Ulcers

A burning feeling in the belly

Peptic ulcers are open sores in the lining of the duodenum (part of the small intestine) or stomach. A peptic ulcer often gives a burning feeling in the belly, which is lower than where heartburn usually occurs (in the chest).

Some people with peptic ulcers also have heartburn. However, peptic ulcers are not caused by acid reflux. Instead, they are the result of bacterial infection or caused by pain medicines known as NSAIDs (such as Advil®, Motrin® or Aleve®) or by other, less common reasons. ZEGERID is used in the short-term treatment of ulcers in the duodenum and stomach.

Next page: Heartburn and Acid Reflux Treatment Options

Advil is a trademark of Wyeth Consumer Healthcare; Motrin is a trademark of McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Aleve is a trademark of Bayer-Roche LLC.

Product Description
ZEGERID® contains omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and sodium bicarbonate, an antacid.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS TAKING ZEGERID

What is ZEGERID for?
ZEGERID is indicated for the treatment of heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux disease. ZEGERID is also used to treat and maintain the healing of erosive esophagitis, which may result from acid reflux. ZEGERID is also indicated for the short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer and of active benign gastric ulcer.

Remember, only your doctor can diagnose you and tell you whether a prescription for ZEGERID is right for you.

Ask your doctor if ZEGERID is right for you
Only your doctor can tell if you have acid reflux disease. And only your doctor can prescribe a treatment for you. Take notes of your symptoms. What symptoms do you have? When do you have them? Then ask your doctor if ZEGERID is right for you.

How to take ZEGERID¹
ZEGERID comes in capsules or a powder for oral suspension that you mix with water. Both the capsule and the powder are immediate release, in 40 mg and 20 mg strengths.

ZEGERID should be taken once a day on an empty stomach. You should wait at least one hour after taking ZEGERID before having a meal.

Side effects¹
Side effects of ZEGERID include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Relief of your symptoms while on ZEGERID does not rule out that other serious stomach conditions may exist.

Sodium content¹
ZEGERID Capsules contain 304 mg of sodium. ZEGERID Powder for Oral Suspension contains 460 mg of sodium. These amounts are comparable to the amount of sodium in an ounce of corn flakes (350 mg). A single capsule is 13% of the American Heart Association's recommended daily intake of 2,300 mg of sodium. A single dose of powder for oral suspension is 20% of the American Heart Association's recommended daily intake of 2,300 mg of sodium. For people with heart failure, the American Heart Association's recommended sodium intake is no more than 2,000 mg per day. These amounts should be taken into consideration by anyone on a sodium restricted diet. People with metabolic alkalosis and hypocalcemia should not take ZEGERID.

ZEGERID should not be taken by anyone with a known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers¹
There are no clinical studies of ZEGERID in pregnant women or nursing mothers. Women who are pregnant or nursing should talk to their physicians before using ZEGERID.

Reference: 1. ZEGERID Prescribing Information. Santarus, Inc. January 2008.

To learn more about ZEGERID, see full prescribing information and talk with your doctor.

Please consult with your healthcare professional to see if ZEGERID is right for you. The content of this Web site is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations or relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please see complete Legal Disclaimer.

Nexium is a trademark of AstraZeneca LP; Prevacid is a trademark of Tap Pharmaceutical Products, Inc.; Protonix is a trademark of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Prilosec is a trademark of Astra Merck Inc.; Aciphex is a trademark of Eisai Co., Ltd.