Emozact (Esomeprazole)

Dosage form:

Enteric coated capsules 20, 40 mg

What is Emozact (esomeprazole) used for?

• It is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; acid reflux).
• It is used to treat or prevent GI (gastrointestinal) ulcers caused by infection.
• It is used to treat or prevent ulcers of the swallowing tube (esophagus).
• It is used to treat syndromes caused by lots of stomach acid.
• It is used to treat or prevent NSAID-associated gastric ulcers in patients with a history of ulcers.
• It is used to treat heartburn.
• It is used to lower the chance of bleeding ulcers after a certain procedure (endoscopy).
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.

Important notes before taking Emozact (esomeprazole):

• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have an allergy to esomeprazole or any other part of this drug.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of these drugs: Atazanavir, clopidogrel, nelfinavir, rifampin, rilpivirine, or St. John’s wort.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of these health problems: Black or bloody stools; heartburn with light-headedness, sweating, or dizziness; chest pain; shoulder pain with shortness of breath; pain that spreads to the arms, neck, or shoulders; light-headedness; sweating a lot; throwing up blood; or trouble or pain swallowing food.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

Important notes while taking Emozact (esomeprazole):

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Use care if you have risks for soft, brittle bones (osteoporosis). Some of these risks include drinking alcohol, smoking, taking steroids, taking drugs to treat seizures, or having family members with osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about your risks of osteoporosis. 
• This drug may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take this drug.
• This drug may raise the chance of hip, spine, and wrist fractures in people with weak bones (osteoporosis). The chance may be higher if you take this drug in high doses or for longer than a year, or if you are older than 50 years old.
• Rarely, low magnesium levels have happened in people taking drugs like this one for at least 3 months. Most of the time, this happened after 1 year of treatment. You will need to have blood work if you take this drug for a long time or with certain other drugs.
• Long-term treatment (for instance longer than 3 years) with drugs like this one has rarely caused low vitamin B-12 levels. Talk with the doctor.
• Lupus has happened with this drug, as well as lupus that has gotten worse in people who already have it. Tell your doctor if you have lupus. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of lupus like a rash on the cheeks or other body parts, sunburn easy, muscle or joint pain, chest pain or shortness of breath, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.

Emozact (esomeprazole) side effects:

Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Headache; 
• Feeling sleepy; 
• Stomach pain or diarrhea; 
• Constipation; 
• Gas; 
• Dry mouth; 
• Upset stomach; 

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses. 

How do I store and/or throw out this drug? 

• Store at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
• Protect from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs.