An oral prescription medication, Nexium contains the drug esomeprazole magnesium. Despite its effectiveness in the treatment of stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease, Nexium poses a risk for side effects, some of which occur with long-term use.

Types of Side Effects

Long-term side effects of Nexium include bowel irregularity, earaches, ringing in your ears, changes in weight, more frequent cold or sinus infections, acne and eye infections. Typically, these side effects occur with long-term use, and though unpleasant, pose little threat for long term health complications.

Gender-Specific Side Effects

Women who take Nexium for periods of months or years have the potential to develop severe menstrual cramps and increased incidences of vagina yeast infections, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Nexium use may lead to impotence in men or cause gynecomastia, a feminine swelling of breast tissue.

Drug Interactions

Nexium has the potential to decrease the effectiveness of HIV drugs like atazanavir, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Over time, this may cause HIV to progress more rapidly than it would have without the interference of Nexium.

Potential

Nexium is known to cause stomach cancer in laboratory animals with prolonged use. There has been no study to determine if the drug has a similar affect in humans, but there have been reports of benign polyps forming in the digestive tract of patients being treated with Nexium, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Risks

Nexium has the potential to cause shortages of white or red blood cells or blood platelets with prolonged use, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other risks associated with long-term use of Nexium include hypertension, gastrointestinal bleeding, Vitamin B12 deficiency, inflammation of your pancreas, liver dysfunction and kidney infections.

Source:

U.S. National Library of Medicine: NEXIUM (esomeprazole magnesium) capsule, delayed release

Mayo Clinic: Esomeprazole magnesium (Oral and Intravenous Route)