Uses for Esomeprazole Involving the Prevention of Stomach Ulcers
People who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (
NSAIDs) on a regular basis are at increased risk for developing stomach ulcers (also known as gastric ulcers).
Esomeprazole has been shown to lower the chances for developing stomach ulcers in these people.
Using Esomeprazole to Treat H. Pylori Infections
Helicobacter pylori (
H. pylori) is a type of bacteria known to cause peptic ulcers, which are ulcers in the stomach or first part of the intestines, called the duodenum. Esomeprazole, when taken in combination with
amoxicillin and
clarithromycin, has been shown to kill
H. pylori. Therefore, your healthcare provider may recommend using esomeprazole to treat
H. pylori if you currently have peptic ulcer disease or have had it within the last 5 years. Treating an
H. pylori infection, even if you have no symptoms, will lower the chances of a peptic ulcer occurring.
Esomeprazole for Pathological Hyersecretory Conditions
There are several conditions that cause the stomach to produce too much acid. These conditions include Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, multiple endocrine adenomas, systemic mastocytosis, and "short-gut" syndrome. Esomeprazole works for these conditions by decreasing the production of stomach acid.
Esomeprazole Uses in Children
Esomeprazole has been approved to treat
symptoms of GERD in children from 1 to 17 years of age. Since young children usually have trouble swallowing capsules, esomeprazole also comes in packets of powder (mixed with water to make a liquid suspension).
Off-Label Esomeprazole Uses
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend using certain drugs for treating conditions for which they have not been approved. This is called an "
off-label" use. At this time, there are no known off-label uses for esomeprazole.
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