Dexlansoprazole

About Dexlansoprazole

Dexlansoprazole lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes. The label covers people 12 and older for three uses: 60 mg once a day for up to 8 weeks to heal erosive esophagitis of any grade; 30 mg once a day to keep it healed and relieve heartburn, for up to 6 months in adults and 16 weeks in patients 12 to 17; and 30 mg once a day for 4 weeks for heartburn from GERD without erosions. It can be taken with or without food. With moderate liver impairment the healing dose is limited to 30 mg a day, and it is not recommended with severe liver impairment. Its safety and effectiveness have not been established in children under 12.

It must not be taken with rilpivirine, an HIV medicine, or after an allergic reaction to it. Diarrhea, belly pain, nausea, upper respiratory infections, vomiting and gas are the common side effects in adults. Like other proton pump inhibitors, it carries warnings about kidney inflammation; C. difficile diarrhea, so watery stools with stomach pain and a fever that does not go away should be reported right away; hip, wrist and spine fractures with high doses or long use; severe skin reactions; new or worsening lupus; low magnesium; vitamin B12 deficiency with daily use for more than three years; and stomach polyps, especially after a year or more. In adults, relief of symptoms does not rule out stomach cancer.

Anyone who has trouble swallowing capsules can open one, sprinkle the granules on a tablespoon of applesauce and swallow it at once without chewing, or mix them with water for an oral syringe or feeding tube. It is stopped at least 14 days before a chromogranin A blood test for neuroendocrine tumors, and false-positive urine screens for THC have been reported. Dexilant was approved in 2009 as Kapidex and renamed in 2010 after reports of dispensing errors involving similar drug names. Dexilant SoluTab, a 30 mg orally disintegrating tablet approved in 2016, has been discontinued.

Taking Dexlansoprazole

How to take it

Once a day, with or without food, swallowed whole without chewing. If swallowing is hard, open the capsule over a tablespoon of applesauce and swallow it right away without chewing, or ask the pharmacist how to give it with water by oral syringe or feeding tube. Keep taking it for the course prescribed even if you feel better.

If you miss a dose

Take it as soon as you remember, unless it is almost time for the next dose; then skip the missed dose. Never take two doses at once.

Storage

At room temperature in the original, tightly closed container, away from heat and moisture, out of reach of children.

Interactions to know about

Rilpivirine must not be taken with it, and it lowers levels of some other HIV medicines, such as atazanavir and nelfinavir (nelfinavir is avoided). It can raise levels of methotrexate, digoxin and tacrolimus and raise the INR with warfarin, and it can lower absorption of iron, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erlotinib and mycophenolate. St. John’s wort and rifampin weaken it and are avoided.

This summarizes the official prescribing information. Your prescriber’s and pharmacist’s instructions, and the leaflet that comes with your medicine, take priority.

Why the cash price for Dexlansoprazole differs from pharmacy to pharmacy

Generic dexlansoprazole has been on the market only since 2022 and comes from a few makers, so it may not be on a pharmacy’s flat-price generic list, and quotes for the same capsule can differ. A prescription that names Dexilant and blocks substitution is priced as a brand. The 30 mg and 60 mg capsules are separate items, so a quote for one strength says nothing about the other, and a ninety-day fill spreads the dispensing fee over more capsules.

Ways to pay less for Dexlansoprazole without insurance

• Ask for generic substitution, and make sure the prescription does not name Dexilant only.
• For maintenance treatment, ask for a ninety-day supply once the dose is settled.
• Ask the prescriber how long you should take it, since the label sets courses of up to 8 weeks for healing and 4 weeks for heartburn.
• If it is quoted high, ask the prescriber whether another proton pump inhibitor, such as omeprazole, lansoprazole or pantoprazole, would suit you.
• Upload the prescription to Script Unlock so licensed pharmacies can quote their cash price. You pay the pharmacy directly.

Questions to ask your pharmacist about Dexlansoprazole

1. 1.Can I open the capsule and mix it with applesauce if I have trouble swallowing?
2. 2.Does it interact with my HIV, transplant, blood thinner, heart or cancer medicines?
3. 3.How long should I take it, and what are the risks of long-term use?
4. 4.Should my magnesium or vitamin B12 be checked?

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