Esomeprazole Kern Pharma 20 mg gastro-resistant tablets EFG

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the patient

EsomeprazolKern Pharma 20 mg gastro-resistant tablets EFG

Read this entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine, because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet; you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only; do not pass it on to others, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it could harm them.
• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the leaflet

1. What EsomeprazolKern Pharma is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before taking EsomeprazolKern Pharma
3. How to take EsomeprazolKern Pharma
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store EsomeprazolKern Pharma
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Esomeprazol Kern Pharma and what is it used for?

Esomeprazol Kern Pharma contains a medicine called esomeprazol, which belongs to a group of medicines known as "proton pump inhibitors". These work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

Esomeprazol is used to treat the following conditions:

Adults

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus (the tube connecting the throat to the stomach), causing pain, inflammation, and heartburn.

• Stomach or upper intestinal (duodenal) ulcers infected with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. If you have this condition, your doctor will likely also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and allow the ulcer to heal.

• Gastric ulcers caused by medicines called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Esomeprazol can also be used to prevent the formation of ulcers if you are taking NSAIDs.

• Excessive stomach acid production due to a tumor in the pancreas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).

• Continuation treatment to prevent rebleeding from peptic ulcers initiated with intravenous esomeprazol.

Adolescents aged 12 years and older

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus (the tube connecting the throat to the stomach), causing pain, inflammation, and heartburn.
• Stomach or upper intestinal (duodenal) ulcers infected with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. If you have this condition, your doctor will likely also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and allow the ulcer to heal.

2. What you need to know before taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma

Do not take Esomeprazol Kern Pharma

• if you are allergic to esomeprazole or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
• if you are allergic to other medicines in the group of proton pump inhibitors (e.g. pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, omeprazole).
• if you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used in the treatment of HIV infection).
• if you have ever developed a severe skin rash or peeling of the skin, blistering or mouth ulcers after taking esomeprazole or other related medicines.

Do not take Esomeprazol Kern Pharma if any of these situations apply to you. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma:

• If you have severe liver problems.
• If you have severe kidney problems.
• If you have ever had a skin reaction after treatment with a medicine similar to Esomeprazol Kern Pharma used to reduce stomach acidity.
• If you are scheduled to have a specific blood test (Chromogranin A).

Esomeprazol Kern Pharma may mask the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if you experience any of the following events before or while taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma, contact your doctor immediately:

• You lose weight significantly without reason and have difficulty swallowing.
• You have stomach pain or indigestion.
• You start vomiting food or blood.
• Your stools appear black (blood-stained).

If Esomeprazol Kern Pharma has been prescribed only for when you experience symptoms, you should contact your doctor if your disease symptoms persist or change.

Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as esomeprazole, especially for more than one year, may slightly increase the risk of fracture of the hip, wrist, or spine.

Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which may increase the risk of osteoporosis).

Skin rashes and skin symptoms

If you develop a skin rash, especially in areas of skin exposed to sunlight, consult your doctor as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to stop treatment with Esomeprazol Kern Pharma. Remember to mention any other symptoms you may notice, such as joint pain.

Severe skin rashes have occurred in patients taking esomeprazole (see also section 4). The rash may include mouth, throat, nose, genital ulcers, and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes). These severe skin rashes usually appear after flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches. The rash may cover large areas of the body with blisters and skin peeling.

Serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), have been reported in association with esomeprazole treatment. Stop taking this medicine and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the symptoms related to these serious skin reactions described in section 4.

If at any time during treatment (even after several weeks) you develop a rash or any of these skin symptoms, stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately.

Children under 12 years of age

The use of Esomeprazol Kern Pharma gastro-resistant tablets is not recommended in children under 12 years of age.

Taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines. This includes medicines purchased without a prescription. This is because esomeprazole may affect how some medicines work, and some medicines may influence the effect of Esomeprazol Kern Pharma.

Do not take Esomeprazol Kern Pharma if you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used to treat HIV infection).

Inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Atazanavir (used to treat HIV infection).
• Clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clots).
• Ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole (for fungal infections).
• Erlotinib (used in cancer treatment).
• Citalopram, imipramine, clomipramine (for treatment of depression).
• Diazepam (used to treat anxiety, as a muscle relaxant, or for epilepsy).
• Phenytoin (for epilepsy). If you are taking phenytoin, your doctor will need to monitor when you start or stop taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma.
• Medicines used to thin the blood such as warfarin. Your doctor may need to monitor when you start or stop taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma.
• Cilostazol (used to treat intermittent claudication – leg pain when walking caused by poor blood flow).
• Cisapride (used for indigestion and heartburn).
• Digoxin (used for heart problems).
• Methotrexate (a chemotherapy medicine used at high doses in cancer treatment) – if you are taking high doses of methotrexate, your doctor may temporarily stop your treatment with Esomeprazol Kern Pharma.
• Tacrolimus (organ transplant).
• Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis).
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) (used to treat depression).

