Do not take [product name] if
- you are allergic (hypersensitive) to esomeprazole or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6: Further information).
- you are allergic to other proton pump inhibitor medicines.
- you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used to treat HIV).
Do not take [product name] if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking [product name].
Take special care with [product name]
Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking [product name] if:
- you have severe liver problems.
- you have severe kidney problems.
Taking a proton pump inhibitor like [product name], especially over a period of more than one year, may slightly increase your risk of fracture in the hip, wrist or spine. Tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis).
[product name] may hide the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if any of the following happen to you before you start taking [product name] or while you are taking it, talk to your doctor straight away, if:
- 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 [product name] “on demand” you should contact your doctor if your symptoms continue or change in character.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This is because [product name] can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on [product name].
Do not take [product name] 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 [product name].
- Medicines that are used to thin your blood, such as warfarin. Your doctor may need to monitor you when you start or stop taking [product name].
- Cisapride (used for indigestion and heartburn).
- Clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clots (thrombi)).
If your doctor has prescribed you the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin as well as [product name] to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, it is very important that you tell your doctor about any other medicines you are taking.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Before taking [product name] tell your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. Your doctor will decide whether you can take [product name] during this time.
It is not known if esomeprazole passes into breast milk. Therefore, you should not take [product name] if you are breast-feeding.
Taking [product name] with food and drink
You can take your tablets with food or on an empty stomach.
Driving and using machines
[product name] is not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any tools or machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of [product name]
[product name] gastro-resistant tablets contain sucrose and lactose, which are types of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.