nexium question

Hi,

I'm usually on the crohn's board but I have a question I thought you guys might be able to help with.  The instructions say to take it an hour before eating in the morning.  Sometimes that isn't possible for me, and I'm wondering just how important is that?  If I have to eat right away, will the nexium do any good or should I not bother with it that day? 

Thanks for your help!

Hi Lynneb,
I don't take Nexium but I do take another PPI Prevacid. I asked my doctor the same thing about my med because that is what the insert said on my medication but he told me that it really doesn't matter, that the benefit to it is it allows your stomach pumps to shut down before a meal so the meds are most effective but I never remember to take it 1 hour before a meal.

I don't know if Nexium has them but Prevacid has the solutabs that now make it uneccessary to wait an hour.

Lynne:  You may see this twice... I typed out a reply which "disappeared"... good old computers!! (*_*)  Anyhow, my doctor told me to take Nexium one hour before the largest meal of the day... for me that is supper.  Sometimes I forget and end up taking the pill a few minutes before I eat... so far, no dire results from that.  There are also times that I forget entirely, but I have never missed more than one day.  If I do forget, I just take one the next day before supper.  He also said if you're have a "flare up" to add an over the counter antacid an hour after the meal...and more, as needed, until you are "calm" again.   This has worked well for me.  Good luck!.... Jeanne 

The packaging says to take it one hour before a meal but I have been told that ideally you should take it 1/2 hr before a meal ... although one doctor said to take it right before you eat(which is generally what I do - I take it right before my morning meal).  Regardless of when you take it, the concensus seems to be you should definitely eat WITHIN an hour as it needs food to fully activate.