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Nexium has come as a wonderful relief in treating heartburn in acid reflux disorders. Acids are released in the stomach for digestion of food. When some of this acid persistently flows back into the food tube, the esophagus, its lining get damaged leading to a condition known as erosive esophagitis. You suffer from persistent heartburn. Changing diets also do not help. Just one pill a day of Nexium can relieve you of the pain and agony of severe and continuous heartburn.

Nexium generically is esomeprazole magnesium and is available as a Delayed- Release capsule for oral administration. If you are having typical heartburn symptoms on 2 or more days per week in spite of treatment and diet change, you need to consult a doctor to find out whether you are suffering from acid reflux disease. Only a Doctor can confirm whether the lining of your esophagus has been damaged due to back flow of stomach acids in this food pipe for frequent relaxes of the lower esophageal sphincter. If this lining has been eroded, you have the condition known as erosive esophagitis and your heartburn is due to this cause.

Nexium administration can heal these erosions in the esophagus in 4 to 8 weeks. However, results may vary depending on your age and extent of damage. Nexium therapy is often associated with minor side effects. Over 8500 patients in the United States and over 6500 patients in Europe and Canada underwent clinical trials to ascertain the safety of Nexium. Near about 3000 patients were studied in long-term trials. The tolerance, both in short-term and long-term trials were found to be fairly satisfactory. Nexium was administered in various doses in patients with confirmed erosive esophagitis. For all dosage levels, some headache (+/- 1%) was reported. The intensity varied according to the level of the dose. Very mild diarrhea was also noticed but it had no relation with dosage level. Some nausea, flatulence, abdominal pain and dry mouth symptoms were reported in the trials. However, similar symptoms also appear in patients on omeprazole medication for stomach disorders.

Marketed by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and is well indicated for the treatment of heartburn in erosive esophagitis and other symptoms associated with GERD. It suppresses gastric acid secretion in the stomach by blocking the final step in acid production. Nexium can also be prescribed with antibiotics for eradication of H.Pylori that reduces the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence. A very recent study conducted with more than 1000 patients with erosive esophagitis show Nexium (esomeprazole) to be more effective in healing the disorder than lansoprazole (Prevacid). Results of this study has been published in July, 2006 issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. According to Dr. Kenneth DeVault, MD, Director of Gastrointestinal Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, and the lead study investigator, "Esomeprazole therapy was able to control both mucosal damage and reflux symptoms" in healing the erosions in the esophagus.

Disclaimer - The information presented here should not be interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk to a qualified professional for more information about Nexium.