Opiren 15 mg capsules

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Opiren 15 mg Capsules

lansoprazol

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

• Keep this leaflet as 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, and you should not give it to others, even if they have the same symptoms as you, because it may 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.

Leaflet contents:

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

1. What Opiren is and what it is used for

The active substance in Opiren is lansoprazol, a proton pump inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

Your doctor may prescribe Opiren for the following indications in adults:

• Treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers
• Treatment of inflammation of the oesophagus (reflux esophagitis)
• Prevention of reflux esophagitis
• Treatment of heartburn and acid regurgitation
• Treatment of infections caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, in combination with antibiotics
• Treatment or prevention of duodenal or gastric ulcers in patients requiring ongoing treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (NSAID therapy is used for pain or inflammation)
• Treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Your doctor may have prescribed Opiren for an indication or at a dosage different from that stated in this leaflet. Follow exactly the instructions for taking this medicine as given by your doctor.

Consult a doctor if you get worse or do not improve after 14 days.

2. What you need to know before taking Opiren

Do not take Opiren

• if you are allergic to lansoprazole or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).

Warnings and precautions

Inform your doctor if you have severe liver disease. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.

Your doctor may have performed or may perform an additional test called endoscopy to diagnose your condition and/or rule out malignant disease.

If you experience diarrhoea during treatment with Opiren, contact your doctor immediately, as Opiren has been associated with a slight increase in infectious diarrhoea.

If your doctor has prescribed Opiren together with other medicines for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection (antibiotics) or together with anti-inflammatory medicines for pain or rheumatism, please also read the package leaflets of these medicines carefully.

Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as Opiren, especially for more than one year, may slightly increase the risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis (reduced bone density) or if your doctor has told you that you are at risk of osteoporosis (for example, if you are taking steroids).

If you have been taking Opiren for a long time (more than 1 year), your doctor will likely monitor you regularly. During visits to your doctor, you should report any new or unusual symptoms or circumstances.

Consult your doctor before starting lansoprazole:

• If you have reduced body stores of vitamin B12 or risk factors for this, and you are to receive long-term treatment with lansoprazole. Like all medicines that reduce acid levels, lansoprazole could reduce the absorption of vitamin B12.

• If you are scheduled to have a specific blood test (chromogranin A).

• If you have ever had a skin reaction after treatment with a medicine similar to lansoprazole used to reduce stomach acidity.

• 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 discontinue treatment with lansoprazole. Remember to mention any other symptoms you may notice, such as joint pain.

• Serious skin reactions have been reported in association with treatment with Opiren [Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)]. Stop using Opiren and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the symptoms related to serious skin reactions described in section 4.

• When taking lansoprazole, inflammation of the kidney may occur. Signs and symptoms may include decreased urine volume or blood in the urine and/or hypersensitivity reactions such as fever, rash, and joint stiffness. You must report such signs to your treating doctor.

Taking Opiren with other medicines

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might need to take any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription.

In particular, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines containing any of the following active substances, as Opiren may affect their action:

• HIV protease inhibitors such as atazanavir and nelfinavir (used in the treatment of HIV)
• methotrexate (used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer)
• ketoconazole, itraconazol, rifampicin (used to treat infections)
• digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
• warfarin (used to treat blood clots)
• theophylline (used to treat asthma)
• tacrolimus (used to prevent transplant rejection)
• fluvoxamine (used to treat depression and other psychiatric disorders)
• antacids (used to treat heartburn or acid regurgitation)
• sucralfate (used to heal ulcers)
• St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) (used to treat mild depression)

Taking Opiren with food and drinks

For best results from your medicine, you should take Opiren at least 30 minutes before meals with a glass of water.

Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility

If you are pregnant, breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.

Driving and using machines

Patients taking Opiren may occasionally experience side effects such as dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, and visual disturbances. If you experience any of these side effects, you should exercise caution, as your reaction capacity may be reduced.

You are solely responsible for deciding whether you are fit to drive or perform activities requiring a high level of concentration. Due to its effects or adverse reactions, one of the factors that may reduce your ability to safely carry out these tasks is the use of medicines.

