Esomeprazole (Oral Route) Proper Use – Mayo Clinic

Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take this medicine at least 1 hour before a meal and for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days.

If you are taking this medicine to treat an ulcer caused by an H. pylori infection, take it together with the antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) at the same time of day.

To use the capsule:

• Swallow the capsule whole. Do not crush or chew it.
• If the capsule cannot be swallowed, open it and sprinkle the contents on one tablespoonful of applesauce.
• Swallow the mixture right away. Do not chew or crush the granules.

To use the capsule with a nasogastric (NG) tube:

• Open the capsule and empty the granules into a 60 mL catheter-tipped syringe and mix it with 50 mL of water.
• Shake the syringe well for 15 seconds.
• Inject or pour the mixture into the nasogastric tube.
• Refill the syringe with a small amount of water and shake.
• Flush the tube to rinse all of the medicine into the stomach.

To use the oral suspension:

• Empty the contents of a 2.5 mg or 5 mg packet into a container with 5 mL of water.
• Empty the contents of a 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg packet into a container with 15 mL of water.
• Stir and leave it for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
• Stir well and drink within 30 minutes.
• If any medicine remains after drinking, add more water, stir, and drink immediately.

To use the oral suspension with a nasogastric or gastric tube:

• Add 5 mL of water to a catheter-tipped syringe and add the contents of a 2.5 mg or 5 mg packet.
• Add 15 mL of water to a catheter-tipped syringe and add the contents of a 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg packet.
• Shake the syringe right away and leave it for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
• Shake the syringe again and inject or pour the mixture into the tube within 30 minutes.
• Refill the syringe with 15 mL of water and shake.
• Flush the tube to rinse all of the medicine into the stomach.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (capsules or suspension):
  • To prevent NSAID-associated gastric ulcer:
    • Adults—20 or 40 milligrams (mg) once a day for up to 6 months. Your doctor may adjust your dose if as needed.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat duodenal ulcers with H. pylori infection:
    • Adults—40 milligrams (mg) once a day for 10 days. The dose is usually taken together with amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  •  To treat erosive esophagitis:
    • Adults—20 or 40 milligrams (mg) once a day for 4 to 8 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. To prevent erosive esophagitis from coming back, your doctor may want you to take 20 mg once a day for up to 6 months.
    • Children 12 to 17 years of age—20 or 40 milligrams (mg) once a day for 4 to 8 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 1 to 11 years of age and weighing 20 kilograms (kg) or more—10 or 20 mg once a day for 8 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 1 to 11 years of age and weighing less than 20 kg—10 mg once a day for 8 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 1 month to less than 1 year of age and weighing more than 7.5 kg to 12 kg—10 mg once a day for up to 6 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 1 month to less than 1 year of age and weighing more than 5 kg to 7.5 kg—5 mg once a day for up to 6 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 1 month to less than 1 year of age and weighing 3 kg to 5 kg—2.5 mg once a day for up to 6 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Infants younger than 1 month of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) once a day for 4 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 12 to 17 years of age—20 milligrams (mg) once a day for 4 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children 1 to 11 years of age—10 milligrams (mg) once a day for up to 8 weeks. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children younger than 1 year of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • To treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome:
    • Adults—40 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

• For oral dosage form (delayed-release 24 hour capsules):
  • To treat heartburn:
    • Adults—20 milligrams (mg) once a day for 14 days.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

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