Esomeprazol para reducir el ácido estomacal

About esomeprazole

Acid is produced naturally in your stomach to help you digest food and to kill germs (bacteria). This acid is irritant so your body produces a natural mucous barrier which protects the lining of your stomach. In people who take painkillers called medicamentos antiinflamatorios no esteroides (AINEs), this barrier can break down, allowing the acid to damage the stomach, causing inflammation, ulcers and other conditions. Other people can have a problem with the muscular band at the top of the stomach that keeps the stomach tightly closed. This may allow the acid to escape and irritate the oesophagus, causing heartburn. This is often referred to as 'reflujo ácido'.

Proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole stop cells in the lining of the stomach from producing too much acid. This helps to prevent ulcers from forming, or assists the healing process where damage has already occurred. By decreasing the amount of acid, they can also help to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux disease, such as heartburn.

Esomeprazole is available on prescription and can be bought from pharmacies and other retail outlets for the relief of reflux symptoms.

Esomeprazole is also used as one part of a treatment to get rid of Helicobacter pylori, una bacteria que se encuentra en el estómago, la cual puede causar úlceras.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking esomeprazole it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Si estás embarazada, intentando tener un bebé o amamantando.

• Si tienes algún problema con el funcionamiento de tu hígado, o con el funcionamiento de tus riñones.

• Si tienes alguno de los siguientes síntomas: dificultad para tragar, pérdida de sangre, pérdida de peso, o si estás vomitando.

• Si alguna vez has tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que esté disponible para comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about esomeprazole and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take esomeprazole exactly as your doctor tells you to. There are different strengths of tablets and capsules available so your doctor will tell you which is right for you. It is common to take just one dose a day, although if you are taking it for either Helicobacter pylori eradication or for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, you will be asked to take two doses a day. Your doctor will tell you which dose is right for you and the directions will also be on the label of the pack to remind you.

• It is important that you don't chew esomeprazole before you swallow. The tablets, capsules and granules (in the sachets) are all manufactured with a special coating which must not be crushed. If you have difficulties swallowing, you can stir the tablets into a glass of water to make swallowing easier. The capsules likewise can be opened up and the contents mixed into water to make swallowing easier. If you make up your doses in this way, make sure that you drink the mixture within 30 minutes of making it. If you have been given sachets, pour the contents of each sachet into 15 ml of water. Stir the liquid and then leave it to thicken for a minute or so before stirring it again. Then swallow the liquid, rinse out the glass with a little more water, and then swallow this water too.

• You can take esomeprazole before or after food.

• If you forget to take a dose at your usual time, you can take it when you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be checked. If you are taking esomeprazole on a long-term basis your doctor will want to review your treatment at least once a year to make sure it is still right for you.

• Algunos alimentos pueden empeorar tus síntomas. Los alimentos y bebidas que se sospecha que causan esto incluyen menta, tomates, chocolate, alimentos picantes, bebidas calientes, café y bebidas alcohólicas. Si parece que un alimento está agravando tus síntomas, intenta evitarlo por un tiempo para ver si tus síntomas mejoran. Además, trata de evitar comer comidas grandes, ya que estas también pueden empeorar tus síntomas.

• Si tienes sobrepeso, ejerce presión adicional sobre tu estómago y fomenta los síntomas del reflujo ácido. Perder algo de peso y seguir una dieta equilibrada y saludable puede ayudarte.

• Fumar aumenta la cantidad de ácido producido por el estómago y puede empeorar sus síntomas. Si usted es fumador, hable con su médico o farmacéutico sobre cómo dejar de fumar.

• Recent studies suggest that there may be a slight increase in the risk of bone fractures when proton pump inhibitors like esomeprazole are taken for longer than a year. If this affects you, your doctor will check that you are taking enough vitamin D and calcium to reduce this risk.

• If you buy any medicines 'over the counter', always check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take alongside your other medicines.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with esomeprazole. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Importante: long-term use of esomeprazole (for at least three months) may lead to low levels of magnesium in your blood. Initial signs this might be happening include feeling tired, dizzy or confused and an irregular heartbeat (palpitations). Let your doctor know if you think this applies to you

Si experimenta otros síntomas que cree que pueden deberse al medicamento, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para obtener más consejos.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.