Descriptions of these effects can be found in the following sections.

Read this leaflet carefully.

If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Opiren contains sucrose

If your doctor has diagnosed you with an intolerance to certain sugars, consult him before taking this medicine.

Opiren contains sodium

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per capsule; hence, it is essentially “sodium-free”.

3. How to take Opiren

Follow exactly the instructions for using this medicine as given by your doctor. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. If you have difficulty swallowing the capsule, your doctor will inform you of alternative ways to take the medicine. Do not crush or chew the capsules or the contents of an emptied capsule, as this will prevent the medicine from working properly.

If you take Opiren once daily, try to take it at the same time each day. You may achieve better results if you take Opiren in the morning.

If you take Opiren twice daily, you should take the first dose in the morning and the second dose in the evening.

The dose of Opiren depends on your general condition. The usual doses of Opiren for adults are listed below. Occasionally, your doctor may prescribe a different dose and indicate a different treatment duration.

Treatment of heartburn and acid regurgitation: one 15 mg or 30 mg capsule daily for 4 weeks. If symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks, consult your doctor.

Treatment of duodenal ulcer: one 30 mg capsule daily for 2 weeks.

Treatment of gastric ulcer: one 30 mg capsule daily for 4 weeks.

Treatment of inflammation of the oesophagus (reflux oesophagitis): one 30 mg capsule daily for 4 weeks.

Long-term prevention of reflux oesophagitis: one 15 mg capsule daily; your doctor may adjust the dose to one 30 mg capsule daily.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: The usual dose is one 30 mg capsule together with two different antibiotics in the morning and one 30 mg capsule together with two different antibiotics in the evening. Treatment is usually given daily for 7 days.

The recommended antibiotic combinations are as follows:

• 30 mg Opiren with 250–500 mg clarithromycin and 1,000 mg amoxicillin
• 30 mg Opiren with 250 mg clarithromycin and 400–500 mg metronidazole

If you are receiving anti-infective treatment for an ulcer, the ulcer is unlikely to recur if the infection is successfully treated. To achieve the best results from your medicine, take it at the correct time and do not miss any doses.

Treatment of duodenal or gastric ulcer in patients requiring ongoing NSAID therapy: one 30 mg capsule daily for 4 weeks.

Prevention of duodenal or gastric ulcer in patients requiring ongoing NSAID therapy: one 15 mg capsule daily; your doctor may adjust the dose to one 30 mg capsule daily.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: The usual initial dose is two 30 mg capsules daily; subsequently, depending on your response to treatment with Opiren, your doctor will decide the best dose for you.

Use in children

Opiren must not be given to children.

If you take more Opiren than you should

If you take more Opiren than prescribed, contact your doctor immediately or contact the Toxicology Information Service, Telephone 915 620 420.

If you forget to take Opiren

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as possible unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next capsules at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you stop taking Opiren

Do not stop treatment prematurely just because symptoms have improved. Your condition may not be completely healed and may return if you do not complete the full course of treatment.

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

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not everyone will experience them.

If you start to notice any of the following adverse effects, stop taking Opiren and contact your doctor immediately:

• circular or target-shaped slightly reddish spots on the trunk, often with blisters in the center, peeling, ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals, and eyes. These serious skin rashes may be preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).
• generalized rash, high body temperature, and lymphadenopathy (DRESS syndrome or drug hypersensitivity syndrome).

Common adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• headache, dizziness
• diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, flatulence, dryness or soreness of mouth or throat
• skin rash, itching
• changes in liver function test values
• fatigue
• benign polyps in the stomach

Uncommon adverse effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• depression
• joint or muscle pain
• fluid retention or swelling
• changes in blood cell counts

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

• fever
• restlessness, drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, insomnia, visual disturbances, dizziness
• taste disturbances, loss of appetite, inflammation of the tongue (glossitis)
• skin reactions such as burning or itching sensation, bruising, redness, and excessive sweating
• photosensitivity
• hair loss
• tingling sensation (paresthesia), tremor
• anemia (pallor)
• kidney problems
• pancreatitis
• liver inflammation (may present as yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• breast swelling in males, impotence
• candidiasis (fungal infection, may affect skin or mucosa)
• angioedema; contact your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of angioedema, such as swelling of the face, tongue, or pharynx, difficulty swallowing, urticaria, or breathing difficulties.

