Nexium Side Effects

Generic name: esomeprazole

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 19, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Nexium Side Effects associated with esomeprazole. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Nexium.

Applies to esomeprazole: oral capsule delayed release, oral packet, oral tablet delayed release.

Other dosage forms:

• oral capsule delayed release
• intravenous powder for solution

Common side effects of Nexium

Some side effects of esomeprazole may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common side effects

• bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
• change in taste

Less common side effects

• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness

Rare side effects

• acne
• back pain

Incidence not known

• agitation
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
• full feeling
• inability to have or keep an erection
• increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• loss or thinning of the hair
• muscular weakness
• passing gas
• redness or other discoloration of the skin
• seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• severe sunburn
• swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
• swelling or inflammation of the mouth
• swollen joints

Serious side effects of Nexium

Along with its needed effects, esomeprazole (the active ingredient contained in Nexium) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking esomeprazole:

Incidence not known

• black, tarry stools
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• bloating
• chest pain or tightness
• chills
• confusion
• constipation
• cough
• darkened urine
• decreased urine
• difficulty with swallowing
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• fast heartbeat
• fever
• indigestion
• joint or muscle pain
• loss of appetite
• mood or mental changes
• muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
• muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching
• nausea
• numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
• painful or difficult urination
• pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
• puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• seizures
• skin rash, hives, itching
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
• stomach cramps
• swollen glands
• trouble breathing
• trembling
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting
• yellow eyes or skin

For healthcare professionals

Applies to esomeprazole: intravenous powder for injection, oral delayed release capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral powder for reconstitution delayed release.

General adverse events

The most frequently occurring adverse reactions were headache and diarrhea.

The most frequently reported adverse reactions for patients who received triple therapy for 10 days were diarrhea, taste perversion, and abdominal pain.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 10.9%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, somnolence, taste disturbance/perversion, vertigo
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Paresthesia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic encephalopathy
• Frequency not reported: Hypertonia, hypoesthesia, migraine/aggravated migraine, parosmia, taste loss, tremor^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Very common (10% or more): Flatulence (up to 10.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, benign fundic gland polyps, constipation/constipation aggravated, diarrhea, dry mouth, duodenal ulcer hemorrhage, epigastric pain/aggravated epigastric pain, gastritis/aggravated gastritis, nausea/aggravated nausea, regurgitation, tooth disorder, vomiting/aggravated vomiting
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gastrointestinal (GI) candidiasis, stomatitis
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Microscopic colitis
• Frequency not reported: Aggravated acid-related symptoms, Barrett's esophagus, benign polyps or nodules, bowel irregularity, duodenitis, dyspepsia, dysphagia, dysplasia GI, enlarged abdomen, eructation, esophagitis, esophageal disorder, esophageal stricture, esophageal ulceration, esophageal varices, frequent stools, gastric ulcer, gastroenteritis, GI hemorrhage, GI symptoms not otherwise specified, hernia, hiccup, melena, mouth disorder, mucosal discoloration, pharynx disorder, rebound hypersecretion, rectal disorder, tongue disorder, tongue edema, ulcerative stomatitis
• Postmarketing reports: Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea, fundic gland polyps, hemorrhagic necrotic gastritis (in children), pancreatitis^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Common (1% to 10%): Cough, respiratory infection, sinusitis, tachypnea (in pediatrics)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Epistaxis
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Bronchospasm
• Frequency not reported: Asthma aggravated, dyspnea, larynx edema, pharyngitis, rhinitis^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Accident or injury, fever/pyrexia
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Malaise
• Frequency not reported: Asthenia, earache, facial edema, fatigue, leg edema, otitis media, pain, rigors, tinnitus^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dermatitis, rash, urticaria
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Alopecia, increased sweating/hyperhidrosis, photosensitivity
• Very rare (less than 0.01): Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)/ fatal TEN
• Frequency not reported: Acne, erythema, pruritus ani, rash erythematous, rash maculo-papular, skin inflammation, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE)
• Postmarketing reports: Cutaneous lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension/aggravated hypertension
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral edema
• Frequency not reported: Chest pain, flushing, generalized edema/swelling/inflammation, hot flush, hypertension, irregular heartbeat, phlebitis, substernal chest pain, superficial phlebitis, tachycardia, thrombophlebitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fracture of the hip, wrist or spine
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Arthralgia, myalgia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Muscular weakness
• Frequency not reported: Arthritis aggravated, arthropathy, cramps, fibromyalgia syndrome, hernia, hyperuricemia/increased uric acid, polymyalgia rheumatica
• Postmarketing reports: Bone fracture^[Ref]

An increased risk of hip fracture has been reported in a cohort study. The risk was significantly increased among patients prescribed long-term high PPIs.^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased serum gastrin
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Gynecomastia
• Frequency not reported: Decreased/increased thyroxine, goiter, increased thyroid stimulating hormone^[Ref]

Local

• Common (1% to 10%): Administration/injection site reactions
• Postmarketing reports: Tissue inflammatory reaction^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Viral infection
• Frequency not reported: Flu-like disorder, fungal infection^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Common (1% to 10%): ALT increased
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased liver enzymes
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hepatitis with/without jaundice
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hepatic failure
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal hepatic function, AST increased, bilirubinemia, increased alkaline phosphatase, increased total bilirubin^[Ref]

Ocular

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Blurred vision
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Visual accommodation disorder/disturbances, visual field defect
• Frequency not reported: Abnormal vision, conjunctivitis
• Postmarketing reports: Irreversible visual impairment, loss of vision^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Insomnia, irritability
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Agitation, confusion, depression/aggravated depression
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Aggression, hallucinations
• Frequency not reported: Apathy, nervousness, sleep disorder^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Agranulocytosis, pancytopenia
• Frequency not reported: Anemia, anemia hypochromic, cervical lymphadenopathy, decreased/increased hemoglobin, decreased/increased platelets, decreased/increased white blood cell count, leukocytosis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hyponatremia
• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Hypomagnesemia with or without hypocalcemia and/or hypokalemia, severe hypomagnesemia
• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, decreased/increased potassium, increased sodium, increased appetite, vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) deficiency, thirst, weight decrease/increase^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylactic reaction/shock, angioedema, hypersensitivity reactions
• Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Renal

• Very rare (less than 0.01%): Interstitial nephritis with/without renal failure
• Frequency not reported: Glycosuria
• Postmarketing reports: Acute interstitial nephritis, impaired renal function, increased creatinine, nephrosis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal urine, albuminuria, cystitis, dysmenorrhea, dysuria, genital moniliasis, hematuria, impotence, menstrual disorder, micturition frequency, moniliasis, polyuria, vaginitis^[Ref]

Frequently asked questions

• Nexium vs Prilosec: What's the difference between them?

Further information

Nexium side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer