Esomeprazole magnesium oral capsule is a generic prescription drug that’s used to treat conditions caused by excess stomach acid production. Its delayed-release formulation releases the drug into your body slowly over time.
Esomeprazole magnesium is used to treat a variety of stomach and digestive conditions in adults and certain children.
It belongs to a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. These medications work by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach.
To learn more about esomeprazole magnesium’s uses, see the “What is esomeprazole magnesium used for?” section.
Esomeprazole magnesium brand-name version
Esomeprazole magnesium is a generic drug, which means it’s an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. The brand-name medication that esomeprazole magnesium is based on is called Nexium.
Generic drugs are thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name drug they’re based on. In general, generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs do. If you’d like to know more about using Nexium instead of esomeprazole magnesium, talk with your doctor.
What is esomeprazole magnesium used for?
Specifically, esomeprazole magnesium is used for:
short-term treatment in the healing of erosive esophagitis in adults and children ages 12 years and older
maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis in adults
short-term treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults and children ages 12 years and older
reducing the risk of gastric ulcers associated with use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in certain adults
elimination of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria in adults to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence, in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin
treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and related digestive conditions in adults
What are esomeprazole magnesium’s side effects?
Like most drugs, esomeprazole magnesium may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that esomeprazole magnesium may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
your age
other health conditions you have
other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of esomeprazole magnesium. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that esomeprazole magnesium can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the drug’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of esomeprazole magnesium that have been reported include:
headache
diarrhea
nausea
flatulence
stomach pain
constipation
dry mouth
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from esomeprazole magnesium can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of esomeprazole magnesium that have been reported include:
severe diarrhea
osteoporosis and bone fractures
atrophic gastritis
low magnesium
vitamin B12 deficiency
kidney problems
cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE)
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
fundic gland polyps
