Introduction
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Omeprazole Pensa 40mg Hard Gastro-Resistant Capsules
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
- Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you, do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If you experience any of the side effects, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Contents of the Package Leaflet:
- What is Omeprazole Pensa and what is it used for
- Before taking Omeprazole Pensa
- How to take Omeprazole Pensa
- Possible side effects
- Storage of Omeprazole Pensa
- Additional Information
1. What is Omeprazole Pensa and what is it used for
Omeprazole Pensa contains the active substance omeprazole. It belongs to a group of medicines called “proton pump inhibitors”. These medicines work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.
Omeprazole Pensa is used to treat the following conditions:
In adults:
- “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease” (GERD). In this condition, stomach acid passes into the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach), causing pain, inflammation, and heartburn.
- Ulcers in the upper part of the intestine (duodenal ulcer) or in the stomach (gastric ulcer).
- Ulcers infected by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. If you have this condition, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and allow the ulcer to heal.
- Ulcers caused by medicines called NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Omeprazole Pensa can also be used to prevent the formation of ulcers if you are taking NSAIDs.
- Excess acid in the stomach caused by a tumor in the pancreas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
In children:
Children over 1 year of age and= 10 kg
- “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease” (GERD). In this condition, stomach acid passes into the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach), causing pain, inflammation, and heartburn. In children, the symptoms of the disease may include the return of stomach contents to the mouth (regurgitation), vomiting, and insufficient weight gain.
Children over 4 years of age and adolescents
Ulcers infected by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. If your child has this condition, your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and allow the ulcer to heal.
2. Before taking Omeprazole Pensa
Do not take Omeprazole Pensa
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to omeprazole or any of the other ingredients of Omeprazole Pensa.
- if you are allergic to medicines that contain proton pump inhibitors (e.g., pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole).
- if you are taking a medicine that contains nelfinavir (used to treat HIV infection).
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Omeprazole Pensa.
Be cautious when taking Omeprazole Pensa
Omeprazole Pensa may hide the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if you experience any of the following conditions before starting to take Omeprazole Pensa or during treatment, consult your doctor immediately:
- You lose a lot of weight without any apparent reason and have difficulty swallowing.
- You have stomach pain or indigestion.
- You start vomiting food or vomiting blood.
- Your stools are black (blood-stained feces).
- If you have severe or persistent diarrhea, as omeprazole has been associated with a slight increase in infectious diarrhea.
- You have severe liver problems.
- You have ever had a skin reaction after treatment with a medicine similar to Omeprazole Pensa to reduce stomach acidity. If you experience a skin rash, especially in areas of the skin exposed to the sun, consult your doctor as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to interrupt treatment with Omeprazole Pensa. Remember to mention any other symptoms you may notice, such as joint pain.
- You are scheduled to have a specific blood test (Chromogranin A).
- When taking omeprazole, kidney inflammation may occur. The signs and symptoms may include decreased urine volume or blood in the urine and/or hypersensitivity reactions such as fever, skin rash, and joint stiffness. You should inform your doctor of these signs.
If you take Omeprazol Pensa for a long period (more than 1 year), your doctor will probably perform periodic check-ups. You should inform your doctor of any new or unusual symptoms and circumstances whenever you visit your doctor.
Use of other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription. Omeprazol Pensa may affect the action of some medicines, and some medicines may affect Omeprazol Pensa.
Do not take Omeprazol Pensa if you are taking a medicine that contains nelfinavir(used to treat HIV infection).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
- Digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
- Diazepam (used to treat anxiety, relax muscles, or in epilepsy)
- Phenytoin (used in epilepsy). If you are taking phenytoin, your doctor will need to monitor you when you start or stop treatment with Omeprazol Pensa
- Medicines used to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin or other vitamin K antagonists. Your doctor will need to monitor you when you start or stop treatment with Omeprazol Pensa
- Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
- Atazanavir (used to treat HIV infection)
- Tacrolimus (in cases of organ transplantation)
- St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) (used to treat mild depression)
- Cilostazol (used to treat intermittent claudication)
- Saquinavir (used to treat HIV infection)
- Clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clots (thrombi))
- Erlotinib (used to treat cancer)
- Methotrexate (chemotherapy medicine used in high doses to treat cancer) – if you are taking a high dose of methotrexate, your doctor will need to temporarily stop treatment with Omeprazol Pensa.
If your doctor has also prescribed the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin for you to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pyloriinfection, it is very important that you inform your doctor of any other medicines you are taking.
Taking Omeprazol Pensa with food and drinks
You can take your capsules with food or on an empty stomach.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Before taking Omeprazol Pensa, inform your doctor if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Your doctor will decide if you can take Omeprazol Pensa during this time.
Your doctor will decide if you can take Omeprazol Pensa if you are breastfeeding.
