Nexium vs Prilosec | Side Effects of Heartburn Medication

Heartburn is something that people expect after they have had a sumptuous dinner. Others have learned to anticipate it in the wake of certain meals. According to the American College of Gastroenterology, more than 60 million Americans suffer from heartburn on a monthly basis, and 15 million suffer from it on a daily basis.

Taking over-the-counter pain relievers has become the norm for men seeking respite from their discomfort. However, recent research found that one commonly used heartburn medicine may significantly increase your chance of developing dementia.

Proton pump inhibitors like Protonix, Prilosec, and Nexium might increase your risk of dementia. We will discuss this in detail here and for further details you can visit thelawadvisory.com. Let’s shed some light on the Nexium vs Prilosec comparison.

Research published in JAMA Neurology in 2016 examined whether there was any relationship between the start of dementia and PPIs, often used to treat heartburn, GERD, and peptic ulcers (over-the-counter), which was published in the journal JAMA Neurology. A total of 73,679 people aged 75 or above who were confirmed to be free of dementia were studied by a team of researchers. When it came to PPIs, the researchers looked at those who had taken them for at least three months in a row over the course of an 18-month period, such as those who had taken omeprazole, esomeprazole, or pantoprazole (marketed under the names Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix).

Participants in the study were followed up after eight years to see how many had shown signs of cognitive deterioration. Participants who regularly used heartburn medication had a 44% higher risk of dementia than those who did not.

PPI use is associated with an increased risk for males, although those who only take them on an infrequent basis are at a significantly lower risk overall. Although the study found a statistical relationship between heartburn medication and dementia, the authors noted that more research was required to show a link beyond the statistical correlation.

Why they’re prescribed

PPIs, such as Prilosec and Nexium, are used to treat a variety of disorders linked to stomach acid, such as:

  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
  • stomach and duodenal ulcers
  • heartburn
  • GERD
  • Esophagitis

What’s the difference between them?

You might be here to get some information on Nexium vs Prilosec. Well, Esomeprazole (Nexium) and Omeprazole (Prilosec) are similar medications. However, there are minor variances in their chemical compositions.

Prilosec has two isomers of the omeprazole medicine, whereas Nexium contains just one isomer of the drug.

Molecules that have the same constituents but are organized in a different manner are referred to as isomers. To put it another way, both omeprazole and esomeprazole are composed of identical building blocks, but they’re assembled in a distinctive manner.

Despite their seemingly slight changes, isomers may have a significant impact on how medications perform.

Your body processes Nexium’s Isomer more slowly than Prilosec’s Isomer, as an example. Taking esomeprazole for a longer length of time implies that your bloodstream has a larger concentration of the medicine in it.

Additionally, it may provide relief from your problems more quickly than omeprazole. There may be fewer medication interactions with esomeprazole since it is broken down differently by the liver than omeprazole.

Side effects

PPIs have few negative effects for the vast majority of patients. Rarely, persons may have the following experiences:

  • diarrhea
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting

Esomeprazole is more likely to cause these adverse effects than omeprazole.

Both of these PPIs are also thought to raise the risk of:

  • increasing the chance of postmenopausal women developing spine and wrist fractures, particularly if the drugs are used for a year or longer or at larger dosages.
  • colonic bacterial infection, particularly after hospitalization
  • pneumonia
  • dietary deficiencies, including deficiency of vitamin B-12 and magnesium

Study in 2017 confirmed that PPI use does not raise the risk of dementia, despite a previous suggestion of a probable relationship in 2016.

When patients quit using PPIs, they often notice an increase in acid production. However, it’s not clear why this occurs.

To treat most stomach acid problems, you should take PPIs for no more than 4 to 8 weeks, unless your doctor recommends a longer period of treatment for you.

You should progressively decrease the dosage of your medicine towards the conclusion of the prescribed treatment period with the help of your doctor.

Warnings and interactions

Consult your physician before taking any medicine to learn about the potential side effects and possible drug interactions.

Risk factors

  • If you are breastfeeding
  • If you are of Asian descent
  • If you are pregnant or you plan to become pregnant
  • If you have had low magnesium levels
  • If you have liver disease

Is Prilosec or Nexium more effective?

Prilosec and other PPIs were tested in studies on patients with GERD symptoms and shown to be inferior in terms of acid control to Nexium, which was found to be superior. Prilosec and other PPIs did not relieve symptoms as quickly for people treated with Nexium in another research. Both Nexium and Prilosec are widely prescribed, despite the fact that Prilosec may be more effective.

The most effective drug is the one that has the fewest adverse effects for you. The optimal medication for you will be determined by your symptoms, medical condition, and any other medications you are already taking that may interfere with Nexium or Prilosec.

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William Woodall

Hi, My name is William Woodall, and I am a person who is determined to make the world a better place. I like to be around people and enjoy adventure and challenges.
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