Secondary Effects of Nexium

Nexium is the brand name for the prescription medication esomeprazole. Despite its effectiveness at alleviating the pain and irritation caused by acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease, Nexium poses a risk for secondary effects, or side effects, in some patients.

Significance

• The most common or significant side effect of Nexium in adults aged 18 and over is headaches, which occur in more than 1 percent of patients, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials published on RxList. In children ages 1 to 17, the most common side effects are diarrhea and headaches, which occur in 2.8 and 1.9 percent of patients, respectively.

Types of Other Side Effects

• Other possible side effects of Nexium include drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, loss of appetite, ringing in your ears, dizziness and depression.

Drug Interactions

• Nexium is not typically prescribed with drugs used to treat HIV, like atazanavir and nelfinavir, because esomeprazole decreases the effectiveness of these drugs, according to RxList.

Risks

• Serious risks associated with the use of Nexium include gastrointestinal bleeding, reduced numbers of red or white blood cells or platelets, serious allergic reactions and the appearance of goiters or benign tumors on your thyroid.

Considerations

• Because Nexium has been shown to cause fetal harm in laboratory animals, doctors rarely prescribe the drug for pregnant women. If you have a history of liver disease, it may not be safe for you to take Nexium, warns the Mayo Clinic.