Esomeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) — a medicine that strongly reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes. It is best known by the brand name Nexium, and is also sold as Esoz, Sompraz, and generic esomeprazole. It is closely related to omeprazole (it is essentially the refined, active half of the omeprazole molecule) and is used for the same acid-related problems: heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach ulcers.
In the NAFDAC register
31 registered products
from 21 registration holders
What it costs online
about ₦18,200
≈₦1,300 per tablet (tablet/capsule)
0% since July 2026 · like-for-like
Sampled from 3 listings across HealthPlus and MedPlus · September 2026
Full price breakdown →Brands of Esomeprazole in Nigeria
Comes as
- Tablet40 mg· 5 makers
- Capsule20 mg· 3 makers
Those 31 products from 21 registration holders include combination products and older listings; below are the most common brands.
| Brand Name | Manufacturer | Strength | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
 | AstraZeneca | 20mg, 40mg | Tablet |
| Esoz | Sun Pharma | 20mg, 40mg | Tablet |
| Sompraz | Sun Pharma | 20mg, 40mg | Tablet |
Esomeprazole Price in Nigeria
As of September 2026, Esomeprazole tablets sells for about ₦1,300 per tablet online in Nigeria (packs ₦5,200–₦27,810) across HealthPlus and MedPlus. The online price is roughly unchanged since July 2026. Open-market prices (e.g. Idumota, Ogbogwu) are often lower.
Online retail (sampled)
₦5,200 for 28 tablets
₦18,200 for 14 tablets
Same 20mg Esomeprazole — 7× the price, tablet for tablet.
median ₦18,200 · 3 listings
Better valuePERMESOP 20MG *28 TABS(ESOMEPRAZOLE)(MedPlus)
₦5,200₦186 per tabletCosts moreNEXIUM 20MG * 14 TABLETS(MedPlus)
₦18,200₦1,300 per tablet3 listings across HealthPlus + MedPlus — brands and pack sizes vary · September 2026.
Unchanged since July 2026.
Esomeprazole price by brand
Each brand's own listings, as its page states them — the range above spans every brand and pack size.
- Nexium price₦18,200–₦27,810· 2 listings
How to Verify Your Esomeprazole is Genuine
- 1Buy esomeprazole from a licensed pharmacy
- 2Check the NAFDAC registration number on the pack and verify it on the NAFDAC Green Book or app
- 3Check the expiry date and that the packaging is sealed and untampered
- 4For Nexium (AstraZeneca), Esoz or Sompraz (Sun Pharma), check the manufacturer branding and batch number; for generics, confirm the manufacturer
- 5Genuine tablets or capsules should be uniform; discard any that look irregular
- 6Be cautious of very cheap 'Nexium' from unverified street or online sellers, as premium brands are commonly counterfeited
Where to Buy
Buying Esomeprazole by the carton
Cartons are bought at Nigeria's four open drug markets. Each guide names the sellers there you can contact, and how to buy safely:
No shop we list has Esomeprazole on its confirmed product list yet — the market guides still tell you where the trade happens and how to buy there safely.
Wherever you buy, buy only from licensed pharmacies and verified distributors — not roadside vendors — and verify the pack's NAFDAC registration before you pay. Buying Esomeprazole in bulk or for resale? See how to buy medicines in bulk in Nigeria safely.
Need Esomeprazole in bulk, or can't find it near you?
Tell us what you need and we'll connect you with a verified, NAFDAC-registered source.
What is Esomeprazole?
In Nigeria, acid reflux and 'burning' indigestion are extremely common complaints, and esomeprazole is a popular and effective treatment. By cutting acid production at its source, it relieves the burning chest and throat feeling of reflux, allows ulcers and an inflamed food-pipe to heal, and protects the stomach in people who must take anti-inflammatory painkillers. It is taken once a day, usually before food, and works best when taken regularly for the recommended period rather than only when symptoms flare.
Esomeprazole is generally safe and well tolerated for short courses. However, PPIs are often taken for far too long without review. Long-term, continuous use can carry downsides — such as reduced absorption of magnesium, vitamin B12, and calcium, and a small increase in certain infections — so it should be used at the lowest dose for the shortest time that controls symptoms, with a doctor's review if you need it for months. Persistent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, weight loss, vomiting blood, or black stools always need medical assessment rather than ongoing self-treatment. Buy from a licensed pharmacy and check the NAFDAC number.
What is Esomeprazole used for?
