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  • Healthcare Professionals

    FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

TREATING FREQUENT HEARTBURN

Heartburn and other symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common. In fact, 50% of heartburn sufferers have frequent heartburn.1

There are a number of treatment options available for treating heartburn, and the appropriate choice for each patient should be based on a number of relevant factors including severity and frequency of presenting symptoms, prior treatment response, and comorbid medical conditions.2

Left untreated, chronic frequent heartburn can lead to potentially serious conditions including esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, strictures, and esophageal cancer.3,4

RECOMMENDING A TREATMENT

The 2013 World Gastroenterology Organization guideline for community-based treatment of common GI symptoms recommends that for patients presenting with frequent heartburn (≥2 days/week), OTC proton pump inhibitor (PPI) once daily for 14 days in addition to lifestyle modifications should be considered as first-line therapy.5

MANAGING FREQUENT HEARTBURN*

Patient presents with heartburn ≥2days/week

Recommend lifestyle modification plus OTC PPI 1x/day for 14 days

arrow
Problem
Resolved

May repeat every 4 months as needed

arrow
Problem
Unresolved

Refer to a physician for assessment & diagnosis

*Algorithm adapted from reference 2.

ONE BENEFIT OF PPIS AS FIRST-LINE THERAPY FOR FREQUENT HEARTBURN

IS THE LONG-LASTING RELIEF THEY PROVIDE.6

Antacids

2HR

Duration
Up to 2 hours

 

Mode Of
Action
Neutralizes acid

Alginates

4HR

Duration
Up to 4 hours

 

Mode Of
Action
Creates a barrier over stomach contents

H2 Blockers

12HR

Duration
Up to 12 hours

 

Mode Of
Action
Blocks some acid production

PPIs

24HR

Duration
Up to 24 hours

 

Mode Of
Action
Suppress acid production

WHY RECOMMEND NEXIUM 24HR?

Omeprazole, the first PPI, was developed as a single optical isomer, with 50% in S-isomer and 50% in R-isomer. Esomeprazole, the active ingredient in Nexium 24HR, contains 100% S-isomer, which is more bioavailable than the R-isomer.7 Nexium 24HR (esomeprazole 20mg) was demonstrated to provide more consistent acid control and for ≥2 hours longer duration compared with omeprazole at the equivalent dose in a double-blind, crossover study.7

Nexium 24HR is the #1 recommended OTC PPI among Canadian physicians and pharmacists.*

*2018 IQVIA ProVoice Survey for OTC PPIs.

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS

Recommending the following lifestyle modifications can also help patients manage their heartburn.11-13

  • Avoid foods and beverage that are likely to trigger heartburn.

Common culprits include:

  • Spicy foods
  • Fatty or fried foods
  • Onions
  • Citrus products
  • Tomato products (including ketchup)
  • Peppermint
  • Chocolate
  • Alcohol
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Caffeinated beverages
  • Reduce the size of the portions you eat.
  • Wait 3 hours after eating before lying down to sleep.
  • Sleep on an incline by raising the torso on a wedge.
  • Wait 2 hours after eating before engaging in exercise.
  • Avoid tight-fitting clothing around the abdomen.
  • Do not smoke. Smoking weakens the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that keeps the stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus.
  • Being overweight can trigger heartburn. If appropriate, counsel the patient on healthy weight management strategies.

SAFETY & TOLERABILITY

The safety and tolerability of Nexium 24HR are well established, and most adverse effects are mild and transient in nature.8

Patients should be counselled to take 1 capsule with a glass of water before eating in the morning, every day for 14 days.9 Capsules should not be chewed or crushed.9 If necessary, treatment may be repeated in 4 months.9

Nexium 24 HR is not recommended for concomitant use with certain antiviral drugs or drugs that are affected by gastric pH changes.10 Consult the product monograph for a complete review of the safety information.

WARNING SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

When counseling patients on heartburn management, it is important to watch for warning signs that require medical evaluation.
These red flags include:2

  • Chest pain
  • Difficult/painful swallowing
  • Family history of esophageal adenocarcinoma
  • Epigastric mass/lymphadenopathy
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Iron deficiency anemia
  • New onset of symptoms >50 years of age
  • Recurrent cough/hoarseness
  • Vomiting

YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS GUARANTEED.

We have created a 100% money back guarantee so you can recommend Nexium 24HR to your patients with confidence. If they are not completely satisfied with their treatment, we will refund the full purchase price with our hassle-free, 100% money back guarantee. See details.

REFERENCES :

1. Nexium U&A. (2013).
2. Armstrong, D., Nakhla, N. (Oct-Dec 2016). Non-prescription proton-pump inhibitors for self-treating frequent heartburn: The role of the Canadian pharmacist. Pharmacy Practice (Grenada). 14(4), 868. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5184381/
3. Grisham, J. (2016). When heartburn signals cancer risk. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Retrieved from https://www.mskcc.org/blog/when-heartburn-signals-cancer-risk
4. Long-term complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). (2016). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9615-long-term-complications-of-gastroesophageal-reflux-diseasegerd
5. Hunt, R., Quigley, E., Abbas, Z., Eliakim, A., Emmanuel, A., Goh, K.L., … & LeMair, A. World gastroenterology organisation. (Aug 2014). Coping with common gastrointestinal symptoms in the community: A global perspective on heartburn, constipation, bloating, and abdominal pain/siscomfort. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 48(7), 567-78. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25000344
6. H2-blockers: Onset time. OpenAnesthesia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.openanesthesia.org/h2-blockers_onset_time/
7. Kendall, M.J. (2003). Review article: Esomeprazole—the first proton pump inhibitor to be developed as an isomer. Alimentary Pharmacology Therapeutics 17(suppl 1), 1-4. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1365-2036.17.s1.1.x
8. Nexium Product Monograph, p. 7. Adverse Reactions. Adverse Drug Event. Overview. Par. 1
9. Nexium Product Monograph, p. 33. Proper Use of Nexium 24HR
10. Nexium Product Monograph, p. 5. Drug Interactions with Antiretroviral Drugs.
11. 8 ways to quell the fire of heartburn. Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/stayinghealthy/8-ways-to-quell-the-fire-of-heartburn
12.Heartburn: Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/symptomspcauses/syc-20373223
13. Smoking and digestive system. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2013). Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/smoking-digestive-systém