Medical term:
Nexium
esomeprazole magnesium
Pharmacologic class: Proton pump inhibitor
Therapeutic class: Antiulcer agent
Pregnancy risk category C
Action
Reduces gastric acid production by inhibiting enzyme activity in gastric parietal cells, preventing transport of hydrogen ions into gastric lumen
Availability
Capsules (delayed-release): 20 mg, 40 mg
Powder for delayed-release oral suspension: 2.5-mg, 5-mg, 10-mg, 20-mg, 40-mg packets
Indications and dosages
➣ Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); healing of erosive esophagitis
Children ages 1 month to younger than 1 year weighing 3 kg (6.5 lb) to 5 kg: 2.5 mg P.O. daily for up to 6 weeks
Adults: 20 to 40 mg P.O. once daily for 4 to 8 weeks
Children ages 1 month to younger than 1 year weighing more than 7.5 kg to 12 kg (16.5 to 26 lb): 10 mg P.O. daily for up to 6 weeks
Children ages 1 month to younger than 1 year weighing more than 5 kg (11 lb) to 7.5 kg: 5 mg P.O. daily for up to 6 weeks
Children ages 1 to 11 weighing 20 kg (44 lb) or more: 10 or 20 mg P.O. daily for 8 weeks
Children ages 1 to 11 weighing less than 20 kg (44 lb): 10 mg P.O. daily for 8 weeks
➣ Treatment of GERD; maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis
Adults: 20 mg P.O. once daily
➣ Symptomatic GERD
Adults: 20 mg P.O. once daily for 4 weeks
Children ages 12 to 17: 20 or 40 mg P.O. daily for up to 8 weeks
Children ages 1 to 11: 10 mg P.O. daily for up to 8 weeks
➣ Helicobacter pylori eradication to decrease risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence
Adults: 40 mg P.O. once daily for 10 days, given in combination with amoxicillin 1,000 mg b.i.d. for 10 days and with clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. for 10 days
➣ Treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Adults: 40 mg P.O. b.i.d.
➣ Risk reduction of NSAID-associated gastric ulcer
Adults: 20 or 40 mg P.O. once daily for up to 6 months
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to proton pump inhibitors
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• severe hepatic impairment
• increased risk of hip, wrist, and spine fractures
• pregnant or breastfeeding patients
• children younger than age 18 (safety not established).
Administration
• Give 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
• Know that contents of capsules may be mixed with applesauce.
• Don't crush capsules or pellets.
• Be aware that hypomagnesemia has been reported rarely in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors for at least 3 months. For patients expected to be on prolonged treatment or who take proton pump inhibitors with drugs such as digoxin or drugs that may cause hypomagnesemia (such as diuretics), consider monitoring magnesium level before starting treatment.
Adverse reactions
CNS: headache, dizziness, asthenia, vertigo, apathy, anxiety, paresthesia, insomnia, abnormal dreams
EENT: sinusitis, epistaxis
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, flatulence, dry mouth
Metabolic: hypomagnesemia
Musculoskeletal: hip, wrist, spine fractures (with long-term daily use)
Respiratory: upper respiratory tract infection, cough
Skin: rash, inflammation, urticaria, pruritus, alopecia, dry skin
Interactions
Drug-drug. CYP2C19 or CYP3A4 inducers (such as rifampin): reduced esomeprazole level
Digoxin, iron salts, ketoconazole: altered absorption and effects of these drugs
Methotrexate: increased serum methotrexate level
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatinine, uric acid: increased levels
Hemoglobin, platelets, potassium, sodium, thyroxine, white blood cells: altered levels
Serum chromogranin A (CgA): increased level (may cause falsepositive results in diagnostic investigations for neuroendocrine tumors)
Drug-herbs. St. John's wort: reduced esomeprazole level
Patient monitoring
• Monitor neurologic status, especially for dizziness, headache, paresthesia, and asthenia.
• Watch for signs and symptoms of EENT and respiratory infections.
