Keep out of reach of children.
Read the directions carefully before use.
For prescription only.
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION:
Active ingredients
Pantoprazole .......................... 40 mg
(as pantoprazole sodium sesquihydrate)
Excipients: q.s ………………. 1 tablet
Gastro-resistant tablet.
Product description: An oval, yellow, film-coated tablet, plain on both sides, undamaged edges.
Box of 2 blisters x 10 gastro-resistant tablets.
ATC code: A02BC02.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Proton pump inhibitors.
Mechanism of action
Pantoprazole is a substituted benzimidazole which inhibits the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach by specific blockade of the proton pumps of the parietal cells.
Pantoprazole is converted to its active form in the acidic environment in the parietal cells where it inhibits the H+, K+-ATPase enzyme, i.e. the final stage in the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. The inhibition is dose-dependent and affects both basal and stimulated acid secretion. In most patients, freedom from symptoms is achieved within 2 weeks. As with other proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor inhibitors, treatment with pantoprazole reduces acidity in the stomach and thereby increases gastrin in proportion to the reduction in acidity. The increase in gastrin is reversible. Since pantoprazole binds to the enzyme distal to the cell receptor level, it can inhibit hydrochloric acid secretion independently of stimulation by other substances (acetylcholine, histamine, gastrin). The effect is the same whether the product is given orally or intravenously.
The fasting gastrin values increase under pantoprazole. On short-term use, in most cases they do not exceed the upper limit of normal. During long-term treatment, gastrin levels double in most cases. An excessive increase, however, occurs only in isolated cases. As a result, a mild to moderate increase in the number of specific endocrine (ECL) cells in the stomach is observed in a minority of cases during long-term treatment (simple to adenomatoid hyperplasia). However, according to the studies conducted so far, the formation of carcinoid precursors (atypical hyperplasia) or gastric carcinoids as were found in animal experiments have not been observed in humans.
An influence of a long term treatment with pantoprazole exceeding one year cannot be completely ruled out on endocrine parameters of the thyroid according to results in animal studies.
Absorption
Pantoprazole is rapidly absorbed and the maximal plasma concentration is achieved even after one single 40 mg oral dose. On average at about 2.5 h p.a. the maximum serum concentrations of about 2 - 3 mcg/ml are achieved, and these values remain constant after multiple administration.
Pharmacokinetics do not vary after single or repeated administration. In the dose range of 10 to 80 mg, the plasma kinetics of pantoprazole are linear after both oral and intravenous administration.
The absolute bioavailability from the tablet was found to be about 77%. Concomitant intake of food had no influence on AUC, maximum serum concentration and thus bioavailability. Only the variability of the lag-time will be increased by concomitant food intake.
Distribution
Pantoprazole's serum protein binding is about 98%. Volume of distribution is about 0.15 l/kg.
Biotransformation
The substance is almost exclusively metabolized in the liver. The main metabolic pathway is demethylation by CYP2C19 with subsequent sulphate conjugation, other metabolic pathways include oxidation by CYP3A4.
Elimination
Terminal half-life is about 1 hour and clearance is about 0.1 l/h/kg. There were a few cases of subjects with delayed elimination. Because of the specific binding of pantoprazole to the proton pumps of the parietal cell the elimination half-life does not correlate with the much longer duration of action (inhibition of acid secretion).
Renal elimination represents the major route of excretion (about 80%) for the metabolites of pantoprazole, the rest is excreted with the faeces. The main metabolite in both the serum and urine is desmethylpantoprazole which is conjugated with sulphate. The half-life of the main metabolite (about 1.5 hours) is not much longer than that of pantoprazole.
Special populations
Poor metabolisers
Approximately 3% of the European population lack a functional CYP2C19 enzyme and are called poor metabolisers. In these individuals the metabolism of pantoprazole is probably mainly catalysed by CYP3A4. After a single-dose administration of 40 mg pantoprazole, the mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve was approximately 6 times higher in poor metabolisers than in subjects having a functional CYP2C19 enzyme (extensive metabolisers). Mean peak plasma concentrations were increased by about 60%. These findings have no implications for the posology of pantoprazole.
Renal impairment
No dose reduction is recommended when pantoprazole is administered to patients with impaired renal function (including dialysis patients). As with healthy subjects, pantoprazole's half-life is short. Only very small amounts of pantoprazole are dialyzed. Although the main metabolite has a moderately delayed half-life (2 - 3h), excretion is still rapid and thus accumulation does not occur.
Hepatic impairment
Although for patients with liver cirrhosis (classes A and B according to Child) the half-life values increased to between 7 and 9 h and the AUC values increased by a factor of 5 - 7, the maximum serum concentration only increased slightly by a factor of 1.5 compared with healthy subjects.
Elderly
A slight increase in AUC and Cmax in elderly volunteers compared with younger counterparts is also not clinically relevant.
