Nexium Special Precautions

In the presence of any alarm symptom (e.g. significant unintentional weight loss, recurrent vomiting, dysphagia, haematemesis or melaena) and when gastric ulcer is suspected or present, malignancy should be excluded, as treatment with 'NEXIUM' may alleviate symptoms and delay diagnosis.
Concomitant administration with esomeprazole and drugs such as atazanavir and nelfinavir is not recommended (see Interactions).
Results from studies in healthy subjects have shown a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic interaction between clopidogrel (300 mg loading dose/75 mg daily maintenance dose) and esomeprazole (40 mg p.o. daily) resulting in decreased exposure to the active metabolite of clopidogrel by an average of 40%, and resulting in decreased maximum inhibition of (ADP induced) platelet aggregation by an average of 14%. Based on these data, concomitant use of esomeprazole and clopidogrel should be avoided. (See also Interactions.)
Some published observational studies suggest that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy may be associated with a small increased risk for osteoporosis related fractures. However, in other similar observational studies no such increased risk was found.
In AstraZeneca's randomized, double-blind and controlled clinical studies on omeprazole and esomeprazole (including two open long-term studies of up to more than 12 years) there are no indications that PPIs are associated with osteoporotic fractures.
Although a causal relationship between omeprazole/esomeprazole and osteoporotic fractures has not been established, patients at risk for developing osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures are advised to have appropriate clinical monitoring in accordance with current clinical guidelines for these conditions.
Tablet: Patients on long-term treatment (particularly those treated for more than a year) should be kept under regular surveillance.
Patients on on-demand treatment should be instructed to contact their physician if their symptoms change in character. When prescribing esomeprazole for on demand therapy, the implications for interactions with other pharmaceuticals, due to fluctuating plasma concentrations of esomeprazole should be considered (see Interactions).
When prescribing esomeprazole for eradication of Helicobacter pylori possible drug interactions for all components in the triple therapy should be considered. Clarithromycin is a potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 and hence contraindications and interactions for clarithromycin should be considered when the triple therapy is used in patients concurrently taking other drugs metabolised via CYP3A4 such as cisapride.
This medicinal product contains sucrose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.
Treatment with proton pump inhibitors may lead to slightly increased risk of gastrointestinal infections such as Salmonella and Campylobacter (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Sodium content: Tablet: This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially sodium free.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: NEXIUM is not likely to affect the ability to drive or use machines.