Driving and using machines
Omeprazol Pensa is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use tools or machines. However, side effects such as dizziness and visual disturbances (see section 4) may occur. If they do, you should not drive or use machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Omeprazol Pensa
This medicine contains sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
3. How to take Omeprazole Pensa
Follow the instructions for administration of Omeprazole Pensa exactly as indicated by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any doubts.
Your doctor will tell you how many capsules to take and for how long. This will depend on your condition and age.
The usual doses are indicated below.
Adults:
Treatment of symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn and acid regurgitation:
- If your doctor confirms that you have mild esophageal damage, the usual dose is 20 mg once a day for 4-8 weeks. Your doctor may prescribe a dose of 40 mg for another 8 weeks if the esophagus has not yet healed.
- The usual dose once the esophagus has healed is 10 mg once a day.
- If you do not have esophageal damage, the usual dose is 10 mg once a day.
Treatment of ulcers in the upper part of the intestine(duodenal ulcer):
- The usual dose is 20 mg once a day for 2 weeks. Your doctor may prescribe the same dose for another 2 weeks if the ulcer has not yet healed.
- If the ulcer does not heal completely, the dose may be increased to 40 mg once a day for 4 weeks.
Treatment of stomach ulcers(gastric ulcer):
- The usual dose is 20 mg once a day for 4 weeks. Your doctor may prescribe the same dose for another 4 weeks if the ulcer has not yet healed.
- If the ulcer does not heal completely, the dose may be increased to 40 mg once a day for 8 weeks.
Preventionof the recurrence of stomach and duodenal ulcers:
- The usual dose is 10 mg or 20 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase the dose to 40 mg once a day.
Treatment of stomach and duodenal ulcerscaused by NSAIDs(non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs):
- The usual dose is 20 mg once a day for 4-8 weeks.
Prevention of stomach and duodenal ulcersduring the administration of NSAIDs:
- The usual dose is 20 mg once a day.
Treatment of ulcers causedby Helicobacter pyloriinfectionand prevention of their recurrence:
- The usual dose is 20 mg of Omeprazole Pensa twice a day for one week.
- Your doctor will also tell you to take two antibiotics: amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and metronidazole.
Treatment of excess acid in the stomach caused by a tumor in the pancreas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome):
- The usual dose is 60 mg per day.
- Your doctor will adjust the dose according to your needs and decide how long you need to take the medicine.
Children:
Treatment of symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn and acid regurgitation:
- Children over 1 year of age who weigh more than 10 kg can take Omeprazole Pensa. The dose for children is based on body weight, and the doctor will decide the correct dose.
Treatment of ulcerscausedby Helicobacter pyloriinfectionand prevention of their recurrence:
- Children over 4 years of age can take Omeprazole Pensa. The dose for children is based on body weight, and the doctor will decide the correct dose.
- The doctor will also prescribe two antibiotics, amoxicillin and clarithromycin, for your child.
How to take this medicine
- It is recommended to take the capsules in the morning.
- You can take your capsules with food or on an empty stomach.
- Swallow the capsules whole with half a glass of water. Do not chew or crush the capsules, as they contain coated granules that prevent the medicine from breaking down due to the action of stomach acid. It is important not to damage the granules.
What to do if you or your child have problems swallowing the capsules
- If you or your child have problems swallowing the capsules:
- Open the capsules and swallow the contents directly with half a glass of water or pour the contents into a glass of still water, acidic fruit juice (e.g., apple, orange, or pineapple), or apple sauce.
- Always shake the mixture just before drinking it (the mixture will not be transparent). Then, drink the mixture immediately or within 30 minutes.
- To ensure that you have taken all the medicine, fill the glass with water to the half, rinse it well, and drink the water. The solid parts contain the medicine; do not chew or crush them.
If you take more Omeprazole Pensa than you should
If you have taken more Omeprazole Pensa than prescribed by your doctor, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately. You can also call the Toxicology Information Service, phone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.
If you forget to take Omeprazole Pensa
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed doses.
4. Possible Adverse Effects
Like all medicines, Omeprazol Pensa can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.
If you notice any of the following rare but serious adverse effects, stop taking Omeprazol Pensa and consult your doctor immediately:
- Sudden whistling when breathing (sudden wheezing), swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat or body, skin rash, fainting or difficulty swallowing (severe allergic reaction).
- Redness of the skin with blistering or peeling. Intense blisters and bleeding may also appear on the lips, eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals. This could be "Stevens-Johnson syndrome" or "toxic epidermal necrolysis".
- Yellowing of the skin, dark urine, and fatigue, which can be symptoms of liver problems.
Adverse effects can occur with certain frequencies, which are defined as follows:
Very frequent: | affect more than 1 patient in 10 |
Frequent: | affect 1 to 10 patients in 100 |
Uncommon: | affect 1 to 10 patients in 1,000 |
Rare: | affect 1 to 10 patients in 10,000 |
Very rare: | affect less than 1 patient in 10,000 |
Unknown: | Frequency cannot be determined from available data |
Other adverse effects are:
Frequent Adverse Effects
- Headache.