Paediatric population
Following administration of single oral doses of 20 or 40 mg pantoprazole to children aged 5 - 16 years AUC and Cmax were in the range of corresponding values in adults. Following administration of single IV doses of 0.8 or 1.6 mg/kg pantoprazole to children aged 2 - 16 years there was no significant association between pantoprazole clearance and age or weight. AUC and volume of distribution were in accordance with data from adults.
Pantoprazole has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.
Adverse drug reactions such as dizziness and visual disturbances may occur. If affected, patients should not drive or operate machines.
Pregnancy A moderate amount of data on pregnant women (between 300-1000 pregnancy outcomes) indicate no malformative or fetal/ neonatal toxicity of pantoprazole. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity. As a precautionary measure, it is preferable to avoid the use of pantoprazole during pregnancy. Breastfeeding Animal studies have shown excretion of pantoprazole in breast milk. There is insufficient information on the excretion of pantoprazole in human milk but excretion into human milk has been reported. A risk to the newborns/infants cannot be excluded. Therefore a decision on whether to discontinue breast-feeding or to discontinue/abstain from Pantoprazole therapy should take into account the benefit of breast-feeding for the child and the benefit of pantoprazole therapy for the woman. Fertility There was no evidence of impaired fertility following the administration of pantoprazole in animal studies.
Medicinal products with pH-dependent absorption pharmacokinetics
Because of profound and long lasting inhibition of gastric acid secretion, pantoprazole may interfere with the absorption of other medicinal products where gastric pH is an important determinant of oral availability, e.g. some azole antifungals such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole and other medicine such as erlotinib.
HIV protease inhibitors
Co-administration of pantoprazole is not recommended with HIV protease inhibitors for which absorption is dependent on acidic intragastric pH such as atazanavir due to significant reduction in their bioavailability.
If the combination of HIV protease inhibitors with a proton pump inhibitor is judged unavoidable, close clinical monitoring (e.g. virus load) is recommended. A pantoprazole dose of 20 mg per day should not be exceeded. Dosage of the HIV protease inhibitors may need to be adjusted.
Approximately 5 % of patients can be expected to experience adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The most commonly reported ADRs are diarrhoea and headache, both occurring in approximately 1% of patients.
The table below lists adverse reactions reported with pantoprazole, ranked under the following frequency classification:
Very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100 to <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
For all adverse reactions reported from post-marketing experience, it is not possible to apply any Adverse Reaction frequency and therefore they are mentioned with a “not known” frequency.
Within each frequency grouping, adverse reactions are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
Please inform your doctor of all undesirable effects upon drug administration.
There are no known symptoms of overdose in man.
Systemic exposure with up to 240 mg administered intravenously over 2 minutes were well tolerated.
As pantoprazole is extensively protein bound, it is not readily dialysable.
In the case of overdose with clinical signs of intoxication, apart from symptomatic and supportive treatment, no specific therapeutic recommendations can be made.
Store in dry places, not exceeding 30oC, protect from light.
Hepatic impairment
In patients with severe liver impairment, the liver enzymes should be monitored regularly during treatment with pantoprazole, particularly on long-term use. In the case of a rise of the liver enzymes, the treatment should be discontinued (see Posology and method of administration).
Combination therapy
In the case of combination therapy, the summaries of product characteristics of the respective medicinal products should be observed.
Gastric malignancy
Symptomatic response to pantoprazole may mask the symptoms of gastric malignancy and may delay diagnosis. In the presence of any alarm symptom (e. g. significant unintentional weight loss, recurrent vomiting, dysphagia, haematemesis, anaemia or melaena) and when gastric ulcer is suspected or present, malignancy should be excluded.
Further investigation is to be considered if symptoms persist despite adequate treatment.
Co-administration with HIV protease inhibitors
Co-administration of pantoprazole is not recommended with HIV protease inhibitors for which absorption is dependent on acidic intragastric pH such as atazanavir, due to significant reduction in their bioavailability (see Interactions).
Influence on vitamin B12 absorption
In patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other pathological hypersecretory conditions requiring long-term treatment, pantoprazole, as all acid-blocking medicines, may reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) due to hypo- or achlorhydria. This should be considered in patients with reduced body stores or risk factors for reduced vitamin B12 absorption on long-term therapy or if respective clinical symptoms are observed.
Long term treatment
In long-term treatment, especially when exceeding a treatment period of 1 year, patients should be kept under regular surveillance.
Gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria
Treatment with Pantogas may lead to a slightly increased risk of gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter or C. difficile.
Hypomagnesaemia
Severe hypomagnesaemia has been reported in patients treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like pantoprazole for at least three months, and in most cases for a year. Serious manifestations of hypomagnesaemia such as fatigue, tetany, delirium, convulsions, dizziness and ventricular arrhythmia can occur but they may begin insidiously and be overlooked. In most affected patients, hypomagnesaemia improved after magnesium replacement and discontinuation of the PPIs.
For patients expected to be on prolonged treatment or who take PPIs with digoxin or medicinal products that may cause hypomagnesaemia (e.g., diuretics), health care professionals should consider measuring magnesium levels before starting PPI treatment and periodically during treatment.
