Nexium Side Effects

Generic name: esomeprazole

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 19, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Nexium Side Effects associated with esomeprazole. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Nexium.

Applies to esomeprazole: oral capsule delayed release.

Other dosage forms:

• oral capsule delayed release, oral packet, oral tablet delayed release
• intravenous powder for solution

Common side effects of Nexium

Some side effects of esomeprazole may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• difficulty having a bowel movement
• dry mouth
• passing gas

Rare

• back pain
• change in taste
• changes in vision
• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
• hearing loss
• hiccup

Incidence not known

• hair loss or thinning of the hair
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males

Serious side effects of Nexium

Along with its needed effects, esomeprazole (the active ingredient contained in Nexium) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking esomeprazole:

Rare

• bloody, black, or tarry stools
• chest pain or tightness
• cough
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• excess air or gas in the stomach
• fast, slow, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
• pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• skin rash, hives, or itching
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Incidence not known

• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• chills
• coma
• confusion
• dark urine
• diarrhea
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• headache
• high fever
• increased thirst
• joint or muscle pain
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite
• mood or mental changes
• muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
• muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
• numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
• nausea
• painful or difficult urination
• red irritated eyes
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• seizures
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen glands
• trembling
• trouble breathing
• unexplained bleeding or bruising
• vomiting
• watery and severe diarrhea, which may also be bloody
• yellow eyes or skin

For healthcare professionals

Applies to esomeprazole: intravenous powder for injection, oral delayed release capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral powder for reconstitution delayed release.

General

The most frequently occurring adverse reactions were headache and diarrhea.

The most frequently reported adverse reactions for patients who received triple therapy for 10 days were diarrhea, taste perversion, and abdominal pain.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 10.9%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, somnolence, taste disturbance/perversion, vertigo
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paresthesia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic encephalopathy
• Frequency not reported: Hypertonia, hypoesthesia, migraine/aggravated migraine, parosmia, taste loss, tremor^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Flatulence (up to 10.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, benign fundic gland polyps, constipation/constipation aggravated, diarrhea, dry mouth, duodenal ulcer hemorrhage, epigastric pain/aggravated epigastric pain, gastritis/aggravated gastritis, nausea/aggravated nausea, regurgitation, tooth disorder, vomiting/aggravated vomiting
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis, stomatitis
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Microscopic colitis
• Frequency not reported: Aggravated acid-related symptoms, Barrett's esophagus, benign polyps or nodules, bowel irregularity, duodenitis, dyspepsia, dysphagia, dysplasia GI, enlarged abdomen, eructation, esophagitis, esophageal disorder, esophageal stricture, esophageal ulceration, esophageal varices, frequent stools, gastric ulcer, gastroenteritis, GI hemorrhage, GI symptoms not otherwise specified, hernia, hiccup, melena, mouth disorder, mucosal discoloration, pharynx disorder, rebound hypersecretion, rectal disorder, tongue disorder, tongue edema, ulcerative stomatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea, fundic gland polyps, hemorrhagic necrotic gastritis (in children), pancreatitis^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough, respiratory infection, sinusitis, tachypnea (in pediatrics)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Epistaxis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Bronchospasm
• Frequency not reported: Asthma aggravated, dyspnea, larynx edema, pharyngitis, rhinitis^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Accident or injury, fever/pyrexia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Malaise
• Frequency not reported: Asthenia, earache, facial edema, fatigue, leg edema, otitis media, pain, rigors, tinnitus^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dermatitis, rash, urticaria
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Alopecia, increased sweating/hyperhidrosis, photosensitivity
• Very rare (less than 0.01): Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)/ fatal TEN
• Frequency not reported: Acne, erythema, pruritus ani, rash erythematous, rash maculo-papular, skin inflammation, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE)
• Postmarketing reports: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension/aggravated hypertension
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral edema
• Frequency not reported: Chest pain, flushing, generalized edema/swelling/inflammation, hot flush, hypertension, irregular heartbeat, phlebitis, substernal chest pain, superficial phlebitis, tachycardia, thrombophlebitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fracture of the hip, wrist or spine
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Arthralgia, myalgia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Muscular weakness
• Frequency not reported: Arthritis aggravated, arthropathy, cramps, fibromyalgia syndrome, hernia, hyperuricemia/increased uric acid, polymyalgia rheumatica
• Postmarketing reports: Bone fracture^[Ref]

An increased risk of hip fracture has been reported in a cohort study. The risk was significantly increased among patients prescribed long-term high PPIs.^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased serum gastrin
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Gynecomastia
• Frequency not reported: Decreased/increased thyroxine, goiter, increased thyroid stimulating hormone^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Administration/injection site reactions
• Postmarketing reports: Tissue inflammatory reaction^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Viral infection
• Frequency not reported: Flu-like disorder, fungal infection^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): ALT increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased liver enzymes
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hepatitis with/without jaundice
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic failure
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal hepatic function, AST increased, bilirubinemia, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased total bilirubin^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blurred vision
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Visual accommodation disorder/disturbances, visual field defect
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal vision, conjunctivitis
• Postmarketing reports: Irreversible visual impairment, loss of vision^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Insomnia, irritability
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Agitation, confusion, depression/aggravated depression
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Aggression, hallucinations
• Frequency not reported: Apathy, nervousness, sleep disorder^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Agranulocytosis, pancytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Anemia, anemia hypochromic, cervical lymphadenopathy, decreased/increased hemoglobin, decreased/increased platelets, decreased/increased white blood cell count, leukocytosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hyponatremia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hypomagnesemia with or without hypocalcemia and/or hypokalemia, severe hypomagnesemia
• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, decreased/increased potassium, increased sodium, increased appetite, vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency, thirst, weight decrease/increase^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylactic reaction/shock, angioedema, hypersensitivity reactions
• Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Renal

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Interstitial nephritis with/without renal failure
• Frequency not reported: Glycosuria
• Postmarketing reports: Acute interstitial nephritis, impaired renal function, increased creatinine, nephrosis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal urine, albuminuria, cystitis, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, genital moniliasis, hematuria, impotence, menstrual disorder, micturition frequency, moniliasis, polyuria, vaginitis^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• Nexium vs Prilosec: What's the difference between them?

Further information

Nexium side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer