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Esomeprazole Capsules 20mg and 40mg
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£9.99
Esomeprazole Capsules 20mg and 40mg
Buy Esomeprazole
How to get esomeprazole online
- Complete a short online consultation about your symptoms, health and any other medicines.
- A UK prescriber reviews your answers and decides whether esomeprazole is suitable, and at which dose.
- If approved, our pharmacy dispatches your treatment in discreet packaging.
Esomeprazole Prices
| Name & Dosage | x14 Capsules | x28 Capsules |
|---|---|---|
| Esomeprazole 20mg Capsules | £9.99 | £15.99 |
| Esomeprazole 40mg Capsules | £14.99 | £17.99 |
Summary for Esomeprazole
| Medication Class | Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) |
|---|---|
| Mechanism of action | Blocks the proton pumps in the stomach lining, so the stomach makes less acid |
| Active ingredient | Esomeprazole (as esomeprazole magnesium) |
| Strength | 20mg and 40mg gastro-resistant capsules |
| Legal category | Prescription-only medicine (POM) |
| Brand equivalent | Nexium |
| Effective within | Many people notice improvement within a few days; the full effect can take up to 4 weeks |
| Dosage Instructions | One capsule once a day, usually in the morning, with or without food |
| Maximum dose for reflux: | 40mg once a day (higher doses only under specialist care) |
| Use with alcohol | Alcohol does not stop it working, but can make reflux symptoms worse |
About Esomeprazole
Key Points
- Esomeprazole reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes.
- It treats heartburn, acid reflux, GORD and stomach ulcers.
- It is the same active ingredient as Nexium.
- Take one capsule a day, usually in the morning, swallowed whole.
What is esomeprazole 20mg used for?
Esomeprazole 20mg is used to treat heartburn and acid reflux, to keep reflux symptoms under control, to stop a healed inflamed oesophagus coming back, and to protect the stomach in people who take anti-inflammatory painkillers. The 40mg dose is mainly used to heal an inflamed oesophagus (oesophagitis).
How does esomeprazole work?
Esomeprazole blocks the proton pumps in the stomach lining that produce acid. With less acid, there is less to flow back up into the food pipe (oesophagus), which eases heartburn and gives an inflamed oesophagus time to heal.
Is esomeprazole the same as Nexium?
Yes. Esomeprazole is the active ingredient in Nexium, at the same strengths, and works in the same way. The differences are the brand name, the look of the capsule or tablet, some inactive ingredients and the price.
Can I buy esomeprazole over the counter?
Yes, for short-term use only. Esomeprazole 20mg tablets and capsules, such as Nexium Control, can be bought from pharmacies and some shops for heartburn in adults aged 18 and over, for up to 2 weeks. The 40mg strength, longer courses and treatment for GORD, an inflamed oesophagus or ulcers need a prescription.
How long does esomeprazole take to work?
Esomeprazole starts reducing stomach acid within about an hour of the first dose, and many people notice their symptoms improve within a few days. The full effect can take up to 4 weeks. If your symptoms have not improved after 4 weeks, speak to our prescriber or your GP.
Can I take esomeprazole long term?
Some people need esomeprazole for months or years, but this should be reviewed by a doctor at least once a year. Taking it for more than 3 months can lower magnesium levels, and taking it for more than a year may raise the risk of bone fractures, gut infections and low vitamin B12. After long-term use, do not stop suddenly, as acid can rebound: ask your doctor how to reduce it. Esomeprazole can also hide the symptoms of stomach cancer, so tell your doctor about any new or changing symptoms.
Is esomeprazole the same as omeprazole?
No, but they are closely related. Esomeprazole is not simply a stronger omeprazole. It is a purified form of omeprazole (one of its two mirror-image forms), and both work in the same way. At standard doses, PPIs work similarly well for most people with reflux, although some people respond better to one than another.
| Medicine | Standard dose for reflux |
| Esomeprazole | 20mg once a day |
| Omeprazole | 20mg once a day |
| Lansoprazole | 30mg once a day |
| Pantoprazole | 40mg once a day |
Which is better: omeprazole, esomeprazole or lansoprazole?
