Heartburn drug Nexium approved for children

updated 11:31 a.m. ET Feb. 28, 2008

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved AstraZeneca's Nexium to treat chronic heartburn in children.

The agency cleared two formulations of the drug — liquid and capsule — for short-term use in children one to 11 years old. According to the drug's new labeling, children should not take the drug for more than eight weeks.

FDA previously approved Nexium in the U.S. to treat heartburn in adults and adolescents.

Nexium was the world's second-best selling drug in 2006, according to health care research firm IMS Health.

The drug is part of a family of acid-reducing drugs known as proton pump inhibitors.

Also in msnbc.com Health   Low-cal diet slows aging in monkeys   Ebola strain found in pigs for the first time   No-kill shelter nation? Maybe in 5 years   Yes! Yes! Oh, no! Coming oh so close to orgasm Which day of the week is deadliest for suicides? Just how bad are your health vices?

MORE FROM KIDS AND PARENTING

Kids and parenting Section Front

1 million play yards recalled due to faulty latch Coming of age in the years of living dangerously Survival tales: Readers share hazards of youth Jackson kids face hurdles coping with his death 400,000 cribs recalled after 8-month-old dies Many teens believe they’ll die young Newsweek: Summer camp enrollment declines Heavy kids at higher risk for asthma Cheerleading still most dangerous sport Teens who move a lot have twice suicide risk Kids and parenting Section Front   Add Kids and parenting headlines to your news reader: