Nexpro 40: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Nexpro, Nexpro 40 mg, Nexpro-40, Nexpro 40 tablet, Esomeprazole 40 mg
Nexpro 40 is a prescription tablet containing 40 mg of esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes. It is used to treat acid reflux (GERD) and oesophagus damage, to lower the risk of ulcers in people taking NSAID painkillers, and, with antibiotics, Helicobacter pylori infection. It is taken only on a doctor's advice.
- Active ingredient
- Esomeprazole 40 mg
- Type of medicine
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Starts working in
- Acid starts to fall within hours, but full relief of symptoms can take a few days
- Effect lasts
- A single dose lowers acid for about a day, which is why it is usually taken once a day
- With or without food
- Usually taken at least an hour before a meal; follow the label or your doctor's advice
- Alcohol
- Alcohol can irritate the stomach and make symptoms worse; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking it
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
- What is Nexpro 40 used for?
- How does Nexpro 40 work?
- How to take Nexpro 40
- Side effects of Nexpro 40
- Who should be careful
- Medicines and things that interact with Nexpro 40
- If someone takes too much
- Storage
- Regulatory status in India
- Other brands with the same medicine
- Other strengths and forms
- Common questions
What is Nexpro 40 used for?
Nexpro 40 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat conditions caused by too much stomach acid.
- Treating acid reflux (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, GERD) and healing damage to the oesophagus
- Lowering the risk of stomach ulcers in people who take NSAID painkillers
- Treating Helicobacter pylori infection, together with antibiotics
- Treating conditions with very high acid production, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, under a specialist
How does Nexpro 40 work?
The stomach lining has tiny acid pumps (called H+/K+ ATPase) that release acid into the stomach. Esomeprazole blocks these pumps, so less acid is made. The body must make new pumps to restore acid, so the effect lasts about a day.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet has a coating that protects it from stomach acid. Swallow it whole; do not chew or crush it.
It is absorbed in the intestine
The coating dissolves in the intestine, and esomeprazole passes into the blood.
It reaches the stomach lining
Esomeprazole travels in the blood to the acid-making cells of the stomach lining.
It switches off the acid pumps
In the acid-making cells, esomeprazole blocks the proton pumps, which stops the last step of acid production.
Acid stays low
The body must build new pumps before acid returns to normal, so a daily dose keeps acid low through the day. The liver clears the medicine itself within hours.
How to take Nexpro 40
Take Nexpro 40 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose, the timing and how many weeks you need it.
- Swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, crush or split it.
- It is usually taken once a day, at least an hour before a meal. Follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- For Helicobacter pylori, it is taken together with antibiotics, exactly as your doctor has prescribed, and the full course should be finished.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
- Ask your doctor to review it if you have taken it for months.
Side effects of Nexpro 40
Most people take esomeprazole without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Headache
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea or constipation
- Wind (gas) or stomach pain
- Dry mouth
- Drowsiness
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Red skin with blisters or peeling, or mouth sores (a serious skin reaction)
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea with fever or stomach pain
- Passing less urine, blood in the urine, or fever with tiredness (possible kidney inflammation)
- A rash on sun-exposed skin or new joint pain
- Muscle spasms, seizures, an irregular or pounding heartbeat or severe tiredness (possible low magnesium)
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Nexpro 40, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to esomeprazole, other proton pump inhibitors or any ingredient of the tablet
- Warning signs that need a doctor's check first: unexplained weight loss, pain or trouble swallowing, vomiting blood, or black or bloody stools. Relief of symptoms does not rule out a serious stomach problem
- Heartburn that lasts months or comes with chest or shoulder pain, breathlessness or light-headedness needs a doctor's check
- Long-term use (a year or more): higher risk of fractures of the wrist, hip or spine, low vitamin B12 and magnesium, and growths in the stomach lining called fundic gland polyps
- Older adults, osteoporosis, liver disease, lupus, or low magnesium, calcium or potassium: tell your doctor first
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: ask your doctor or pharmacist first
- Allergy to esomeprazole or other PPIs
Medicines and things that interact with Nexpro 40
Nexpro 40 lowers stomach acid and is broken down by liver enzymes, so it can change how some medicines work. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- Clopidogrel (a blood thinner used after heart attacks or stents): esomeprazole can make it less effective, so ask your doctor
- Warfarin: clotting tests (INR) may be needed more often
- HIV medicines such as rilpivirine and atazanavir: levels can change, so the doctor decides if the combination is acceptable
- Methotrexate, digoxin and tacrolimus: levels can rise
- Iron tablets and some antifungals: may be absorbed less well
- St John's wort: may lower esomeprazole levels
If someone takes too much
Taking one extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to cause harm. Larger amounts may cause confusion, drowsiness, blurred vision, a fast heartbeat, nausea, sweating or flushing. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient esomeprazole was not found on the CDSCO list of banned medicines in the text checked for this batch. Some fixed-dose combinations that include PPIs are prohibited, so check the ingredient list on the pack. Nexpro 40 contains esomeprazole only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Esomeprazole 40 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some Nexpro products also contain other medicines, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Esomeprazole is sold in different strengths and forms, and in combination products with other medicines. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Nexpro 40 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Esomeprazole is a prescription medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice.
What is Nexpro 40 used for?
It is used to treat acid reflux (GERD) and oesophagus damage, to lower the risk of ulcers in people taking NSAID painkillers, and, with antibiotics, for Helicobacter pylori infection. Your doctor decides whether it suits you.
When should I take Nexpro 40?
It is usually taken once a day, at least an hour before a meal, and swallowed whole. Follow the label or your doctor's advice, as the best time can depend on the condition.
Can I take Nexpro 40 for a long time?
Only if your doctor advises and reviews it. Long-term use is linked to fractures, low vitamin B12 and magnesium, and stomach polyps. Many people need it for only a few weeks.
Can Nexpro 40 be taken with painkillers?
Doctors sometimes prescribe it to lower the risk of stomach ulcers in people who need to take NSAID painkillers for a long time. Do not combine medicines on your own; ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Nexpro 40?
Take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one.
What is the difference between Nexpro 40 and Esomeprazole 40 mg?
Nexpro is a brand name, and esomeprazole is the medicine inside it. Generic esomeprazole 40 mg tablets contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching.
Sources
- Esomeprazole. MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Esomeprazole. NHS (UK)
- Rabeprazole sodium delayed-release tablets: prescribing information (Amneal). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- ATC/DDD Index: A02BC05 esomeprazole. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)