• Assess nutritional and hydration status in light of adverse GI effects.
• Check for rash and other signs of hypersensitivity.
• Monitor liver function test results if patient is on long-term therapy.
• Continue to monitor patients periodically who are expected to be on prolonged treatment or who take proton pump inhibitors with drugs such as digoxin or drugs that may cause hypomagnesemia.
Patient teaching
• Instruct patient to take drug 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
• If patient has trouble swallowing capsule, tell him to open it, sprinkle pellets into soft food (such as applesauce), and take right away.
• Instruct patient to recognize and report signs or symptoms of hypomagnesemia.
• Caution patient to avoid driving and other hazardous activities until he knows how drug affects concentration and alertness.
• Advise female patient to tell prescriber if she's pregnant or breastfeeding.
• As appropriate, review all other significant adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above.
esomeprazole
(es-o-mep-ra-zole) ,NexIUM
(trade name)Classification
Therapeutic: antiulcer agentsPharmacologic: proton pump inhibitors
Indications
Action
Therapeutic effects
Pharmacokinetics
Time/action profile (blood levels*)
| ROUTE | ONSET | PEAK | DURATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO | rapid | 1.6 hr | 24 hr |
| IV | rapid | end of infusion | 24 hr |
Contraindications/Precautions
Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
Central nervous system
- headache
Gastrointestinal
- pseudomembranous colitis (life-threatening)
- abdominal pain
- constipation
- diarrhea
- dry mouth
- flatulence
- nausea
Fluid and Electrolyte
- hypomagnesemia (especially if treatment duration ≥3 mo)
Musculoskeletal
- bone fracture
Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction
May ↓ levels of atazanavir and nelfinavir (avoid concurrent use with either of these antiretrovirals).May ↑ levels and risk of toxicity of saquinavir (may need to ↓ dose of saquinavir).May ↓ absorption of drugs requiring acid pH, including ketoconazole, itraconazole, atazanavir, ampicillin, and iron salts.May ↑ risk of bleeding with warfarin (monitor INR and PT).Voriconazole may ↑ levels.May ↓ the antiplatelet effects of clopidogrel ; avoid concurrent use.May ↑ levels of cilostazol ; consider ↓ dose of cilostazol from 100 mg twice daily to 50 mg twice daily.Rifampin may ↓ levels and may ↓ response (avoid concurrent use).Hypomagnesemia ↑ risk of digoxin toxicity.May ↑ levels of tacrolimus and methotrexate.St. John's wort may ↓ levels and may ↓ response (avoid concurrent use).Route/Dosage
Gastroesophageal Reflux DiseaseHepatic Impairment
Oral Intravenous (Adults) Severe hepatic impairment—Dose should not exceed 20 mg/day.Availability (generic available)
Nursing implications
Nursing assessment
- Assess routinely for epigastric or abdominal pain and frank or occult blood in the stool, emesis, or gastric aspirate.
- Monitor bowel function. Diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever, and bloody stools should be reported to health care professional promptly as a sign of pseudomembranous colitis.
- Lab Test Considerations: May cause ↑ serum creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, AST, and ALT.
- May alter hemoglobin, WBC, platelets, serum sodium, potassium, and thyroxine levels.
- May cause hypomagnesemia. Monitor serum magnesium prior to and periodically during therapy.
Potential Nursing Diagnoses
Acute pain (Indications)Implementation
- Do not confuse Nexium with Nexavar.
- Antacids may be used while taking esomeprazole.
- Oral: Administer at least 1 hr before meals. Capsules should be swallowed whole.
- Delayed-release capsules: For patients with difficulty swallowing, place 1 tbsp of applesauce in an empty bowl. Open capsule and carefully empty the pellets inside onto applesauce. Mix pellets with applesauce and swallow immediately. Applesauce should not be hot and should be soft enough to swallow without chewing. Do not store applesauce mixture for future use. Tap water, orange juice, apple juice, and yogurt have also been used. Do not crush or chew pellets.
