Prospect: Information for the Patient

Esomeprazole Tevagen 20 mg gastro-resistant tablets EFG

Esomeprazole Tevagen 40 mg gastro-resistant tablets EFG

esomeprazole

Read the prospect carefully before starting to take the medicine, as it contains important information for you.

• Keep this prospect, as you may need to read it again.

• If you have any doubts, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed only for you and should not be given to other people, even if they have the same symptoms as you, as it may harm them.
• If you experience any adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they do not appear in this prospect. See section 4.

Esomeprazol Tevagen contains a medicine called esomeprazole. This belongs to a group of medicines called “proton pump inhibitors”. These work by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

Esomeprazol Tevagen is used to treat the following conditions:

Adults

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs when stomach acid rises up into the esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach) causing pain, inflammation, and heartburn.
• Stomach ulcers or upper small intestine ulcers infected by a bacteria called “Helicobacter pylori”. If you have this condition, your doctor will also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and allow the ulcer to heal.
• Stomach ulcers caused by certain medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Esomeprazol Tevagen can also be used to prevent ulcers from forming if you are taking NSAIDs.
• Excessive stomach acid produced by a tumor in the pancreas (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
• Continuation treatment to prevent bleeding from peptic ulcers induced with esomeprazole intravenously.

Adolescents 12 years of age and older

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This occurs when stomach acid rises up into the esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach) causing pain, inflammation, and heartburn.
• Stomach ulcers or upper small intestine ulcers infected by a bacteria called “Helicobacter pylori”. If you have this condition, your doctor will also prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection and allow the ulcer to heal.

Do not take Esomeprazol Tevagen

• If you are allergic to esomeprazole or any of the other ingredients of this medication (listed in section 6).
• If you are allergic to other medications in the group of proton pump inhibitors (for example pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, omeprazole).
• If you are taking a medication that contains nelfinavir (used in the treatment of HIV infection).

If you are in any of these situations, do not take Esomeprazol Tevagen. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Esomeprazol Tevagen.

Warnings and precautions

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Esomeprazol Tevagen:

• If you have severe liver problems
• If you have severe kidney problems
• If you have ever had a skin reaction after treatment with a similar medication to Esomeprazol Tevagen for reducing stomach acid.
• If you are scheduled to have a specific blood test (Cromogranin A).

Esomeprazole may mask the symptoms of other diseases.Therefore, if you observe any of the following events before taking or while taking esomeprazole, contact your doctor immediately:

• You lose a lot of weight without reason and have trouble swallowing.
• You experience stomach pain or indigestion.
• You begin to vomit food or blood.
• Your stools appear black (blood-stained).

If you have been prescribed esomeprazole only when you notice some symptoms, you should contact your doctor if the symptoms of your disease persist or change.

The use of proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole, especially for periods of time exceeding one year, may slightly increase the risk of suffering a hip, wrist, or spinal column fracture. Consult your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which may increase the risk of osteoporosis).

Rashes and skin symptoms

If you experience a rash, especially in sun-exposed areas, go to your doctor as soon as possible, as it may be necessary to interrupt treatment with esomeprazole. 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, and conjunctivitis (red and swollen eyes) ulcers. These severe skin rashes usually appear after symptoms similar to the flu, such as fever, headache, and body aches. The rash may cover large areas of the body with blisters and skin peeling.

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

Children under 12 years old

Esomeprazole should not be used in children under 12 years old. There are other pharmaceutical forms of this medication that are more suitable.

Taking Esomeprazol Tevagen with other medications

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication, including those purchased without a prescription. This is because esomeprazole may affect the way some medications work and some medications may influence the effect of esomeprazole.

Do not take esomeprazole if you are taking a medication that containsnelfinavir(used for the treatment of HIV infection).

