About Nexium

Managing Nighttime Heartburn Symptoms

If heartburn has you pacing the floor at night, you're far from alone. A Gallup survey for the American Gastroenterological Association reports that almost 80% of people with heartburn at least once a week reported having it at night.

Studies have shown that people who experience heartburn at night are also more likely to suffer from serious conditions such as erosive esophagitis. This condition can develop when stomach acid travels up from the stomach into the esophagus. Over time, the acid can wear away (erode) the delicate tissue lining of the esophagus; about 1 in 3 patients with acid reflux disease have this damage. Only your doctor can tell if you have this condition.

If you have persistent heartburn 2 or more days a week, despite treatment and changes in lifestyle and diet, you may have acid reflux disease. The question is, what can you do about it? One solution many doctors recommend to their patients is to take prescription Nexium. Taken as directed, 1 pill a day of prescription Nexium can often provide 24-hour relief from heartburn symptoms. For many, Nexium can also help heal the potential damage (erosions) that may be caused over time by acid reflux. Most erosions heal in 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with Nexium may vary.

Tips to help prevent nighttime heartburn symptoms

There are additional ways to manage persistent nighttime heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux disease that can occur at night.

Try the following tips to help prevent nighttime heartburn.

  • Elevate the head of your bed. Nighttime heartburn is largely a gravity problem; when you lie down, acid can move up into the esophagus more easily. Try elevating the head of your bed 4 to 6 inches by placing wooden blocks under the bed's legs. Or you could place a foam wedge under the mattress to lift your head about 6 to 10 inches. Note: Piling up pillows beneath your head doesn't help prevent reflux.
  • Finish any meals or snacks at least 3 hours before lying down. Most of the food in your stomach is digested within 3 hours. Once it has been digested, it should not back up into your esophagus when you lie down.

For many, Nexium can provide 24-hour relief from heartburn caused by acid reflux disease, to help keep GERD symptoms at bay, day and night. Your results with Nexium may vary.

Be sure to also talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ask if prescription Nexium may help.

Fun FactTemperature can affect your appetite. You're more likely to be hungry when you're cold.

Talk to your doctor about your heartburn symptoms

Get the Doctor Discussion Guide

Important Safety Information About NEXIUM

  • Symptom relief does not rule out the presence of other serious stomach conditions
  • Talk to your doctor about your risk for:
    • bone fractures if you take multiple daily doses of NEXIUM for a long period of time
    • low magnesium levels if you take NEXIUM for a long period of time
  • Tell your doctor about all of the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. NEXIUM may affect how other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how NEXIUM works
  • Side effects with NEXIUM include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain

Approved Uses for Nexium

NEXIUM is prescribed to treat the symptoms of acid reflux disease, which typically include persistent heartburn on 2 or more days per week, despite treatment and change of diet.

For many people, NEXIUM is also prescribed to heal damage to the esophagus called erosive esophagitis. This damage may be caused over time from stomach acid wearing away the lining of the esophagus. Only a doctor can diagnose this condition. With NEXIUM, most erosions heal in 4 to 8 weeks. Your results with NEXIUM may vary.

Please read the full Prescribing Information and discuss it with your doctor or health care professional.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.