If your doctor has prescribed the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin in addition to Esomeprazol Kern Pharma to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori, it is very important that you inform your doctor if you are taking any other medicines.

Taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma with food and drink

You may take the tablets with food or on an empty stomach.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine. Your doctor will decide whether you can take Esomeprazol Kern Pharma during this time.

It is unknown whether esomeprazole passes into breast milk. Therefore, this medicine should not be taken during breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

Esomeprazol Kern Pharma is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines. However, adverse effects such as dizziness or blurred vision may occur infrequently or rarely (see section 4). You should not drive or use machines if you experience any of these effects.

Esomeprazol Kern Pharma contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per gastro-resistant tablet; this is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Esomeprazol Kern Pharma

Follow exactly the administration instructions for this medicine as given by your doctor or pharmacist. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

• If you take this medicine for a long period of time, your doctor will need to monitor you (especially if you take it for more than one year).
• If your doctor has instructed you to take this medicine only when you experience symptoms, inform your doctor if the symptoms change.

How much to take

• Your doctor will have advised you how many tablets to take and when to take them. This will depend on your condition, age, and liver function.
• The recommended doses are indicated below:

Use in adults from 18 years of age:

For the treatment of heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):

• If your doctor has determined that your esophagus is slightly affected, the recommended dose is 40 mg, one esomeprazole 40 mg tablet (or two esomeprazole 20 mg tablets) once daily for 4 weeks. Your doctor may instruct you to take the same dose for another 4 weeks if your esophagus has not yet healed. Once the esophagus has healed, the recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet once daily.
• If your esophagus is not affected, the recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet once daily. Once your condition has been controlled, your doctor may instruct you to take the medicine only when you experience symptoms, up to a maximum of one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet per day.
• If you have severe liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.

For the treatment of ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and to prevent their recurrence:

• The recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet twice daily for one week.
• Your doctor will also prescribe antibiotics such as, for example, amoxicillin and clarithromycin.

For the treatment of gastric ulcers caused by NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs):

• The recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet once daily for 4 to 8 weeks.

To prevent gastric ulcers if you are taking NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs):

• The recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet once daily.

For the treatment of excessive stomach acid caused by a tumor in the pancreas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome):

• The recommended dose is 40 mg of esomeprazole twice daily.
• Your doctor will adjust the dose according to your needs and will also decide for how long you should take this medicine. The maximum dose is 80 mg twice daily.

Use in adolescents from 12 years of age

For the treatment of heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD):

• If your doctor has determined that your esophagus is slightly affected, the recommended dose is one esomeprazole 40 mg tablet daily for 4 weeks. Your doctor may instruct you to take the same dose for another 4 weeks if your esophagus has not yet healed.
• Once the esophagus has healed, the recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet once daily.
• If your esophagus is not affected, the recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet once daily.
• If you have severe liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose.

For the treatment of ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and to prevent their recurrence:

• The recommended dose is one esomeprazole 20 mg tablet twice daily for one week.
• Your doctor will also prescribe antibiotics such as, for example, amoxicillin and clarithromycin.

How to take this medicine

• You may take the tablets at any time of day.
• You may take the tablets with food or on an empty stomach.
• Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the tablets. This is because the tablets contain coated granules that prevent the medicine from being destroyed by stomach acid. It is important not to damage the granules.

What to do if you have difficulty swallowing

• If you have difficulty swallowing the tablets:

• Place the tablets in a glass of still (non-carbonated) water. Do not use other liquids.

• Stir until the tablets disintegrate (the solution will not be transparent). You may drink the mixture immediately or within 30 minutes. Always stir again just before drinking.

• To ensure you have taken the entire dose, rinse the glass thoroughly with half a glass of water and drink it. The solid particles contain the medication – do not chew or crush the granules.

• If you cannot swallow at all, the tablets can be dispersed in water and drawn into a syringe. They can then be administered directly into the stomach via a gastric tube.

Use in children under 12 years of age

This medicine is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.

Elderly patients

Dose adjustment is not necessary in elderly patients.

If you take more Esomeprazol Kern Pharma than you should

If you take more Esomeprazol Kern Pharma than prescribed by your doctor, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service. Telephone: 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Esomeprazol Kern Pharma

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose.
• Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a missed dose.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, Esomeprazol Kern Pharma can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

If you notice any of the following serious adverse effects, stop taking Esomeprazol Kern Pharma and contact a doctor immediately:

• Yellowing of the skin, dark urine, and fatigue, which may be symptoms of liver problems. These effects are rare and may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people.

• Sudden difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or swelling of the whole body, skin rash, fainting, or difficulty swallowing (severe allergic reaction). These effects are rare and may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people.

• Sudden appearance of a severe skin rash or redness of the skin with blisters or peeling, even after several weeks of treatment. Severe blisters and bleeding of the lips, eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals may also occur. Skin rashes may progress to severe and widespread skin damage (peeling of the epidermis and superficial mucous membranes), potentially leading to life-threatening consequences. This could indicate “erythema multiforme”, “Stevens-Johnson syndrome”, “toxic epidermal necrolysis”, or “drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms”.

