What happens if nexium doesnt work

Proton pumps are enzymes found in the parietal cells of your stomach. They make hydrochloric acid, the main ingredient of stomach acid.

Your body needs stomach acid for digestion. This causes the burning feeling in your chest and throat associated with GERD. They work best when you take them an hour to 30 minutes before a meal. PPIs have been in use since PPIs like Nexium and Prilosec are used to treat gastric acid-related conditions, including:.

Omeprazole Prilosec and esomeprazole Nexium are similar drugs. However, there are minor differences in their chemical makeup. Isomer is a term for a molecule that includes the same chemicals, but is arranged in a different way.

So, you could say that omeprazole and esomeprazole are made of the same building blocks, but put together differently. While the differences in isomers might seem minor, they can result in differences in how drugs work. This means that levels of the drug are higher in your bloodstream, and that esomeprazole may decrease acid production for a longer period of time. It may also work slightly faster to treat your symptoms compared to omeprazole. Esomeprazole is also broken down differently by your liver, so it may lead to fewer drug interactions than omeprazole.

Some studies indicate that the differences between omeprazole and esomeprazole may offer some advantages to people with certain conditions. An older study from found that esomeprazole provided more effective control of GERD than omeprazole at the same doses. According to a later study in , esomeprazole offered faster relief than omeprazole in the first week of use. After one week, symptom relief was similar. Symptoms include:. You doctor will most likely start your treatment with OTC antacids and either OTC or prescription H2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors.

A hiatal hernia is the result of weakened muscle tissue surrounding the esophageal sphincter allowing part of the stomach to bulge up through the diaphragm. To relieve symptoms of heartburn, your doctor may recommend antacids, proton pump inhibitors, or H2 receptor blockers. The medical term for this is metaplasia. Persistent heartburn is a symptom of GERD.

Your doctor will most likely recommend prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors. Other recommendations may include:. Along with heartburn, the symptoms of esophageal cancer include:. Treatment options may include:.

Heartburn may be a symptom of a serious condition. Digestive Health. Rene Wisely. April 03, AM. Making lifestyle changes Before such measures, Rubenstein stresses the lifestyle changes that can help symptoms.

Reflux or GERD. Yes, juggling! Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at If not used carefully, the 'purple pill' can cause dangerous side-effects and mask serious disease.

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