Do not take Esomeprazol:
- if you are allergic to esomeprazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6).
- if you are allergic to other proton pump inhibitor medicines (e.g. pantoprazole, lanzoprazole, rabeprazole, omeprazole).
- if you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used to treat HIV).
Do not take Esomeprazol if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Esomeprazol.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Esomeprazol:
- if you have severe liver problems.
- if you have severe kidney problems.
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- If you have reduced body stores or risk factors for reduced vitamin B12 absorption and receive Esomeprazol long-term treatment. As with all acid reducing agents, Esomeprazol may lead to a reduced absorption of vitamin B12
Esomeprazol may hide the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if any of the following happen to you before you start taking Esomeprazol or while you are taking them, talk to your doctor straight away:
- You lose a lot of weight for no reason and have problems swallowing.
- You get stomach pain or indigestion.
- You begin to vomit food or blood.
- You pass black stools (blood-stained faeces).
If you have been prescribed Esomeprazol “on demand” you should contact your doctor if your symptoms continue or change in character.
Other medicines and Esomeprazol
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription. This is because Esomeprazol can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Esomeprazol.
Do not take Esomeprazol if you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used to treat HIV). Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Atazanavir (used to treat HIV).
- Ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole (used to treat infections caused by a fungus).
- Citalopram, imipramine or clomipramine (used to treat depression).
- Diazepam (used to treat anxiety, relax muscles or in epilepsy).
- Phenytoin (used in epilepsy). If you are taking phenytoin, your doctor will need to monitor you when you start or stop taking Esomeprazol.
- Medicines that are used to thin your blood, such as warfarin. Your doctor may need to monitor you when you start or stop taking Esomeprazol.
- Cisapride (used for indigestion and heartburn).
- Digoxin (used for heart problems).
- Rifampicin (used for treatment of tuberculosis).
- St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) (used to treat depression).
If your doctor has prescribed the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin as well as Esomeprazol to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, it is very important that you tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking.
Esomeprazol with food and drink
You can take your tablets with food or on an empty stomach.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. Your doctor will decide whether you can take Esomeprazol during this time.
It is not known if Esomeprazol passes into breast milk. Therefore, you should not take Esomeprazol if you are breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
Esomeprazol is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.
Esomeprazol contains Sucrose
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.