How to Quit Nexium

Nexium is a prescription medication used to treat acid reflux disease. Acid reflux occurs when acid produced by the stomach travels back into the esophagus. Nexium is prescribed to reduce stomach acid and should only be stopped as your doctor instructs.

Things You'll Need

• Doctor appointment
• Antacids

Instructions

1. Consult your doctor before quitting Nexium. Do not abruptly stop taking Nexium or cut dosage drastically without consulting your doctor. He may want to wean you off the medicine by reducing dosage gradually. If you take two pills a day, he may have you start taking one pill a day for several weeks, then one pill every other day for another week before stopping completely.

2. Take over the counter antacids or heartburn medications as you wean off of Nexium. Antacids reduce the amount of stomach acid produced, much like Nexium only on a smaller scale. Take antacids as recommended on the instruction pamphlet that comes with the medicine.

3. Avoid beverages and foods such as alcohol, coffee, tomato products, chocolate and spicy or acidic foods as you reduce your Nexium dosage. These dietary items are hard to digest and may over produce stomach acid.

Tips & Warnings

• Take and reduce Nexium only as your doctor prescribes. Alert your doctor to all medications you are taking to avoid drug interactions. Talk to your doctor if symptoms worsen after quitting Nexium.

References

• Drugs.com: Nexium
• Health Square: Nexium