• Atazanavir or saquinavir (used for the treatment of HIV infection)
• Clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clots)
• Ketoconazole, itraconazole, or voriconazole (for fungal infections)
• Ertonilibe (used to treat cancer)
• Citalopram, imipramine, clomipramine (for the treatment of depression)
• Diazepam (used for the treatment of anxiety, as a muscle relaxant, or for epilepsy)
• Fenitoin (for epilepsy). If you are taking phenytoin, your doctor will need to monitor when you start or stop taking esomeprazole
• Medications used to make the blood more fluid, such as warfarin. Your doctor may need to monitor when you start or stop taking esomeprazole
• Cilostazol (used to treat intermittent claudication – pain in the legs when walking caused by poor blood circulation)
• Cisapride (used for indigestion and heartburn)
• Digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
• Metotrexate (a chemotherapy medication used at high doses to treat cancer) - if you are taking high doses of methotrexate, your doctor may temporarily interrupt your treatment with esomeprazole
• Tacrolimus (organ transplant)
• Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)(used to treat mild depression)

If your doctor has prescribed antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin in addition to Esomeprazol Tevagen to treat ulcers caused byHelicobacter pylori, it is very important to inform your doctor if you are taking any other medication.

Taking Esomeprazol Tevagen with food and drinks

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

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.

Your doctor will decide if you can take esomeprazole during this period.

The passage of esomeprazole into breast milk is unknown. Therefore, do not take esomeprazole during breastfeeding.

Driving and operating machinery

Esomeprazole is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use tools or machinery. However, adverse reactions such as dizziness and blurred vision are rare or occur rarely (see section 4). If it affects you, you should not drive or operate machinery.

Esomeprazol Tevagen contains saccharose

This medication contains sugar spheres that contain saccharose, a type of sugar. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with him before taking this medication.

Esomeprazol Tevagen contains sodium

This medication contains less than 23 mg of sodium (1 mmol) per dose; that is, it is essentially "sodium-free".

Follow exactly the administration instructions of this medication as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

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

How much to take

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

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

Adults and adolescents 12 years and older

• If your doctor has determined that your esophagus is slightly affected, the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 40 mg per day for 4 weeks. Your doctor may tell you to take the same dose for another 4 weeks if your esophagus has not yet healed.
• The recommended dose once your esophagus has healed is one tablet of esomeprazole 20 mg once a day.
• If your esophagus has not been affected, the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 20 mg per day. Once your condition has been controlled, your doctor will tell you to take the medication as needed, up to a maximum of one tablet of esomeprazole 20 mg 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 recurrences:

• Adults and adolescents 12 years and older: the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 20 mg twice a day for one week.
• Your doctor will tell you to take additional antibiotics, for example amoxicillin and clarithromycin.

For the treatment of stomach ulcers caused by NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs):

• Adults 18 years and older: the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 20 mg once a day for4 to8 weeks.

For the prevention of stomach ulcers if you are taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

• Adults 18 years and older: the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 20 mg once a day.

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

• Adults 18 years and older: the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 40 mg twice a day.
• Your doctor will adjust the dose according to your needs and also decide for how long you should take this medication. The maximum dose is 80 mg twice a day.

Continuation treatment for the prevention of bleeding from peptic ulcers induced with esomeprazole intravenously:

• Adults 18 years and older: the recommended dose is one tablet of esomeprazole 40 mg once a day for 4 weeks.

How to take this medication

• You can take the tablets at any time of the day.
• You can 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 medication from being destroyed by stomach acid. It is essential not to damage the granules.

What to do if you have difficulty swallowing the tablets

• If you cannot swallow at all, the tablets can be dispersed in water and introduced into a syringe. This way, you can administer it directly to the stomach through a tube (gastrostomy tube).

Children and adolescents under 12 years

Esomeprazole Tevagen is not recommended for children under 12 years. There are other pharmaceutical forms of this medication that are more suitable.

Older adults

No dose adjustment is required in older adults.

If you take more Esomeprazol Tevagen than you should

If you take more esomeprazole than your doctor has prescribed, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult the Toxicological Information Service. Phone91 5620420, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Esomeprazol Tevagen

• 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 once) to compensate for the missed dose.

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

Like all medicines, this medicine may cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

If you notice any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Esomeprazol Tevagen and contact a doctor immediately:

• Yellow skin, dark urine, and fatigue that may be symptoms of liver problems.These effects are rare and may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people.000 people.
• Sudden difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat or body in general, 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. Also, large blisters and bleeding from the lips, eyes, mouth, nose, and genitals may appear. Skin rashes can turn into severe skin damage and generalized (peeling of the epidermis and superficial mucous membranes) with potentially fatal consequences. It could be a “multiform erythema”, “Stevens-Johnson syndrome”,“toxic epidermal necrolysis”, or “drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms”.These effects are very rare and may affect up to 1 in 10,000people.

Other side effects include:

Frequent (affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Headache
• Effects on the stomach or intestine: stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas (flatulence)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Benign stomach polyps

Infrequent (affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Swelling of the feet and ankles
• Sleep disturbance (insomnia)
• Dizziness, tingling, numbness, somnolence
• Sensation of vertigo
• Dry mouth
• Alteration of blood tests that determine liver function
• Skin rash, urticaria, itching skin
• Fracture of the hip, wrist, and spine (if esomeprazol is used at high doses or for prolonged periods of time)

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

• Blood disorders such as a decrease in the number of white blood cells or platelets. This can cause weakness, bruises, or increase the risk of infections
• Low sodium levels in the blood. This can cause weakness, vomiting, and cramps
• Agitation, confusion, or depression
• Alteration of taste
• Eye disorders such as blurred vision
• Sudden sensation of lack of air or difficulty breathing (bronchospasm)
• Inflammation in the interior of the mouth
• A known infection known as “candidiasis” that can affect the intestine and is caused by a fungus
• Liver problems including jaundice that can cause yellow skin, dark urine, and fatigue
• Loss of hair (alopecia)
• Dermatitis caused by exposure to sunlight
• Pain in the joints (arthritis) or muscle pain (myalgia)
• General feeling of discomfort and lack of energy
• Increased sweating

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

• Changes in the number of cells in the blood, including agranulocytosis (decrease in the number of white blood cells)
• Aggression
• To see, feel, or hear things that do not exist (hallucinations)
• Liver disorders that can lead to liver failure or brain inflammation
• Sudden appearance of severe skin rash, blisters, or peeling of the skin. These symptoms may be accompanied by high fever and joint pain. (Multiform erythema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic epidermal necrolysis, Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms)
• Muscle weakness
• Severe kidney disorders
• Increased breast size in men

Frequency unknown (cannot be estimated from available data)

• If you are taking esomeprazol for more than three months, it is possible that magnesium levels in the blood may decrease. Low magnesium levels in the blood may manifest as fatigue, involuntary muscle contractions, disorientation, seizures, dizziness, increased heart rate. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Low magnesium levels can also trigger a decrease in potassium or calcium levels in the blood. Your doctor may decide to perform periodic blood tests to monitor magnesium levels.
• Inflammation in the intestine (producing diarrhea).
• Skin rash, possibly with joint pain

In very rare cases, Esomeprazol Tevagen may affect white blood cells, causing immunodeficiency. If you have an infection with symptoms such as high fever with a severeempeoramientoof the general state or high fever with symptoms of a local infection such as neck pain, throat pain, mouth pain, or difficulty urinating, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible to rule out a decrease in the number of white blood cells (agranulocytosis) through a blood test. It is essential that, in this case, you inform your doctor about your medication.

Reporting of side effects

If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible side effect that does not appear in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish System of Pharmacovigilance of Medicines for human useWebsite:www.notificaram.es. By reportingside effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine

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

Do not store at a temperature above 30°C.

Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after “EXP” or “CAD”. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medicines should not be disposed of through drains or in the trash. Dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE point of the pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. In this way, you will help protect the environment.

Composition of Esomeprazol Tevagen