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

• severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylactic shock. Symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions may include fever, rash, swelling, and sometimes a drop in blood pressure
• inflammation of the mouth (stomatitis)
• inflammation of the intestine (colitis)
• changes in laboratory values, such as levels of sodium, cholesterol, and triglycerides
• very severe skin reactions with redness, blisters, severe swelling, and skin loss
• in very rare cases, Opiren may cause a reduction in the number of white blood cells, which can decrease your resistance to infections. If you develop an infection with symptoms such as fever and severe deterioration in your general condition, or fever with signs of local infection such as sore throat/pharynx/mouth or urinary problems, consult your doctor immediately. A blood test will be performed to check for possible reduction in white blood cells (agranulocytosis).

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

• If you have been taking Opiren for more than three months, your blood magnesium levels may decrease. Low magnesium levels can cause fatigue, involuntary muscle contractions, disorientation, seizures, dizziness, and increased heart rate. If you notice any of these symptoms, inform your doctor immediately. Low magnesium levels may also lead to decreased potassium or calcium levels in the blood. Your doctor will likely request regular blood tests to monitor your magnesium levels.
• Low sodium levels in the blood. Common symptoms include nausea and vomiting, headache, drowsiness and fatigue, confusion, muscle weakness or spasms, irritability, seizures, coma.
• Skin rash, possibly with joint pain.
• Visual hallucinations.

Reporting of adverse effects:

If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are possible adverse effects not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly via 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 Opiren

Store below 25°C. Keep in the original packaging to protect from moisture.

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

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the container and outer carton, after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Dispose of empty containers and unused medicines at the SIGRE collection point at your pharmacy. If you are in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused or expired medicines. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

Composition of Opiren

The active substance is lansoprazol.

The other components are: heavy magnesium carbonate, sugar spheres, sucrose, corn starch, hydroxypropylcellulose, low-substituted hydroxypropylcellulose, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer dispersion (1:1) 30%, talc, macrogol 8000, titanium dioxide (E-171), polysorbate 80, and anhydrous colloidal silica.

Components of the capsule shell: titanium dioxide (E-171), gelatin, and ink composed of shellac lac (E-904), potassium hydroxide (E-525), propylene glycol (E-1520), ammonium hydroxide (E-527), and black iron oxide (E-172).

Appearance of the product and contents of the pack

Opiren 15 mg is presented as white gastro-resistant hard capsules marked with “Opiren 15”. Each pack contains 28 or 56 capsules.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

TAKEDA FARMACÉUTICA ESPAÑA, S.A.
Calle Albacete, 5, 9th floor,
Edificio Los Cubos
28027 Madrid
Spain
Tel: +34 91 790 42 22

Manufacturer

Delpharm Novara S.r.l.
Via Crosa, 86 - Cerano (No) - I-28065 - Italy

or

Lusomedicamenta – Sociedade Técnica Farmacêutica, S.A.
Rua Norberto de Oliveira, 1 to 5
2620-111 Póvoa de Sto. Adrião, Portugal

or

Lusomedicamenta – Sociedade Técnica Farmacêutica, S.A.
Estrada Consiglieri Pedroso, 66, 69-B, Queluz de Baixo – 2730-055 Barcarena – Portugal

or

Opella Healthcare International SAS
56, Route de Choisy
60200 Compiègne
FRANCE

or

Vianex S.A
15th km Marathonos Ave, 15351 Pallini Attiki, Greece

This medicinal product is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Austria: AGOPTON
France: LANZOR, OGAST
Germany: AGOPTON
Greece: LAPRAZOL
Italy: LANSOX, LIMPIDEX, ZOTON
Portugal: OGASTO
Spain: OPIREN

Date of the most recent review of this leaflet: December 2023

Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS):
http://www.aemps.gob.es/