your doctor on what can be done to improve gastric ulcer on top of taking medicines.