Bone fractures
Proton pump inhibitors, especially if used in high doses and over long durations (>1 year), may modestly increase the risk of hip, wrist and spine fracture, predominantly in the elderly or in presence of other recognised risk factors. Observational studies suggest that proton pump inhibitors may increase the overall risk of fracture by 10-40%. Some of this increase may be due to other risk factors. Patients at risk of osteoporosis should receive care according to current clinical guidelines and they should have an adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE)
Proton pump inhibitors are associated with very infrequent cases of SCLE. If lesions occur, especially in sun-exposed areas of the skin, and if accompanied by arthralgia, the patient should seek medical help promptly and the health care professional should consider stopping Pantoprazole. SCLE after previous treatment with a proton pump inhibitor may increase the risk of SCLE with other proton pump inhibitors.
Adults and adolescents 12 years of age and above
− Reflux oesophagitis.
Adults
− Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in combination with appropriate antibiotic therapy in patients with Helicobacter pylori associated ulcers.
− Gastric ulcer.
− Duodenal ulcer.
− Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other pathological hypersecretory conditions.
Hypersensitivity to pantoprazole, substituted benzimidazoles, or to any ingredient of the drug.
Pantoprazole, as other proton pump inhibitors, does not combine treatment with atazanavir (see Special warnings and precautions for use; Interactions).
Method of administration: Oral use.
The tablets should not be chewed or crushed, and should be swallowed whole 1 hour before a meal with some water.
Posology:
Adults and adolescents 12 years of age and above
Reflux oesophagitis
One tablet per day. In individual cases the dose may be doubled (increase to 2 tablets daily) especially when there has been no response to other treatment. A 4-week period is usually required for the treatment of reflux oesophagitis. If this is not sufficient, healing will usually be achieved within a further 4 weeks.
Adults
Eradication of Helicobacter pylori in combination with two appropriate antibiotics
In Helicobacter pylori positive patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers, eradication of the germ by a combination therapy should be achieved. Depending upon the resistance pattern, the following combinations can be recommended for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori:
a) twice daily one tablet Pantogas 40
+ twice daily 1000 mg amoxicillin
+ twice daily 500 mg clarithromycin
b) twice daily one tablet Pantogas 40
+ twice daily 500 mg metronidazole
+ twice daily 500 mg clarithromycin
c) twice daily one tablet Pantogas 40
+ twice daily 1000 mg amoxicillin
+ twice daily 500 mg metronidazole
In combination therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, the second Pantogas 40 tablet should be taken 1 hour before the evening meal. The combination therapy is implemented for 7 days in general and can be prolonged for a further 7 days to a total duration of up to two weeks. If, to ensure healing of the ulcers, further treatment with pantoprazole is indicated, the dose recommendations for duodenal and gastric ulcers should be considered.
If combination therapy is not an option, e.g. if the patient has tested negative for Helicobacter pylori, the following dose guidelines apply for Pantogas 40 monotherapy:
Treatment of gastric ulcer
One tablet of Pantogas 40 per day. In individual cases the dose may be doubled (increase to 2 tablets Pantogas 40 daily) especially when there has been no response to other treatment. A 4-week period is usually required for the treatment of gastric ulcers. If this is not sufficient, healing will usually be achieved within a further 4 weeks.
Treatment of duodenal ulcer
One tablet of Pantogas 40 per day. In individual cases the dose may be doubled (increase to 2 tablets Pantogas 40 daily) especially when there has been no response to other treatment. A duodenal ulcer generally heals within 2 weeks. If a 2-week period of treatment is not sufficient, healing will be achieved in almost all cases within a further 2 weeks.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other pathological hypersecretory conditions
For the long-term management of Zollinger-Ellison-Syndrome and other pathological hypersecretory conditions patients should start their treatment with a daily dose of 80 mg (2 tablets of Pantogas 40). Thereafter, the dose can be titrated up or down as needed using measurements of gastric acid secretion to guide. With doses above 80 mg daily, the dose should be divided and given twice daily. A temporary increase of the dose above 160 mg pantoprazole is possible but should not be applied longer than required for adequate acid control.
Treatment duration in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other pathological hypersecretory conditions is not limited and should be adapted according to clinical needs.
Special populations
Children below 12 years of age
Pantogas 40 is not recommended for use in children below 12 years of age due to limited data on safety and efficacy in this age group.
Patients with hepatic impairment
A daily dose of 20 mg pantoprazole (1 tablet of 20 mg pantoprazole) should not be exceeded in patients with severe liver impairment. Pantogas 40 must not be used in combination treatment for eradication of H. pylori in patients with moderate to severe hepatic dysfunction since currently no data are available on the efficacy and safety of Pantoprazole in combination treatment of these patients (see Special warnings and precautions for use).
Patients with renal impairment
No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with impaired renal function. Pantogas 40 must not be used in combination treatment for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in patients with impaired renal function since currently no data are available on the efficacy and safety of Pantogas 40 in combination treatment for these patients.
Older people
No dose adjustment is necessary in elderly patients.
Or as directed by the physician.
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