None is clearly better for everyone. Esomeprazole, omeprazole and lansoprazole all work in the same way and generally work similarly well at standard doses, although some people respond better to one than another. Your prescriber will recommend the most suitable one for your condition and any other medicines you take.
Is esomeprazole the same as lansoprazole?
No. They are different PPIs, but they work in the same way and have similar side effects. The standard dose for reflux is 20mg for esomeprazole and 30mg for lansoprazole.
What else can help with acid reflux?
Small changes can reduce reflux alongside treatment:
- Eat smaller meals, and avoid eating in the 3 hours before bed.
- Cut down on foods and drinks that trigger your symptoms, such as rich, spicy or fatty food, caffeine and alcohol.
- Raise the head of your bed by about 10 to 20cm, so your head and chest are above your waist (extra pillows can make reflux worse).
- Stop smoking, and lose weight if you are overweight.
Dosage instructions
Take one capsule once a day, usually in the morning, with or without food. Your prescriber will tell you which strength to take and for how long.
- Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of still water. Do not chew or crush the capsule or the pellets inside it.
- If you find capsules hard to swallow, open the capsule, stir the pellets into half a glass of still (non-fizzy) water (do not use any other drink) and drink it straight away, within 5 minutes. Rinse the glass with half a glass of water and drink that too.
- For heartburn and reflux the usual dose is 20mg a day. To heal an inflamed oesophagus, the usual dose is 40mg a day for 4 weeks, sometimes followed by another 4 weeks.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is due in less than 12 hours. Never take two doses to make up for a missed one.
When should you see a doctor instead?
Heartburn medicine can hide the signs of a more serious problem. Do not start esomeprazole online if you have any of the symptoms below: see a GP promptly instead. If you are vomiting blood (it may look like coffee grounds) or have black, tarry poo, get help straight away: call 111, or 999 if you feel very unwell.
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing, or food getting stuck
- Repeated vomiting, or vomiting blood
- Black, tarry or bloody poo
- Weight loss you cannot explain
- New or changed indigestion symptoms and you are over 55
- Heartburn that has needed treatment continuously for 4 weeks or more
- Chest pain
- Feeling weak or looking paler than usual
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or severe liver disease
- A previous stomach ulcer or stomach surgery
- Frequent wheezing, especially with heartburn
Esomeprazole Side Effects
Like all medicines, esomeprazole can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common are headache and stomach upsets.
Stop taking esomeprazole and get urgent medical help if you have
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing
- A severe skin reaction with blistering, peeling or sores, sometimes with a fever
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine, which can be signs of liver problems
Also call a doctor or 111 straight away if you get a rash on skin exposed to the sun, especially with joint pain, or severe or long-lasting diarrhoea.
Common (up to 1 in 10 people)
Headache, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea, wind, feeling or being sick, and small harmless growths in the stomach lining (fundic gland polyps).
Uncommon (up to 1 in 100 people)
Swollen feet or ankles, trouble sleeping, dizziness, pins and needles, sleepiness, a spinning feeling, dry mouth, itchy skin, rash, hives or inflamed skin (dermatitis), raised liver enzymes, and broken hip, wrist or spine (with high doses or long-term use).
Esomeprazole can occasionally cause dizziness or blurred vision. Do not drive or use machinery if this happens. You can report side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme (yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk).
Esomeprazole Warnings
Who should not take esomeprazole?
Esomeprazole is not suitable for everyone. Our prescriber checks your answers against these points before deciding whether to prescribe it.
Do not take esomeprazole if you
- Are allergic to esomeprazole or any of the capsule’s ingredients
- Are allergic to another PPI, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole or rabeprazole
- Take nelfinavir or rilpivirine tablets (for example Edurant, Eviplera, Odefsey or Juluca), medicines for HIV
Tell our prescriber first if you
- Have severe liver or kidney problems
- Have osteoporosis, or have been told your magnesium or vitamin B12 is low
- Have ever had a skin reaction after taking a PPI
- Are due to have an endoscopy, or a chromogranin A blood test
- Are pregnant, trying for a baby or breastfeeding
- Take any other medicines, especially those listed under Interactions
Esomeprazole Interactions
Can I take esomeprazole with other medicines?
