by Leanne Black

Created on: January 07, 2010

Nexium (also known as esomeprazole, or the Purple Pill) is in the class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. Nexium is used to treat ulcers, heartburn, erosive esophagitis, H. pylori infection, and excessive stomach acid. But just what is a proton pump inhibitor, anyway?

Most of us know that the stomach produces a strong acid to aid in digestion. Normally, the stomach is protected from the effects of the acid by a protective mucous layer. However, this protective layer of mucus can be eroded (most commonly by drugs or H. pylori). Also, the stomach can produce too much acid, which can back up (reflux) into the esophagus or flow into the duodenum. In both cases, the acid does damage to unprotected tissue, causing pain, discomfort, and (if left untreated) an ulcer. To cure these symptoms, a drug is needed that can stop the stomach from producing excess stomach acid. This is where Nexium comes in.

Like all organs in the body, the stomach is made out of cells. Parietal cells are specialized cells, found only in the stomach. These cells are specially designed to make stomach acid. They use water and carbon dioxide to make hydrochloric acid through a series of chemical steps.  The exact process is complicated, but for our purposes, we only need to understand the last step—this is where Nexium interferes with acid production. In the last step of the process, a special protein called a proton pump moves hydrogen out of the cell and into the stomach.

When Nexium is taken, the drug travels to the proton pumps and blocks the pumps’ action. Since the last step in the process of forming acid cannot be completed, the pump cannot make stomach acid. This results in an overall decrease in stomach acid. However, Nexium cannot block all the proton pumps in the stomach; therefore, the person taking Nexium can still digest food. 

Nexium is also used to heal damage in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum (part of the small intestine) caused by stomach acid. This is a beneficial side effect of the drug’s proton pump blocking effect. Since the stomach produces less acid, there is no acid to continue irritating the ulcerated tissue. This provides the ulcer time to heal. Generally, this takes about 4 to 8 weeks. 

When a patient has H. pylori infection, Nexium is used along with antibiotics to kill the bacteria. In this case, Nexium creates an environment that allows the antibiotic medications to work. It also helps heal any ulcers, as described above.

Want more information about Nexium? Visit the official site at www.purplepill.com.

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