Nexium Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant 14 Tablets - Esomeprazole

Always take this medicine exactly as described in the Patient Information Leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist have told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

How much to take

• The recommended dose is one tablet a day.
• Do not take more than this recommended dose of one tablet (20 mg) a day, even if you don’t feel an improvement immediately.
• You may need to take the tablets for 2 or 3 days in a row before your reflux symptoms (for example, heartburn and acid regurgitation) get better.
• The treatment length is up to 14 days.
• When your reflux symptoms have completely gone you should stop taking this medicine.
• If your reflux symptoms get worse or do not improve after taking this medicine for 14 days in a row, you should consult a doctor.

If you have persistent or longstanding, frequently recurring symptoms even after treatment with this medicine, you should contact your doctor.

Taking this medicine

• You can take your tablet at any time of the day either with food or on an empty stomach.
• Swallow your tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the tablet. This is because the tablet contains coated pellets, which stop the medicine from being broken down by the acid in your stomach. It is important not to damage the pellets.

Alternative method of taking this medicine

• Put the tablet in a glass of still (non-fizzy) water. Do not use any other liquids.
• Stir until the tablet breaks up (the mixture will not be clear) then drink the mixture straight away or within 30 minutes. Always stir the mixture just before drinking it.
• To make sure that you have drunk all of the medicine, rinse the glass very well with half a glass of water and drink it. The solid pieces contain the medicine — do not chew or crush them.

The active substance is esomeprazole. Each tablet contains 20 mg esomeprazole (as magnesium trihydrate).

The other ingredient(s) are glycerol monostearate 40-55, hyprolose, hypromellose, iron oxide (reddish-brown) (E 172), iron oxide (yellow) (E 172), magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid ethylacrylate copolymer (I:I) dispersion 30 per cent, cellulose microcrystalline, synthetic paraffin, macrogol 6000, polysorbate 80, crospovidone (Type A), sodium stearyl fumarate, sugar spheres (sucrose), talc, titanium dioxide (E 171) and triethyl citrate.

Adverse reactions and contraindications

Headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea are among those adverse reactions that have been most commonly reported.

Nexium Control should not be taken if you are allergic to this medicine or any proton pump inhibitors or any of the ingredients in this medicine. Do not take Nexium Control if you are taking medicine containing nelfinavar.

For a full list of possible side effects, please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet.

Other Medicines and Nexium Control

Do not take Nexium Control if you are taking medicines containing:

• Nelfinavir, clopidogrel
• Any other medicines that limit the amount of stomach acid produced

You may take Nexium Control with antacids if needed.

For a full list of possible interactions please refer to the Patient Information Leaflet.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

As a precautionary measure, you should preferably avoid the use of Nexium Control during pregnancy. You should not use this medicine during breast-feeding.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Nexium Control has a low likelihood of affecting your ability to drive or use machines. However, side effects such as dizziness and visual disturbances may uncommonly occur. If affected, you should not drive or use machines.

Warning Symptoms

Rarely, more serious medical problems may cause heartburn. Medical advice should be sought if symptoms do not improve after 14 consecutive days of treatment or if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pains with light-headedness, sweating, dizziness or shoulder pain with shortness of breath
• Pass black stools
• Weight loss for no apparent reason
• Pain or other problems swallowing
• Pain or signs of indigestion such as nausea or bloated feeling after eating
• You are over 55 and have new or recently changed reflux symptoms