How to Get Off Nexium

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: January 28, 2023 References

Nexium belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPI) that can help treat acid reflux, ulcers, H. Pylori, and other gastrointestinal disorders. Prolonged use of this powerful drug can also cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, lung infections, kidney problems, and bone fractures.^{[1]
X
Research source} Nexium may additionally cause side effects including headaches, nausea, diarrhea, rashes, and interactions with other medications. Before you stop taking Nexium, visit your doctor to make sure that it is a healthy decision. If you have heartburn, there are many things you can do to reduce flares after you stop. You can even try natural remedies, but you should get your doctor’s approval first.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Visiting Your Doctor

1
Make an appointment with your doctor. Before stopping any medication, always talk to your doctor first. Your doctor can help you with any side effects that might result from stopping. They may even prescribe you a different medication.
- If you have gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) or Barrett’s Esophagus, your doctor may determine that you need to remain on a PPI like Nexium.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Most of the time, you will not need to rush stop getting off Nexium. Instead, you and your doctor will work out a plan to get you on progressively lower doses. This increases your chance of success.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
2
Tell your doctor why you want to stop Nexium. In most cases, you should not stop a medication before you have finished a full course. If you have unpleasant side effects, however, your doctor should know. Common side effects of Nexium include:^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
Advertisement
3
Get a different prescription. Stopping Nexium suddenly can cause an increase in stomach acid, heartburn, or a return of symptoms. Depending on what condition you were using Nexium to treat, your doctor may prescribe a different medication.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Nexium is most commonly used to treat heartburn and acid reflux. In this case, you may be prescribed H-2 blockers, like Zantac, instead.
- If you were on Nexium for an H. Pylori infection, your doctor may suggest an H-2 blocker or a bismuth subsalicylate medication, like Pepto-Bismol.
- If you have peptic ulcers, your doctor may prescribe an H-2 blocker and a protectant like sucralfate (Carafate).^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
- In addition, you can try an over-the-counter antacid such as TUMS or generic calcium carbonate to relieve your symptoms. Talk to your pharmacist about finding the right treatment for your symptoms.
4
Taper off Nexium gradually. Lower your Nexium dose for 2-4 weeks. If you were taking one pill a day, take one pill every other day. If you were taking two pills a day, take one pill a day for 1-2 weeks, and then take one pill every other day for another 1-2 weeks. If you find you are still struggling with severe symptoms, you can taper off even more gradually. Instead of 2-4 weeks, plan for 8-12 weeks.
- Use a diary, calendar, or planning app to help you remember when to take your next dose.
5
Consider surgery. In some cases, conditions like GERD can be fixed through surgery. These are invasive surgeries that will require long recoveries, but they may be able to prevent the need for you to take PPIs in the future.^{[7]
X
Research source} Before you make this decision, have a long talk with your doctor about the risks and recovery times associated with surgery.
- You may need to stay in the hospital up to a week for this surgery. Bleeding and scarring may occur as well.^{[8]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating Your Heartburn Without Nexium

1
Take an over-the-counter antacid. Even if you have never had acid reflux before, stopping PPIs like Nexium can sometimes cause symptoms to start.^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} To give you relief, take an over-the-counter antacid, such as Tums or Rolaids.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Always consult your doctor about whether it is ok to take over-the-counter medications or not.
2
Stop smoking. Smoking can increase acid reflux while affecting how well your esophageal sphincter works.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking. You may want to avoid secondhand smoke as well.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Health information from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
3
Lose weight. Maintaining a healthy weight is an important tool in reducing the frequency of heartburn. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor or a registered dietician about losing weight.^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Eating smaller meals will help you lose weight, and it can also help prevent heartburn. Reduce your food portions. If you feel full, stop eating.
4
Avoid acidic and aggravating foods. Certain foods can trigger or worsen heartburn. To reduce the frequency of your heartburn, try cutting out the following foods and drinks from your diet:^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital
Go to source}
- Garlic
- Onions
- Citrus
- Fried or spicy food
- Coffee
- Soda and other carbonated drinks
- Alcohol
- Tomatoes
- Chocolate
5
Avoid eating meals 2-3 hours before bed. Eating heavy meals before going to bed can exacerbate acid reflux. Avoid eating large meals 2-3 hours before you go to bed whenever possible.
6
Prop yourself up while you sleep. To reduce heartburn at night, place a wedge between your mattress and box spring to raise the head of your bed up by about 6–9 inches (15–23 cm). You can also place wooden or cement blocks under the bed itself.^{[15]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Propping yourself up with pillows is not as effective as raising up part of your bed.
7
Wear loose clothing when possible. Tight clothes can put extra pressure on your stomach. This can cause or worsen heartburn symptoms. Wear loose clothing whenever possible to help mitigate this.^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Trying Natural Remedies

1
Swallow a spoonful of apple cider vinegar and honey. While the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar on acid reflux has not been studied, many people report improvement after taking it. Take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a teaspoon of honey after every meal.^{[17]
X
Trustworthy Source
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School's Educational Site for the Public
Go to source}
2
Chew a licorice tablet. Licorice tablets may help treat peptic ulcers. They may also be used in combination with some medications to treat H. Pylori infections.^{[18]
X
Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} These can be bought at health food stores or online.
- Talk to your doctor first about whether licorice tablets will interact with your medications.
3
Try relaxation techniques. Lowering stress and anxiety may help reduce the symptoms of GERD. Try therapies such as daily meditation or breathing exercises to help you relax and manage your daily stress levels.
4
Take a dose of iberogast. Iberogast is a liquid supplement containing nine different herbs. It may help reduce acid and treat dyspepsia by preventing intestinal spasms and toning smooth muscles within the digestive tract. Check with your doctor to make sure it won’t interfere with your medications.^{[19]
X
Research source}
- Iberogast contains angelica, caraway, mustard plant, chamomile, celandine, lemon balm, licorice, milk thistle, and peppermint.

Expert Q&A

Question

How many days in a row can you take Nexium?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

If you're going to take it for more than 2 weeks, discuss it with your physician. Nexium reduces the pH of your stomach, but you need some acid to kill off pathogenic bacteria that live in your gut. You also need acid to absorb certain vitamins, like iron.