- Effects on the stomach or intestine: diarrhea, stomach pain, benign polyps in the stomach, constipation, and gas (flatulence).
- Nausea or vomiting.
Uncommon Adverse Effects
- Swelling of the feet and ankles.
- Sleep disorders (insomnia).
- Dizziness, tingling sensation, drowsiness.
- Feeling that everything is spinning (vertigo).
- Alterations in blood tests that check liver function.
- Skin rash, hives, and itching.
- Feeling of general discomfort and lack of energy.
Rare Adverse Effects
- Blood problems, such as decreased white blood cells or platelets. This can cause weakness or bruising and increase the risk of infections.
- Allergic reactions, sometimes very intense, including swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, fever, and wheezing.
- Low sodium levels in the blood. This can cause weakness, vomiting, and cramps.
- Agitation, confusion, or depression.
- Taste disturbances.
- Visual problems, such as blurred vision.
- Sudden feeling of difficult breathing (bronchospasm).
- Dry mouth.
- Inflammation of the mouth.
- Infection called "candidiasis" that can affect the intestine and is caused by a fungus.
- Liver problems, such as jaundice, which can cause yellowing of the skin, dark urine, and fatigue.
- Hair loss (alopecia).
- Skin rash with exposure to sunlight.
- Joint pain (arthralgias) or muscle pain (myalgias).
- Severe kidney problems (interstitial nephritis).
- Increased sweating.
Very Rare Adverse Effects
- Alterations in blood count, such as agranulocytosis (lack of white blood cells).
- Aggressiveness.
- Seeing, feeling, or hearing things that do not exist (hallucinations).
- Severe liver problems that cause liver failure and brain inflammation.
- Sudden appearance of an intense rash, blistering, or peeling of the skin. This can be accompanied by high fever and joint pain (erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis).
- Muscle weakness.
- Increased breast size in males.
- Low magnesium levels in the blood.
In very rare cases, Omeprazol Pensa can affect the white blood cells in the blood and cause immunodeficiency. If you have an infection with symptoms such as fever with a very deteriorated general condition or fever with symptoms of local infection, such as neck, throat, or mouth pain, or difficulty urinating, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible to perform a blood test and rule out a lack of white blood cells (agranulocytosis). It is essential that you provide information about the medication you are taking at that time.
Adverse Effects of Unknown Frequency
- Inflammation in the intestine (which causes diarrhea).
- If you are taking Omeprazol Pensa for more than three months, it is possible that your blood magnesium levels may decrease. Low magnesium levels can cause fatigue, muscle contractions, disorientation, convulsions, dizziness, and increased heart rate. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Low magnesium levels can also cause a decrease in blood potassium and calcium levels. Your doctor may decide to perform periodic blood tests to monitor magnesium levels.
- Skin rash, possibly with joint pain.
If you are taking proton pump inhibitors like Omeprazol Pensa, especially for a period of more than one year, you may have a slightly increased risk of hip, wrist, and spine fractures. Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis).
Do not worry about this list of possible adverse effects. You may not experience any of them. If you consider that any of the adverse effects you are experiencing is serious or if you notice any adverse effect not mentioned in this prospectus, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is an adverse effect that does not appear in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: www.notificaRAM.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
5. Conservation of Omeprazol Pensa
- Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
- Do not use Omeprazol Pensa after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
- Blister pack: Do not store at a temperature above 25°C. Keep this blister pack in its original packaging.
- Bottle: No special storage conditions are required. Keep the container perfectly closed to protect it from moisture.
- Medicines should not be thrown away through the sewers or in the trash. Deposit the packaging and medications you no longer need in the SIGRE Point of the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
6. Additional Information
Composition of Omeprazol Pensa
- The active ingredient is omeprazole. Omeprazol Pensa capsules contain 40 mg of omeprazole.
- The other components are Hypromellose, disodium phosphate dihydrate, talc, titanium dioxide (E 171), 30% dispersion of methacrylic acid ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1), triethyl citrate, and sugar spheres (containing cornstarch and sucrose). Capsule: titanium dioxide (E 171), water, gelatin, printing ink (containing Shellac, Ethyl alcohol, Isopropyl alcohol, Propylene glycol, N-butyl alcohol, Ammonium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, Purified water, Black iron oxide E-172).
Appearance of the Product and Packaging Content
The Omeprazol Pensa 40 mg capsules are formed by a white body marked with "40" and a white cap marked with "OM".
Package sizes:
Blister packs of 14, 28, or 56 capsules; clinical package of 504 capsules.
HDPE bottle with a screw cap of hermetic polypropylene equipped with silica gel as a desiccant with 28 or 56 capsules.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder
Towa Pharmaceutical, S.A.
C/ de Sant Martí, 75-97
08107 Martorelles (Barcelona)
Spain
Manufacturer
Towa Pharmaceutical Europe, S.L.
C/ de Sant Martí 75-97
08107 Martorelles (Barcelona)
Spain
Date of the Last Revision of this Prospectus:February 2023
Detailed information about this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/