- For patients with an NG tube, delayed-release capsules can be opened and intact granules emptied into a 60-mL syringe and mixed with 50 mL of water. Replace plunger and shake syringe vigorously for 15 sec. Hold syringe with tip up and check for granules in tip. Attach syringe to NG tube and administer solution. After administering, flush syringe with additional water. Do not administer if granules have dissolved or disintegrated. Administer immediately after mixing.
- For Delayed-release oral suspension: Mix contents of packet with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of water, leave 2–3 min to thicken, stir and drink within 30 min.
- For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension Nasogastric or Gastric Tube: Add 15 mL of water to a syringe and then add contents of packet. Shake the syringe, leave 2–3 min to thicken. Shake the syringe and inject through the nasogastric or gastric tube within 30 min.
Intravenous Administration
- Reconstitute each vial with 5 mL of 0.9% NaCl, LR, or D5W. Do not administer solutions that are discolored or contain a precipitate. Stable at room temperature for up to 12 hr.
- Rate: Administer over at least 3 min.
- Intermittent Infusion: Diluent: Dilute reconstituted solution to a volume of 50 mL with D5W, 0.9% NaCl, or LR for adults and with 0.9% NaCl for pediatric patients.Concentration: 0.8 mg/mL (40-mg vial) or 0.4 mg/mL (20-mg vial). Solutions diluted with 0.9% NaCl or LR are stable for 12 hr and those diluted with D5W are stable for 6 hr at room temperature.
- Rate: Administer over 10–30 min.
- Y-Site Compatibility: ceftaroline, doripenem
- Y-Site Incompatibility: tacrolimus, telavancin. Do not administer with other medication or solutions. Flush line with 0.9% NaCl, LR, or D5W before and after administration.
Patient/Family Teaching
- Instruct patient to take medication as directed for the full course of therapy, even if feeling better. Take missed doses as soon as remembered but not if almost time for next dose. Do not double doses. Advise patient to read the Patient Information sheet prior to starting therapy and with each Rx refill in case of changes.
- Advise patient to avoid alcohol, products containing aspirin or NSAIDs, and foods that may cause an increase in GI irritation.
- Advise patient to report onset of black, tarry stools; diarrhea; abdominal pain; or persistent headache to health care professional promptly.
- Instruct patient to notify health care professional of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and consult health care professional before taking any new medications, especially St. John's wort.
- Advise patient to notify health care professional if signs of hypomagnesemia (seizures, dizziness, abnormal or fast heartbeat, jitteriness, jerking movements or shaking, muscle weakness, spasms of the hands and feet, cramps or muscle aches, spasm of the voice box) occur.
- Caution patient to notify health care professional if fever and diarrhea occur, especially if stool contains blood, pus, or mucus. Advise patient not to treat diarrhea without consulting health care professional.
- Advise female patient to notify health care professional if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breast feeding.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
- Decrease in abdominal pain or prevention of gastric irritation and bleeding. Healing of duodenal ulcers can be seen on x-ray examination or endoscopy.
- Decrease in symptoms of GERD and erosive esophagitis. Sustained resolution of symptoms usually occurs in 5–8 days. Therapy is continued for 4–8 wk after initial episode.
- Decreased incidence of gastric ulcer during continuous NSAID therapy.
- Eradication of H. pylori in duodenal ulcer disease.
- Decrease in symptoms of hypersecretory conditions, including Zollinger-Ellison.
Nexium
(nĕk′sē-əm)Nexium®
Esomeprazole, the Purple pill Internal medicine An agent used to manage diagnostically confirmed erosive esophagitisLatest Searches:
Voraxaze - Voranil - Voorhoeve - voodoo - VOO - Vontrol - von - vomitus - vomiturition - vomitory - vomitoria - vomito - vomitive - vomiting - vomit - vomica - vomerovaginalis - vomerovaginal - vomerorostralis - vomerorostral -
- Service manuals - MBI Corp