Esomeprazole (Injection)

Introduction

Esomeprazole (es-oh-MEP-ra-zole)

Treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients who are temporarily unable to take the oral form of this medicine. This medicine is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

Brand Name(s)

Nexium I.V.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, osteoporosis, or a history of low magnesium levels in your blood.
• This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). This is more likely to occur if you take this medicine longer than 1 year, or if you take it with digoxin or certain diuretics (water pills). Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you have seizures, dizziness, a fast or pounding heartbeat, or muscle spasms.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have diarrhea that does not go away, stomach pain, and fever while receiving this medicine.
• You may be at risk for Clostridium difficile colitis (also called C diff) if you take this medicine. C diff is an inflammation of your large intestine that causes diarrhea. You have a higher risk of this condition if you are also using antibiotics, are elderly, or have other health conditions.If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea.
• This medicine may increase your risk of broken bones in the hip, wrist, and spine. This is more likely if you are older than 50, if you receive high doses of this medicine, or you use it for longer than 1 year.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Chest pain, fast heartbeat, sweating, or warmth or redness in your face or upper chest
• Redness, pain, itching, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed
• Severe diarrhea that does not go away, stomach pain, and fever

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, or stomach pain or upset
• Dry mouth
• Headache, dizziness

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using cilostazol (Pletal®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), voriconazole (Vfend®), iron supplements, St John's wort, a blood thinner (such as warfarin, Coumadin®), or medicine to treat HIV infection (such as atazanavir, nelfinavir, saquinavir, Fortovase®, Invirase®, Reyataz®, or Viracept®).