• Widespread rash, high body temperature, and enlarged lymph nodes (DRESS syndrome or drug hypersensitivity syndrome), which is very rare.

These effects are very rare and may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people.

Other adverse effects include:

Frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Headache.
• Stomach or intestinal effects: stomach pain, constipation, diarrhoea, gas (flatulence).
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Benign polyps in the stomach.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Swelling of feet and ankles.
• Sleep disturbances (insomnia).
• Dizziness, tingling sensation, numbness, drowsiness.
• Sensation of vertigo.
• Dry mouth.
• Abnormal blood test results indicating liver function.
• Skin rash, hives, skin itching.
• Fracture of hip, wrist or spine (if Esomeprazol Kern Pharma is used at high doses and for a long period).

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)

• Blood disorders such as a decrease in the number of white blood cells or platelets. This may cause weakness, bruising, or increase the likelihood of infections.
• Low sodium levels in the blood. This may cause weakness, vomiting, and cramps.
• Restlessness, confusion, or depression.
• Taste disturbances.
• Eye disorders such as blurred vision.
• Sudden sensation of breathlessness or difficulty breathing (bronchospasm).
• Inflammation inside the mouth.
• A fungal infection known as “candidiasis” that may affect the oesophagus.
• Liver problems including jaundice, which may cause yellowing of the skin, dark urine, and fatigue.
• Hair loss (alopecia).
• Dermatitis due to exposure to sunlight.
• Joint pain (arthralgia) or muscle pain (myalgia).
• General feeling of malaise and lack of energy.
• Increased sweating.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Changes in blood cell counts, including agranulocytosis (reduction in white blood cells).
• Aggressiveness.
• Seeing, feeling, or hearing things that do not exist (hallucinations).
• Liver disorders that may lead to liver failure or brain inflammation.
• Sudden onset of severe skin rash, blisters, or skin peeling. These symptoms may be accompanied by high fever and joint pain (Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms).
• Muscle weakness.
• Severe kidney disorders.
• Enlargement of the breasts in men.

Frequency not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data)

• If you are being treated with Esomeprazol Kern Pharma for more than three months, your blood magnesium levels may decrease. Low magnesium levels may present as fatigue, involuntary muscle contractions, disorientation, seizures, dizziness, or increased heart rate. If you experience any of these symptoms, inform your doctor immediately. Low magnesium levels may also lead to reduced levels of potassium or calcium in the blood. Your doctor may decide to perform periodic blood tests to monitor your magnesium levels.
• Inflammation in the intestine (which may lead to diarrhoea).
• Skin rash, possibly with joint pain.

In very rare cases, Esomeprazol Kern Pharma may affect white blood cells, causing immune deficiency. If you develop an infection with symptoms such as fever accompanied by a severe deterioration in general condition, or fever with signs of a local infection such as neck, throat, or mouth pain, or difficulty urinating, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible to rule out a reduction in white blood cell count (agranulocytosis) via a blood test. It is important that, in this case, you inform your doctor about your medication.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience any type of adverse effect, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Esomeprazole Kern Pharma

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the label, carton, or blister pack after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

Blister packs

• Do not store above 30°C.
• Keep in the original packaging to protect from moisture.

Vials

• Do not store above 30°C.
• Shelf life after first opening of the vial: 100 days
• Keep the vial tightly closed to protect from moisture.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Dispose of unused medicines and their packaging at the SIGRE point in your pharmacy. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused medicines and packaging. This helps protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of EsomeprazolKern Pharma 20 mg

• The active substance is esomeprazole. Each tablet contains 20 mg of esomeprazole (as sodium salt).

• The other components are:

• Core: microcrystalline cellulose spheres (microcrystalline cellulose and water), hypromellose (E464), talc (E553b), titanium dioxide (E171), glycerol monostearate, polysorbate 80, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1) dispersion 30% (sodium lauryl sulfate, polysorbate 80 and methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer), triethyl citrate (E1505), macrogol, microcrystalline cellulose (E460i), crospovidone (type A) and sodium stearyl fumarate.

• Coating: Opadry II Light Blue 85F30663 (partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, macrogol, talc, indigo carmine aluminum lake / FD&C Blue #2 (E132) and yellow iron oxide (E172)).

Appearance of the medicine and contents of the pack

EsomeprazolKern Pharma 20 mg: blue, oval tablets.

It is available in blister packs containing 14, 28, and 100 tablets, and in bottles containing 100 tablets.

Only certain pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing Authorization Holder:

Kern Pharma, S.L.

Venus, 72 - Pol. Ind. Colón II

08228 Terrassa - Barcelona

Spain

Manufacturer:

Towa Pharmaceutical Europe, S.L.

C/ de Sant Martí, 75-97

08107 Martorelles - Barcelona

Spain

Date of the most recent revision of this leaflet: February 2025

Detailed information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS): http://www.aemps.gob.es/