).
Thrush infection (candidiasis) in the stomach or intestines.
Hair loss.
Increased sensitivity of the skin to UV light (photosensitivity).
Increased sweating.
Pain in the muscles and joints.
Decreased numbers of white blood cells or platelets in the blood (leucopenia or thrombocytopenia).
Decreased level of sodium in the blood (hyponatraemia).
Very rare (affect less than 1 in 10,000 people)
Decreased numbers of all types of blood cells in the blood (agranulocytosis or pancytopenia).
Aggression.
Hallucinations.
Liver failure.
Muscle weakness.
Kidney inflammation (interstitial nephritis).
Severe skin reactions.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.
This medicine should not be taken by people taking atazanavir for HIV infection. This is because esomeprazole decreases the amount of atazanavir in the blood and could therefore make it less effective against HIV.
Esomeprazole may prevent the breakdown of the following medicines by the liver, which could increase the level of these medicines in the blood and thus increase the risk of their side effects:
citalopram
clomipramine
diazepam
escitalopram
imipramine
phenytoin (the manufacturer recommends that people taking phenytoin should have their phenytoin blood level checked after starting or stopping esomeprazole)
raltegravir (esomeprazole should be avoided in people taking raltegravir).
Esomeprazole may increase the anti-blood-clotting effect of the anticoagulant medicine warfarin. If you are taking warfarin it is recommended that your blood clotting time (INR) is checked after starting and stopping this medicine.
Esomeprazole may decrease the absorption of the following medicines from the gut, and thus may make them less effective:
itraconazole
ketoconazole
lapatinib.
The following medicines may prevent the breakdown of esomeprazole by the liver, which could increase the level of esomeprazole in the blood:
clarithromycin
voriconazole.
This is not usually a problem, but your doctor may consider lowering your dose of esomeprazole if you are having long-term treatment with esomeprazole and either of these medicines, or if you have severe liver problems.
The anti-HIV medicine tipranavir may reduce the amount of esomeprazole in the blood and could make it less effective.
Proton pump inhibitors such as this one are not recommended for people taking the antiplatelet medicine clopidogrel. This is because recent evidence has shown that proton pump inhibitors can make the clopidogrel less effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes. If you are currently taking this medicine in combination with clopidogrel, you should consult your doctor to discuss this. This medicine should only be used in combination with clopidogrel if your
