Nexium

[Pirateghost]

Since so many seem to have Gerd, I assume just as many are probably on some form of drug for it.

I saw a news report a bit ago about Nexium and hip problems. While this news isn't new, it was the first time I saw it. It got me wondering about my knees and other joints/muscles. I did read some reports from other users http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.a ... ame=NEXIUMof similar problems. I have been going to physical therapy for my left knee but it was helping at all. Some nights I couldn't even sleep.

I decided to stop Nexium and see what happens. Two days later, my knee pain is gone. This has been over a month now. Also, while taking Nexium, I always had occasional real bad heartburn attacks that were actually "cured" by getting a burp out. I haven't had heartburn attack like that since going off Nexium.

Spend your money wisely. I don't trust drug companies at all.

[Marietjie]

It got me wondering about

.....
Now you've got us wondering as well.
Thank you for the information re Nexium.
My husband is a RhumatoidArthritis sufferer and is
using Nexium for the last year. The last couple of
months he is complaining about ankle pain, hip pain,
very fast and irregular heartbeats (over 100). He sees
the RA specialist in July and will discuss the side effects
of Nexium with her.

[RipVW]

I've been taking Nexium for a few years, daily. At my last checkup, my doc suggested that I try every other day or even just taking it when I anticipate needing (when I plan on eating spicy foods, for example). Now, this is another reason to cut back or even stop taking it. Thanks!

[time2sleep]

I have GERD and have taken Nexium for 4 years. If I miss a dose in the am I am in serious pain by 10:00 am. I would like to switch to something else, but am sort of scared to try. I don't have hip or joint pain. What else would be the same as Nexium without the side effects? Thanks for the info though.

[Hawthorne]

There are a lot of drugs in this category and people respond diferently to all of them. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have used a drug in this class for many years because the anti-inflammatories do a number on your stomach.

I started with Misiprostol and it worked well for a time. Then I began to have stomach problems so the Rhematologist switched me to another (the name escapes me right now). I had a lot of trouble with side effects from that one. A few years ago I switched again to Prevacid. I am still taking it with no side effects.

The thing is that, like most drugs, there are a number of them available for various conditions. One may cause side effects for one person but not for another. It's a matter of trial and error, if you need any type of drug, to get the one that is effective but has the fewest side effects for any given individual.

What works me might not work for you and visa versa! I may have side effects from a particluar drug and another person may use the same drug with no side effects.

[keaton]

I have been taking Nexium for 3 days and have knee, low back, elbow and calf pain. I am wondering how long this will last or if I should just stop. If this continues, I really can't function.

[twokatmew]

There are a lot of drugs in this category and people respond diferently to all of them. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and have used a drug in this class for many years because the anti-inflammatories do a number on your stomach.

I started with Misiprostol and it worked well for a time. Then I began to have stomach problems so the Rhematologist switched me to another (the name escapes me right now). I had a lot of trouble with side effects from that one. A few years ago I switched again to Prevacid. I am still taking it with no side effects.

I've been taking Prevacid twice a day for several years now. I really need the stuff to control horrendous GERD from having to take Prednisone daily ... and probably from OSA. A friend told me recently that his gastroenterologist is switching him from Prevacid to another drug (can't remember its name, but it's not Nexium), because they're going to stop making Prevacid. I don't know if this is true or not, but I've been doing really well on the Prevacid, and I don't have any side effects that I'm aware of.

[BeanMeScot]

Prilosec is over the counter now. That's what I use. I've never had any issues with it.

[Hawthorne]

twokatmew- I HOPE that Prevacid is not going out! I have had good success with it. I use, as I said for anti-inflammatory stomach problems.

You said you take 2 a day. I just take 1 a day. I take it before breakfast. At what time of day do you take each of your doses? I have been told I can take 2 a day if I need it.

[jdm2857]

Prilosec (omeprazole and Nexium (esomeprazole) are virtually the same drug. They're both proton pump inhibitors that stop the production of stomach acid.

Nexium exists because Prilosec's patent protection expired. AstraZeneca tweaked the molecule a bit and marketed Nexium as "The new purple pill" in order to keep the brand-name sales.

[twokatmew]

Hawthorne, I take one before breakfast and the other before bed. Originally I only took one before bed, but we had to add the second one because I'd have horrible attacks of chest pain and burping yucky stuff, especially at night ... when I should have been sleeping! Even on two, I would occasionally have the same symptoms, but since I started CPAP, none. ... I shouldn't say that too loudly, as these attacks are so rare now that it could be coincidental.

I've been on daily Prednisone since 1975, and I used to drink Maalox & Mylanta right from the bottle.... Then it was Tagamet, Zantac, a few others, and finally the Prevacid which has done wonders. A few months ago my GI doc did an upper endoscopy along with my colonoscopy, and although I still had some inflammation in my stomach, there was no inflammation and no erosions in my esophagus. I've had no ulcers, either. Aside from Prevacid, the best home remedy I've found is to sip cool water and nibble on saltines. It helps with the sour taste ... and that burning stomach pain.

For both our sakes, I hope Prevacid will be around for a long time! BTW, the solutabs gag me, so I have to get the more expensive capsules. Which do you take? And by the way, I just googled Prevacid and checked out the Prevacid web site. There was no mention of it going off the market, but then I didn't do a very thorough search. I see my PCP tomorrow, so I hope I'll remember to ask her about this.

[Hawthorne]

Thanks twokatmew. I don't seem to need 2 right now so will stick to 1 unless I need to increase the dose.

I have always taken the capsules with no problems swallowing them.

I will be seeing my Rheumatologist on Wednesday and will TRY to remember to ask her too. Between the 2 of us we may remember!!

I'm with you! For both our sakes, I hope they are not discontinuing it! It has been the very best one for me too!

[TheDreamer]

I went through a few....but have never tried Nexium.

In Canada, I did Cimetidine, Ranitidine, Famotidine, Nizatidine, and finally landed on Losec (Omprezole). (a train that ran for about 8 years)

Then I moved to the US....and I had to start over again....Cimetidine, Ranitidine, before they would let me back up....and I got put on Prevacid. And, then new job/new insurance....landed me on Omprezole...which is what I'm still on.

AstraZenica seems to be good a tweaking molecules....they tweaked Flonase to make VeraMyst...which is an interesting read, because what I read says that basically they don't know how it works...but have clinical trials saying it seems to. So, you can get Flonase as generic...or pay an arm and a leg because its a non-preferred brand name drug...and there doesn't seem to be any difference in its effectiveness/ineffectiveness on me. Though my PCP gave me VeraMyst when I first talked of congestion on CPAP. Though I've since managed my congestion mostly with sinus rinse and using passive humidification....though I also have some left over flonase from last year....still good until 09/09.

The Dreamer.

[PST]

Add one more satisfied Prevacid customer. I started on two daily capsules but one in the morning has turned out to be enough to prevent GERD and let my esophagus heal.

[jdm2857]

FWIW, Prevacid works the same way as Prilosec and Nexium. They're all proton pump inhibitors.