Military Officer - September 2007 - (Page 14)

I M P O R TA N T I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T N E X I U M Please read this summary carefully and then ask your doctor about NEXIUM. No advertisement can provide all the information needed to determine if a drug is right for you. This advertisement does not take the place of careful discussions with your doctor. Only your doctor has the training to weigh the risks and benefits of a prescription drug. WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE NEXIUM? You should not take NEXIUM if you: í have ever had an allergic reaction to the active ingredient, esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate í have ever had an allergic reaction to any of the following inactive ingredients in NEXIUM (including the capsule shells): glyceryl monostearate 40-55, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, polysorbate 80, sugar spheres, talc, triethyl citrate, gelatin, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, D&C Red #28, titanium dioxide, shellac, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, propylene glycol, sodium hydroxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and D&C Yellow #10. í are allergic to any PPI medication í are younger than 12 years of age í are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant í are breast-feeding WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF NEXIUM? In adults, side effects with NEXIUM may include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In adolescents 12-17, side effects with NEXIUM may include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea. NEXIUM may cause other side effects besides those listed here. If you have any side effects or symptoms that you are concerned about, talk with your doctor. Symptom relief with NEXIUM does not mean other serious stomach conditions do not exist. WHAT IS NEXIUM? NEXIUM is a type of medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and is used to treat acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a chronic condition that occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus (food pipe) causing symptoms, such as heartburn, or changes to the lining of the esophagus. Common symptoms include frequent and persistent heartburn, a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing. For adults, NEXIUM is prescribed for the treatment of GERD symptoms. NEXIUM may also be prescribed to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus (known as erosive esophagitis), and to maintain this healing. Studies with NEXIUM did not go beyond 6 months. For adolescents 12 to 17, NEXIUM is approved for the short-term treatment (up to 8 weeks) of GERD. NEXIUM is available in two dosage strengths (20 mg and 40 mg). Only your doctor can prescribe the dose that’s right for you. HOW SHOULD I STORE NEXIUM? NEXIUM should be stored at room temperature (25°C, 77°F). Keep your pills in the bottle they came in. Keep the pills away from children. If your doctor tells you to stop treatment, throw out the pills. Do not take your pills after the date of expiration on the bottle has passed. HOW SHOULD I TAKE NEXIUM? NEXIUM should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor. Follow his or her instructions about when and how to take NEXIUM. If you are unsure or have questions, ask your doctor. One NEXIUM pill should be taken once per day, or as prescribed by your doctor. Take it at least 1 hour before a meal. Swallow the pill whole. If you have a hard time swallowing the pill, you can empty it into a tablespoon of applesauce. Be sure to eat it right away. Never chew or crush it. Never store it for later use. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NEXIUM? Talk to your doctor about NEXIUM. You can obtain full prescribing information and other details by visiting www.purplepill.com or calling 1-800-236-9933. GENERAL ADVICE It is important to take NEXIUM as prescribed and to discuss any changes you experience while taking NEXIUM with your doctor. You should only use NEXIUM for a condition for which it has been prescribed. Do not give NEXIUM to other people, even if they have the same medical condition you have. Keep NEXIUM and all medicines out of the reach of children. HOW DOES NEXIUM WORK? The lining of your stomach has millions of special cells. They make acid through “acid pumps.” This acid is produced to help digest the food you eat. Sometimes the acid backs up into your esophagus, causing you to feel a burning sensation of heartburn. Over time, acid can wear away or erode the lining of the esophagus. This condition, called erosive esophagitis (or EE), is a more serious effect of acid reflux disease, and only a doctor can determine if you have this damage. NEXIUM can turn off some of these acid pumps. This reduces the chance of heartburn and other acid reflux disease symptoms. For many people, one NEXIUM pill a day can relieve heartburn symptoms for 24 hours. For patients with EE, NEXIUM heals most erosions in the esophagus within 4 to 8 weeks. Your results may vary. WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING NEXIUM? Before taking your medication, tell your doctor if you: í are taking any other medication, including any over-the-counter (OTC) medication í have suffered any allergic reaction to any medication í have or have had severe liver damage í are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant í are breast-feeding í are taking a blood thinner (such as Coumadin® or warfarin) í are taking a drug to treat or prevent fungal infections (such as ketoconazole) í are taking a drug for HIV treatment called atazanavir NOTE: This summary provides important information about NEXIUM. For more information, please ask your health care professional or doctor about the full prescribing information and discuss it with him or her. NEXIUM is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies. Coumadin is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. © 2007 AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. All rights reserved. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP., Wilmington, DE 19850 Rev: 06/07 251785 Visit www.purplepill.com. Or, call the Information Center at AstraZeneca toll-free at 1-800-236-9933. http://www.purplepill.com http://www.purplepill.com http://www.purplepill.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - September 2007

Military Officer - September 2007 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Plan for Your Future At Home in a High-Rise Lone Star Living Common Ground Insert: Community Source Cover Story: Waging War on Disease More Than Beaches MOAA Scholarship Donors Pages of History Faces of MOAA Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps MOAA Member Services Encore

Military Officer - September 2007

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