What is the difference between omeprazole and nexium

To learn more:. Just enter your email address to get notified. No thanks, take me back to the site. Our website does not support Internet Explorer. Please use Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge, or email us at hi curistrelief. Shop All. Back to Articles Omeprazole vs. Posted in Heartburn. How are Omeprazole and Esomeprazole Similar? Omeprazole and esomeprazole are both proton-pump inhibitors, and share several similar characteristics: Omeprazole and esomeprazole are both used to treat heartburn and excess release of stomach acid.

Omeprazole and esomeprazole have similar prices. Omeprazole and esomeprazole both can be taken in combination with a quick-acting antacid eg. Omeprazole and esomeprazole both can take some time ranging from several days to weeks to reach full effects and thus they are most beneficial in treating frequent episodes of heartburns. Omeprazole and esomeprazole both last longer than other classes of acid reducer and thus only need to be taken once daily for 14 days.

If you feel the need to use them for more than 14 days, make sure to consult with your doctor first since long-term use can put you at risk for many health issues such as osteoporosis, low magnesium or vitamin B12 levels, and rebound acid secretion where your body starts to create more acid than before after stopping these medications. When this occurs 2 or more days per week, clinically it is referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD.

Esomeprazole and omeprazole are available both as an over-the-counter drug and as a prescription used under the care of a doctor. When taken as an OTC, each is used to treat frequent heartburn. Under the supervision of a doctor, omeprazole and esomeprazole can each be used to treat GERD. In addition to treating similar conditions, omeprazole and esomeprazole have similar chemical structures.

There is evidence that esomeprazole may be more effective at controlling acid, but other studies have not found a significant difference between omeprazole versus esomeprazole. As a result, taking omeprazole or esomeprazole for GERD often comes down to personal choice.

Please discuss with your healthcare provider for more details and about potential side effects for using these medicines to treat GERD. Omeprazole vs Esomeprazole Dosage Both omeprazole and esomeprazole are best taken for frequent episodes of heartburn. Is Esomeprazole Better Than Omeprazole? What is the Difference between Omeprazole vs Prilosec? What is the Difference Between Esomeprazole vs Nexium?

Prilosec: Which Heartburn Medicine is Better? PPIs have been in use since PPIs like Nexium and Prilosec are used to treat gastric acid-related conditions, including:. Omeprazole Prilosec and esomeprazole Nexium are similar drugs. However, there are minor differences in their chemical makeup. Isomer is a term for a molecule that includes the same chemicals, but is arranged in a different way.

So, you could say that omeprazole and esomeprazole are made of the same building blocks, but put together differently. While the differences in isomers might seem minor, they can result in differences in how drugs work. This means that levels of the drug are higher in your bloodstream, and that esomeprazole may decrease acid production for a longer period of time. It may also work slightly faster to treat your symptoms compared to omeprazole.

Esomeprazole is also broken down differently by your liver, so it may lead to fewer drug interactions than omeprazole. Some studies indicate that the differences between omeprazole and esomeprazole may offer some advantages to people with certain conditions. An older study from found that esomeprazole provided more effective control of GERD than omeprazole at the same doses. According to a later study in , esomeprazole offered faster relief than omeprazole in the first week of use.

After one week, symptom relief was similar. They cited concerns such as:. The authors analyzed 41 studies on the effectiveness of PPIs. Until March , Nexium was available only by prescription and at a significantly higher price. However, generic omeprazole may be less expensive than Prilosec OTC. Work with your doctor or pharmacist to decide which PPI is best for you. In addition to cost, consider things like:. A link to possible dementia risk was reported in , but a larger confirmatory study in determined that there was no increased risk of dementia from using PPIs.

Many people experience excess acid production when they stop using PPIs. At the end of the recommended treatment duration, you should taper off of the medication gradually. Work with your doctor to do so. Before taking either medication, talk to your doctor to learn about the risk factors and drug interactions associated with them. Always tell your doctor about all the drugs, herbs, and vitamins you take. This is not a complete list of drug interactions.

Consult your healthcare provider for a full list of drug interactions. Nexium, or esomeprazole, is a proton pump inhibitor PPI used to treat symptoms of acid reflux and other gastrointestinal GI conditions. Nexium and Prilosec are in the drug class called proton pump inhibitors and are very similar.

In fact, they are chemical isomers of each other. Other drugs in the PPI category you may have heard of include Aciphex rabeprazole , Protonix pantoprazole , and Prevacid lansoprazole.

There are some studies see above that suggest Nexium may be more effective and work faster than Prilosec and other PPIs. However, both drugs remain very popular and are well-tolerated. There is not enough information to generally say if you can take Nexium or Prilosec while pregnant. If you are already taking one of these medications, and find out that you are pregnant, consult your OB-GYN for guidance.

The medical information for Nexium and Prilosec does not specifically mention alcohol. Consult your healthcare provider about whether or not you can drink alcohol with your medical condition s. Nexium tends to be well-tolerated in most patients. The most common side effects of Nexium are headache, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Nexium is taken every day sometimes twice a day , and the length of treatment varies from 10 days to six months. However, some patients take it longer than six months based on the instructions from the healthcare provider.

Yes, Prilosec is a good option for acid reflux. In clinical studies , Prilosec helped to heal ulcers and improve symptoms. Consult your healthcare provider for a recommendation if Nexium is not working for you. In addition to taking a PPI or another medication for your symptoms, you can make dietary changes. Some foods that can help reduce acid are bananas, melon, whole grains, yogurt, lean proteins, and green vegetables asparagus, kale, spinach, brussels sprouts.

Also, try to avoid foods that are fried, high in fat, or spicy. Keeping a food diary may help you to narrow down which foods and beverages help or hurt your symptoms.