Dexlansoprazole is prescribed to adults and children over the age of 12 to treat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disorder in which the stomach’s acid flows backward, causing heartburn and possibly harming the oesophagus (the tube connecting the throat and stomach). It is also used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who have esophagitis, a swelling that can harm esophageal tissues. Dexlansoprazole is used to treat esophagitis in adults and children 12 years of age and older and to promote recovery. Proton pump inhibitors are a group of medicines that includes dexlansoprazole. It functions by reducing the production of stomach acid.

Dexlansoprazole is available as a delayed-release (DR) capsule to be taken orally. DR releases the medicine in the colon to allow for partial release roughly an hour after oral administration and partial release 4 to 5 hours later. Typically, it is given once day. You can take dexlansoprazole with or without food. Dexlansoprazole should be taken every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Dexlansoprazole should be taken as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts, or for longer periods of time than your doctor has advised.

Do not chew or shatter the delayed-release capsules; instead, swallow them whole. You can open the capsule, sprinkle the contents on 1 tablespoon of applesauce, and then consume it right away without chewing if you have trouble swallowing capsules. You can alternatively break open a capsule and dispense the contents into 20 millilitres of water; then, using an oral syringe, draw up all of the liquid, gently shake the syringe, and quickly squirt the liquid into your mouth. Next add 10 mL more of water to the syringe, give it a gentle shake, and inject it into your mouth.

Using a feeding tube, the capsule’s contents can be administered. Ask your doctor how you should take the medication if you have a feeding tube. Pay close attention to these guidelines.

Dexlansoprazole should still be used even if you feel OK. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking dexlansoprazole. Call your doctor if your condition doesn’t get better or worsens.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking dexlansoprazole,

• If you have any allergies, including to dexlansoprazole, any drugs, or any of the substances in dexlansoprazole delayed-release capsules, notify your doctor right away. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• If you are on rilpivirine, let your doctor know (Edurant, in Cabenuva, Complera, Juluca, Odefsey). If you are currently on this medicine, your doctor generally won’t advise you to use dexlansoprazole.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and dietary supplements you are currently taking or intend to take. Incorporate any of the following: Warfarin (Jantoven), atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), dasatinib (Sprycel), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics (‘water pills’), erlotinib (Tarceva), iron supplements, and itraconazole are examples of anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) (Sporanox, Tolsura), mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept, Myfortic), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), tacrolimus (Astagraf, Envarsus, Prograf), nelfinavir (Viracept), nilotinib (Tasigna), methotrexate (Trexall (Vfend). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Please let your doctor know if you are taking any herbal supplements, especially St. John’s wort. If you are using dexlansoprazole, your doctor could advise against taking St. John’s wort.
• Inform your physician if you have or have ever had low levels of magnesium, calcium, potassium, or sodium in your blood, hypoparathyroidism (a condition in which the body produces insufficient parathyroid hormone [PTH], a natural substance required to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood], low levels of vitamin B12 in your body, osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become brittle and brittle and break easily), low levels of vitamin B12 in your body, an autoimmune disease
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking dexlansoprazole.
• If you are 70 years of age or older, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking dexlansoprazole with your doctor. Never take this medication for a longer amount of time than your doctor has prescribed.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Side effects from dexlansoprazole are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Gas
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these signs, or seek emergency assistance:

• Skin that is bleeding, blistering, or peeling; lesions on the genitalia, lips, nose, or mouth; inflamed glands; breathing difficulty; fever; or flu-like signs
• Rash, itching, hives, swelling of the cheeks, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat; breathing or swallowing issues; or hoarseness
• Extreme fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, an irregular, hammering, or pounding heartbeat, muscle spasms, involuntary shaking of a body part, seizures, or uncontrollable body tremors
• Severe diarrhoea with watery faeces, discomfort in the stomach, or a persistent fever
• Joint ache that has recently appeared or is getting worse; a sun-sensitive rash on the arms or cheeks
• Blood in the urine, frequent or infrequent urination, joint discomfort, weariness, nausea, or a loss of appetite

Further adverse effects of dexlansoprazole are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

Proton pump inhibitors like dexlansoprazole can increase the risk of fractures in the wrist, hip, or spine, compared to those who don’t take them. Proton pump inhibitor users run the risk of developing fundic gland polyps (a type of growth on the stomach lining). The hazards are greatest for those who take one of these medications in large doses or for a year or more. Ask your doctor about the dangers of dexlansoprazole use.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Before to and throughout your therapy, your doctor might request specific laboratory testing.

Inform your doctor and the lab staff that you are taking dexlansoprazole prior to any laboratory test.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.