Hello I Had A Endoscopy Done 5 Years Ago. I

Posted on Wed, 1 May 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 1 May 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : hello i had a endoscopy done 5 years ago. i was told i have gerd, was prescribed pepcid then nexium. i got off of nexium and continued zantac daily up until now. zantac stopped working and i started nexium 20mg again, i am on day 5 and nexium 20mg is not working like it did before. i still get bad reflux along with shortness of breath. what can be the best step if nothing is working? what can i take or try to do next? sometimes i still take zantac at night after nexium in morning.

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (38 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You are on very low doses of nexium.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing "Ask a doctor" forum for your query,
Have seen your details,
what can be the best step if nothing is working-Firstly Zantac and Nexium 20mg(are very low dose.Infact the life time of nexium is 12 hours so nexium should ideally be given 12 hourly.You need not to panic at all.

Start taking Nexium 40mg in morning(don't eat any thing before taking Nexium for 30 minutes).
Start taking Nexium 40mg in evening(again a separation of 30 minutes from food).

Take it for 21 days then make the evening dose 20 mg.Again after 21 days make morning dose 20 mg.

If you feel well contact me again for further adjusting the doses.
Thank you and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (39 minutes later)

okay the otc nexium is only 20mg can i take two 20mg in the morning or 1, 20mg twice a day (to spread it out)? also i dont want to be on nexium forever so i changed my diet and my water ph but its not helping. does this ever go away to were i would only need antiacid occasionally and not everyday?

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes you can take 2 pills together.
Our aim is to taper off the medicine i.e either to stop it and bring you on diet control only or to put you on minimum possible doses of nexium but you have to remain patient for that .Things would take time.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D