Esomeprazole can affect how some other medicines work, and some medicines affect esomeprazole. Always list everything you take in your consultation, including herbal remedies.
| Medicine | What it means |
| Nelfinavir, rilpivirine tablets | Must not be taken with esomeprazole |
| Clopidogrel | Esomeprazole can reduce how well clopidogrel works, so taking them together should be avoided |
| Atazanavir | Not recommended with esomeprazole |
| Saquinavir | Esomeprazole may raise saquinavir levels, so your HIV specialist should check |
| Warfarin, phenytoin, diazepam, citalopram, tacrolimus, cilostazol, digoxin, high-dose methotrexate | Esomeprazole can change the levels of these medicines, so extra monitoring or a dose change may be needed |
| Ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, erlotinib | Less stomach acid means these may be absorbed less well |
| Rifampicin, St John’s wort | May lower esomeprazole levels and make it less effective |
| Clarithromycin, voriconazole | Raise esomeprazole levels. Usually no dose change is needed |
Can I take esomeprazole and Buscopan together?
They work in different ways: esomeprazole reduces stomach acid, while Buscopan relieves cramping in the gut. They can usually be taken together, but check with our pharmacist or your GP first.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Esomeprazole should not be used while breastfeeding. This follows the manufacturer’s information; speak to our prescriber or your GP about alternatives. Esomeprazole is not usually recommended in pregnancy because there is limited information about its use. If you need an acid-reducing medicine, a doctor may suggest omeprazole, which has more safety information.
Read the leaflet before you start treatment. The leaflet in your pack is the version for the product you receive.
- Esomeprazole 20mg leaflet (PDF)
- Esomeprazole 40mg leaflet (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
You can take esomeprazole with or without food. Most people take it once a day in the morning. Taking it at the same time each day helps you remember.
Yes, alcohol does not stop esomeprazole working. However, alcohol increases stomach acid and can irritate your stomach, which may make reflux symptoms worse.
No, esomeprazole does not affect combined or progestogen-only pills. It may make the emergency contraceptive ellaOne less effective, so tell the pharmacist if you need emergency contraception.
Yes. An antacid or alginate such as Gaviscon can be taken alongside esomeprazole if you need quick relief while esomeprazole starts to work. Antacids can affect how some other medicines are absorbed, and Gaviscon leaflets advise not taking it within 2 hours of other medicines, so check the leaflet for your product. If you still need an antacid regularly after 4 weeks of esomeprazole, speak to our prescriber
Not simply. Esomeprazole is a purified form of omeprazole and works in the same way. At standard doses, PPIs work similarly well for most people with reflux, although some people respond better to one than another.
Usually not. For reflux, esomeprazole is taken once a day, and the highest usual dose is 40mg once a day. Twice-daily doses are only used when a doctor prescribes them for specific conditions, such as for one week alongside antibiotics to clear a Helicobacter pylori infection. Never take an extra dose on your own.
Yes, a prescriber can switch you from omeprazole to esomeprazole if omeprazole has not worked well for you or has caused side effects. They work in the same way, so you should stop omeprazole when you start esomeprazole and not take both. Our prescriber will choose a suitable dose.
It can. Constipation is a common side effect, affecting up to 1 in 10 people. Drinking plenty of water and eating more fibre can help. Speak to our pharmacist if it lasts or troubles you.
Weight gain is not listed as a side effect of esomeprazole. Swollen feet or ankles from fluid build-up is an uncommon side effect: speak to our prescriber or your GP if you notice this or sudden weight gain.
There is no proven link. Some research has suggested a small increase in the risk of stomach cancer with long-term PPI use, but this has not been shown to be caused by the medicine. Esomeprazole can hide the symptoms of stomach cancer, which is why new or changing symptoms should be checked by a doctor, and long-term use should be reviewed regularly.
Give it up to 4 weeks for the full effect. If your symptoms have not improved by then, or they come back as soon as you stop, speak to our prescriber or your GP: you may need tests such as a gastroscopy, or a different treatment.
Written and clinically reviewed by our pharmacists
Esomeprazole Reviews
Product rated 5/5
Did the job of reducing my heartburn quickly.
By Alison SCustomer reviews reflect individual experiences and are not medical advice.
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