How NEXIUM Heals

How NEXIUM Heals

When acid reflux occurs, stomach acid backs up into your esophagus (the tube that carries food to the stomach). The acid is harsh, your esophagus lining is delicate—and the result is heartburn. Over time, if acid reflux disease isn’t treated, the continued backflow of stomach acid can cause potentially serious damage to your esophagus. Learn more about acid reflux disease.

NEXIUM turns off many of the "acid pumps" in the stomach’s acid-producing cells. This reduces the amount of acid in your stomach. There’s still enough acid to help digest your food, but there’s less that could back up into your esophagus and cause heartburn pain—and possibly tissue damage, too.

By turning off some acid pumps, NEXIUM can both relieve heartburn pain and heal possible damage to the esophagus. Only your doctor can determine if you have this damage called erosive esophagitis. For many people, NEXIUM heals this damage within 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with NEXIUM may vary.


Next: Why NEXIUM

NEXIUM is prescribed to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease, which typically include persistent heartburn on 2 or more days per week, despite treatment and change of diet.

For many people, NEXIUM is also prescribed to heal damage to the esophagus called erosive esophagitis. This damage may be caused over time from stomach acid wearing away the lining of the esophagus. Only a doctor can diagnose this condition. With NEXIUM, most erosions heal in 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with NEXIUM may vary.

In children 1 to 17 years of age, side effects with NEXIUM include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and sleepiness. In adults 18 and older, side effects with NEXIUM include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Symptom relief does not rule out the presence of other serious stomach conditions.

Please read the Important Product Information and discuss it with your doctor or health care professional.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.