Esomeprazole
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Esomeprazole during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Esomeprazole
(ess-oh-meh-prah-zahl)
Description: Esomeprazole for pets
This medicine lowers stomach acid. It is used as an antacid.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Nexium®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Animal-specific products:
- None.
- Human products:
- delayed-release capsules in 20 mg, 24.65 mg, 40 mg, and 49.3 mg
- delayed-release tablets in 20 mg
- packets used to make an oral liquid (oral suspension) in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg
Key Information
- This medicine is used to help treat stomach sores (ulcers) or to help stop them from happening. It is most often used for a short time.
- It usually works best if it is given before the first meal of the day.
- Do not break or crush the capsules unless you were specifically told to do so. If you need a different form of the medicine, speak with your veterinarian or pharmacist.
How is this medication useful?
Esomeprazole for pets is used to help prevent stomach ulcers and/or help treat them.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well esomeprazole for pets works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect esomeprazole. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment in the past for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using esomeprazole.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine problems your animal has had, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, loose stool (diarrhea), itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
This medicine should begin to have an effect within 1 to 2 days. You usually will not be able to see the effect just by looking at your animal. Your veterinarian may need to do additional tests to check whether it is working as intended.
The effect does not last long. It stops working within 24 hours. However, the helpful results may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working normally.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any concerns that apply to your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal has any of these conditions, talk to your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in patients:
- Animals that have liver or kidney disease.
- Animals that are pregnant or nursing.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Side effects that usually are not serious include:
If any of these signs are strong, get worse, or do not go away, contact your veterinarian.
- Dogs, cats, and horses usually handle esomeprazole well. However, it may cause vomiting (this does not occur in horses), reduced appetite (eating less), extra gas, and diarrhea.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
If you see an overdose happen, or you think one may have happened, contact your veterinarian right away.
How should this medication be given?
To make sure esomeprazole works correctly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian directed. Use the prescription label to confirm you are giving it the right way.
- Esomeprazole is usually given about 30 minutes before a meal, most often before the first meal of the day. If your animal throws up or seems unwell after getting the medicine on an empty stomach, try the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If you are using a liquid form, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or syringes.
- Do not crush the capsules unless your veterinarian or pharmacist has told you to.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas that can make dosing easier and reduce stress for you and your animal.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you know how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. If you want to stop the medicine, talk with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If a dose is missed, skip it and give the next dose at the normal scheduled time. Do not give two doses at once and do not give an extra dose.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved container used to organize doses (for example, a pill minder). Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist made a custom version (a compounded product) for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date that come with that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. Wash your hands after you handle any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink drain.
- If your area has a community drug “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash
- put the mixture into a sealed plastic bag to prevent leaks, then place it in the household trash
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of esomeprazole. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about esomeprazole, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”