How safe is Nexium?

[singer1]

I know it's a fairly new drug, but has anyone been on it long term and had problems with it?

[hrtofluv]

I can tell that my 5yrold (20mg) and 7yrold (40mg) take it every day! It's been the best thing in the world for my kids!!! As well as myself at 40mg daily.

[singer1]

so it can be taken long term? What are the side affects?

[hrtofluv]

My son has been on it for over a year. My daughter about 9 months. And me about 6 months. So - LONG term - not sure although our pediatric GI says that it is very safe - probably the most effective out there right now too. The side effects for us has been a much better life. Better able to swallow and keep things down, better to not choke on foods, better to sleep at night, no "my tummy hurts" anymore, more energy, more diverse eating habits (they are venturing out of their norm now), and no asthma-related attacks. And believe it or not - my son has only had one migraine this year - I am starting to think part of it was due to the serious untreated GERD.
Anyway - I know that wasn't the answer you were looking for, but I can't help but sing the praises of Nexium - after seeing the affect on my whole family!

[WWASIAUC]

Originally Posted by singer1

I know it's a fairly new drug, but has anyone been on it long term and had problems with it?

PS: Just a person ... no medical training.

I've been on it short term and have had side effects. The very first night I took it I had gurgling and movements in my stomach. And even today - just a couple of days later - I have more belching gas than before. From what I've read, these aren't the norm, though. I guess everyone responds differently.

A few things bother me "theoretically". I know of two functions acid performs in the stomach: helping to denature proteins so that enzymes can then get at the bonds they need to in order to start breaking the proteins down, and killing many types of bacteria. Using Nexium, a proton pump inhibitor, raises the stomach's pH a lot, which, it seems to me, would make the stomach stop performing these functions very efficiently.

Also, the duodenum "expects" to receive highly acidic chyme from the stomach, and in normal people, uses basic compounds to bring the pH up. Does the duodenum still receive/use the same amount of alkaline solutions/compounds even when the chyme coming through the pyloric sphincter is not very acidic? If it does, I would think that the duodenum would then be excessively basic, which might lead to problems over the long haul. But if the pH in the duodenum is controlled by negative feedback, then there should be no problem.