Nexium Capsules Dosage

Generic name: esomeprazole magnesium
Dosage form: capsule, delayed release; granule, delayed release

See also:

Nexium injection

Overview Side Effects Dosage Interactions For Professionals More...

This dosage information does not include all the information needed to use Nexium Capsules safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for Nexium Capsules.

The information at Drugs.com is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist.

NEXIUM is supplied as delayed-release capsules for oral administration or in packets for preparation of delayed-release oral suspensions. The recommended dosages are outlined in Table 1. NEXIUM should be taken at least one hour before meals.

The duration of proton pump inhibitor administration should be based on available safety and efficacy data specific to the defined indication and dosing frequency, as described in the prescribing information, and individual patient medical needs. Proton pump inhibitor treatment should only be initiated and continued if the benefits outweigh the risks of treatment.

Table 1: Recommended Dosage Schedule of NEXIUM
* [See Clinical Studies (14.1). ]The majority of patients are healed within 4 to 8 weeks. For patients who do not heal after 4 to 8 weeks, an additional 4 to 8 weeks of treatment may be considered. † Controlled studies did not extend beyond six months. ‡ If symptoms do not resolve completely after 4 weeks, an additional 4 weeks of treatment may be considered. § Doses over 1 mg/kg/day have not been studied. ¶ Doses over 1.33 mg/kg/day have not been studied. # The dosage of NEXIUM in patients with pathological hypersecretory conditions varies with the individual patient. Dosage regimens should be adjusted to individual patient needs. Þ Doses up to 240 mg daily have been administered [see Drug Interactions (7)].
Indication	Dose	Frequency
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Healing of Erosive Esophagitis	20 mg or 40 mg	Once Daily for 4 to 8 Weeks*
Maintenance of Healing of Erosive Esophagitis	20 mg	Once Daily†
Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease	20 mg	Once Daily for 4 Weeks‡
Pediatric GERD 12 to 17 Year Olds
Short-term Treatment of GERD	20 mg or 40 mg	Once Daily for up to 8 Weeks
1 to 11 Year Olds§
Short-term Treatment of Symptomatic GERD	10 mg	Once Daily for up to 8 Weeks
Healing of Erosive Esophagitis
weight < 20 kg	10 mg	Once Daily for 8 Weeks
weight ≥ 20 kg	10 mg or 20 mg	Once Daily for 8 Weeks
1 month to < 1 year old¶
Erosive esophagitis due to acid-mediated GERD
weight 3 kg to 5 kg	2.5 mg	Once Daily for up to 6 Weeks
weight > 5 kg to 7.5 kg	5 mg	Once Daily for up to 6 Weeks
weight >7.5 kg to 12 kg	10 mg	Once Daily for up to 6 Weeks
Risk Reduction of NSAID-Associated Gastric Ulcer	20 mg or 40 mg	Once Daily for up to 6 months†
H. pylori Eradication to Reduce the Risk of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence
Triple Therapy:
NEXIUM	40 mg	Once Daily for 10 Days
Amoxicillin	1000 mg	Twice Daily for 10 Days
Clarithromycin	500 mg	Twice Daily for 10 Days
Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions Including Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome	40 mg#	Þ Twice Daily

Please refer to amoxicillin and clarithromycin prescribing information for Contraindications, Warnings, and dosing in elderly and renally-impaired patients.

Special Populations

Hepatic Insufficiency

In patients with mild to moderate liver impairment (Child Pugh Classes A and B), no dosage adjustment is necessary. For patients with severe liver impairment (Child Pugh Class C), a dose of 20 mg of NEXIUM should not be exceeded [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Directions for use specific to the route and available methods of administration for each of these dosage forms are presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Administration Options

Administration Options (See text following table for additional instructions.)

Dosage Form	Route	Options

Delayed-Release Capsules	Oral	Capsule can be swallowed whole. -or- Capsule can be opened and mixed with applesauce.

Delayed-Release Capsules	Nasogastric Tube	Capsule can be opened and the intact granules emptied into a syringe and delivered through the nasogastric tube.

For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension	Oral	For the 2.5 mg and 5 mg strengths, mix the contents of packet with 5 mL of water, leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken, stir and drink within 30 minutes. For the 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg strengths, mix contents of packet with 15 mL of water, and follow the instructions above.

For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension	Nasogastric or Gastric Tube	For the 2.5 mg and 5 mg strengths, add 5 mL of water to a syringe and then add contents of packet. Shake the syringe; leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken. Shake the syringe and inject through the nasogastric or gastric tube within 30 minutes. For the 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg strengths, add 15 mL of water, and follow the instructions above.

NEXIUM Delayed-Release Capsules

NEXIUM Delayed-Release Capsules should be swallowed whole.

Alternatively, for patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules, one tablespoon of applesauce can be added to an empty bowl and the NEXIUM Delayed-Release Capsule can be opened, and the granules inside the capsule carefully emptied onto the applesauce. The granules should be mixed with the applesauce and then swallowed immediately: do not store for future use. The applesauce used should not be hot and should be soft enough to be swallowed without chewing. The granules should not be chewed or crushed. If the granules/applesauce mixture is not used in its entirety, the remaining mixture should be discarded immediately.

For patients who have a nasogastric tube in place, NEXIUM Delayed-Release Capsules can be opened and the intact granules emptied into a 60 mL catheter tipped syringe and mixed with 50 mL of water. It is important to only use a catheter tipped syringe when administering NEXIUM through a nasogastric tube. Replace the plunger and shake the syringe vigorously for 15 seconds. Hold the syringe with the tip up and check for granules remaining in the tip. Attach the syringe to a nasogastric tube and deliver the contents of the syringe through the nasogastric tube into the stomach. After administering the granules, the nasogastric tube should be flushed with additional water. Do not administer the granules if they have dissolved or disintegrated.

The mixture must be used immediately after preparation.

NEXIUM For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension

NEXIUM For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension should be administered as follows:

Empty the contents of a 2.5 mg or 5 mg packet into a container containing 5 mL of water. For the 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg strengths, the contents of a packet should be emptied into a container containing 15 mL of water.
Stir.
Leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
Stir and drink within 30 minutes.
If any medicine remains after drinking, add more water, stir, and drink immediately.
In cases where there is a need to use two packets, they may be mixed in a similar way by adding twice the required amount of water or follow the mixing instructions provided by your pharmacist or doctor.

For patients who have a nasogastric or gastric tube in place, NEXIUM For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension can be administered as follows:

Add 5 mL of water to a catheter tipped syringe and then add the contents of a 2.5 mg or 5 mg NEXIUM packet. For the 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg strengths, the volume of water in the syringe should be 15 mL. It is important to only use a catheter tipped syringe when administering NEXIUM through a nasogastric tube or gastric tube.
Immediately shake the syringe and leave 2 to 3 minutes to thicken.
Shake the syringe and inject through the nasogastric or gastric tube, French size 6 or larger, into the stomach within 30 minutes.
Refill the syringe with an equal amount of water (5 mL or 15 mL).
Shake and flush any remaining contents from the nasogastric or gastric tube into the stomach.