In Nigeria, Esomeprazole is commonly used for:
- Acid reflux / GERD — heartburn and a burning feeling in the chest or throat
- Stomach and duodenal ulcers — treatment and healing
- Protecting the stomach from ulcers in people taking NSAID painkillers long-term
- Part of 'triple therapy' to clear Helicobacter pylori infection (with antibiotics)
- Severe or persistent indigestion and excess-acid conditions
Dosage
IMPORTANT
Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions. The information below is for general reference only.
Adults
The usual dose is 20mg or 40mg once daily, taken at least 30-60 minutes before a meal (typically before breakfast) so it is active when the stomach starts making acid. For reflux and ulcers a course often lasts 4-8 weeks; for stomach protection a lower daily dose is used. For H. pylori it is combined with antibiotics for one to two weeks. Swallow tablets or capsules whole with water.
Children
Used in children for reflux or ulcers only under medical guidance, at doses adjusted for age and weight.
Elderly
The standard dose is usually suitable; long-term use should be reviewed, watching for low magnesium and B12.
Take esomeprazole before food (usually before breakfast) for it to work best. Use it for the recommended course rather than indefinitely; if you find you need it every day for months, see a doctor to review the cause and dose. Do not use it as a substitute for investigating alarm symptoms — difficulty or pain swallowing, unintended weight loss, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, or black tarry stools all need prompt medical assessment. Simple measures (smaller meals, not lying down soon after eating, reducing very spicy or fatty foods and alcohol, and stopping smoking) help reflux alongside the medicine.
Side Effects
Common side effects
- •Headache
- •Diarrhoea or constipation
- •Abdominal pain, wind, or nausea
- •Dry mouth or dizziness
Serious side effects — seek medical help immediately
- Low magnesium with long-term use — muscle cramps, twitching, palpitations, or seizures
- Reduced vitamin B12 or calcium absorption with prolonged use (risk of anaemia; possible effect on bone strength)
- A higher chance of certain gut infections (such as diarrhoea from C. difficile)
- Rarely, a severe skin or allergic reaction
- Masking of a more serious stomach problem, including cancer, by relieving symptoms without a diagnosis
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if heartburn or indigestion lasts more than a couple of weeks despite treatment, keeps coming back, or is severe. Seek prompt care for any 'alarm' symptoms — difficulty or pain when swallowing, unintended weight loss, persistent vomiting, vomiting blood or material like coffee grounds, or black, tarry stools. Also see a doctor if you develop muscle cramps, palpitations, or unusual tiredness on long-term use, which could suggest low magnesium or B12.
Warnings & Precautions
Do not take Esomeprazole if you have:
- Do not use if you are allergic to esomeprazole, omeprazole, or other PPIs
- Do not use with the HIV medicines rilpivirine or atazanavir/nelfinavir, whose absorption depends on stomach acid
- Use the shortest effective course; review long-term use with a doctor
- Do not use ongoing self-treatment to cover up alarm symptoms — get them investigated
Drug interactions
- •Clopidogrel — PPIs may reduce its blood-thinning effect (esomeprazole and omeprazole more so; a different PPI is sometimes preferred)
- •Some HIV medicines (atazanavir, rilpivirine, nelfinavir) need stomach acid and should not be combined
- •Methotrexate levels can rise, especially at high doses
- •Reduced absorption of medicines that need acid (such as certain antifungals — ketoconazole, itraconazole) and possibly iron
- •Can affect the levels of some medicines processed by the liver (for example diazepam, phenytoin, warfarin — monitoring may be needed)
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Esomeprazole and the closely related omeprazole are among the acid medicines generally considered acceptable in pregnancy when needed, and PPIs have a long record of use — but as with any medicine in pregnancy it is best to use it only if necessary and to check with a pharmacist or doctor first. It can usually be used while breastfeeding when required. Simple measures for reflux should be tried alongside.
Related Resources for Esomeprazole
Guides, articles, and tools related to Esomeprazole and other digestive health medicines in Nigeria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- •NAFDAC Greenbook — the official database of all products registered with Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Brand-level NAFDAC numbers for Esomeprazole on this page were cross-referenced against the Greenbook.
- •British National Formulary (BNF) dosing and interaction guidance for Esomeprazole.
- •Nigerian Standard Treatment Guidelines (Federal Ministry of Health).
Daily puzzle: Meddle — pair five brands with their medicines. New game at midnight.