Esopreze (Esomeprazole Magnesium Trihydrate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Esopreze Used For?
Esopreze contains esomeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor that reduces stomach acid production to provide symptom relief and allow healing.
Primary Uses
Esopreze treats reflux oesophagitis (acid reflux), prevents reflux from returning, treats stomach pain caused by NSAIDs, heals and prevents NSAID-caused ulcers, treats peptic ulcers (when combined with antibiotics to eliminate H. pylori bacteria), treats Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (rare condition causing excessive stomach acid), and provides follow-up treatment for bleeding peptic ulcers.
How It Works
Esopreze works by decreasing the amount of acid made by the stomach, which gives relief of symptoms and allows healing to take place. When used with antibiotics for peptic ulcers, it helps kill H. pylori bacteria and allows ulcers to heal.
How to Take Esopreze
Take Esopreze exactly as prescribed by your doctor, usually once daily at the same time each day.
Dosage Instructions
Take one Esopreze tablet each day unless your doctor tells you otherwise. The usual dose is 20 mg or 40 mg daily depending on your condition and its severity. Swallow tablets whole with water – do not crush or chew as this will prevent proper function. If you have trouble swallowing, place the tablet in half a glass of non-carbonated water, stir gently until it dissolves into pellets, then drink immediately within 30 minutes. Rinse the glass with water and drink. Esopreze can be taken with or without food.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- nausea or vomiting
- constipation
- diarrhea
- headache
- wind (gas)
- stomach pain
- skin rash or itchy skin
- dizziness
- dry mouth
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- blurred vision
- mood changes, confusion, or depression
- muscle pain or weakness, joint pain
- increase in breast size (males)
- increased sweating
- changes in sleep patterns
- fever
- increased bruising
- pins and needles sensation
- hair loss
- tremor
- blood in urine
- increased or decreased urine output
- skin reaction in sun-exposed areas with joint pain
- muscle twitching or jerking movements
- irregular heartbeat
- loss of consciousness
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- swelling of face, lips, tongue, or body parts
- severe skin reactions with rash, blistering, or peeling
- signs of liver inflammation (yellowing of skin/eyes, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite)
Important Warnings
Before taking Esopreze, inform your doctor about all medical conditions and medications you’re taking.
Who Should Not Take Esopreze
Do not take Esopreze if you are allergic to esomeprazole or any ingredients listed, allergic to any proton pump inhibitor medicines, taking atazanavir or cilostazol, or if you are a child under 1 year of age.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to other medicines or foods, liver problems, severe kidney problems, osteoporosis, or have ever had a skin reaction to similar stomach acid-reducing medicines.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Esopreze if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless your doctor specifically recommends it. It is not known if Esopreze is safe during pregnancy or if it passes into breast milk.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Esopreze and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
- atazanavir and nelfinavir (HIV medicines)
- cilostazol (for intermittent claudication)
- ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole (antifungal medicines)
- diazepam (anxiety medicine)
- phenytoin (epilepsy medicine)
- citalopram, clomipramine, imipramine (antidepressants)
- St John’s wort (herbal mood remedy)
- clarithromycin, rifampicin (antibiotics)
- warfarin, clopidogrel (blood thinners)
- digoxin (heart medicine)
- methotrexate (arthritis/cancer medicine)
- tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (transplant medicines)
- erlotinib (cancer medicine)
Alcohol & Driving
Esopreze is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery, but be careful until you know how it affects you.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Esopreze is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. However, be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Esopreze affects you.
Storage
Keep Esopreze tablets in the original blister pack until ready to take. Store in a cool, dry place where temperature stays below 25°C. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Take expired or unwanted medicine to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Esopreze, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre at 13 11 26, contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Esopreze works by reducing stomach acid production to provide symptom relief and allow healing to take place. Your doctor will tell you how long to continue treatment based on your condition.
Yes, Esopreze can be taken with food or on an empty stomach.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose.
No, you must swallow Esopreze tablets whole with water. Do not crush or chew the tablets as they will not work properly. If you have difficulty swallowing, you can dissolve the tablet in non-carbonated water and drink the liquid with pellets.
Tell your doctor if your symptoms return or if your reflux symptoms come back after you stop taking Esopreze.
No, do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours. Each person needs their own prescription based on their specific condition.
Tell your doctor if you don’t feel well while taking Esopreze, if you become pregnant, if your symptoms return, or if you need any medical tests. Also inform all doctors, dentists, and pharmacists that you are taking Esopreze.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.