A problem that many of us have is this stomach inflammation, called gastritis. Sometimes this condition can become a little serious and stomach ulcers can occur. So one reason for this is a special type of bacteria in our stomach. Doctors prescribe special medications to kill this bacteria. Today we are going to talk about a combination of two such medications. That is Vonoprazan and Amoxicillin.
What is this combination of Vonoprazan and Amoxicillin?
Simply put, this is a pack of two medications that are given together. One of the purposes of this is to kill the bacteria that cause ulcers in your stomach.
1. Vonoprazan: This belongs to a new class of drugs. To be precise, it is called a ``Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker - PCAB''. It works by controlling the production of acid in your stomach. It works in a slightly different way than other medications for heartburn.
2. Amoxicillin: You've probably heard of this one. It's a penicillin-type antibiotic. It kills the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers, which I mentioned earlier.
When these two medications are given together, the bacteria are also eliminated while the stomach acid is controlled. This helps greatly in healing stomach ulcers.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting this medication
Before starting this medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Be sure to mention these things in particular.
- Kidney disease: If you have any kidney problems, it may affect the dosage of the medication.
- Liver disease: If you have any problems with liver function, mention that as well.
- Allergies: This is very important. Especially since Amoxicillin is a type of penicillin, be sure to tell your doctor if you have had any allergies to penicillin or other antibiotics in the past. Also, tell them about any allergies you have to other medications, foods, or preservatives.
- Pregnancy or planning to have a baby: If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon, you should tell your doctor.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother: It is not advisable to breastfeed your baby while taking this medicine. Therefore, talk to your doctor about this as well.
How should I use the medicine?
The most important thing is to take the medicine at the right time, exactly as the doctor prescribed.
- Take this medicine with a glass of water.
- You can take it before or after meals, but if you feel an upset stomach, it is best to take it with food.
- Most importantly: Even if you feel better, take the full course of medication prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking it halfway. Doing so may cause the bacteria to return, rather than being completely eliminated.
- Don't skip your medication.
What to do if you miss a dose or take too much?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is less than 4 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Side effects that may occur due to medication
Like any medicine, this can cause side effects in some people. Some of these can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.
| Classification of side effects | |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Liver injury | Pain in the upper right side of the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stools, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin (like jaundice), and extreme fatigue. |
| Severe diarrhea | If your stomach is as bad as water and comes with a fever. |
| Severe skin reactions | Red or purple blisters on the skin, peeling skin (can also occur inside the mouth), fever, and swollen lymph nodes. |
| Other | Increased blood pressure, abnormal vaginal discharge, itching, or odor. |
| Side effects that are generally common, but should be reported if they persist | |
| Digestive system | Common diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, stomach discomfort, change in taste in the mouth. |
| Other | Headache. |
Important: This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience any unusual symptoms, talk to your doctor about them.
Things to be especially careful about while taking the medicine
- Diarrhea: Some people may experience diarrhea while taking this medication. However, if your diarrhea is severe and lasts for more than two days, do not take anything over the counter and call your doctor immediately .
- Birth control pills: This is very important. If you are using birth control pills, they may be less effective while you are taking this medication . Therefore, talk to your doctor about using an additional form of birth control (e.g. condoms) during this time.
- Diabetes: If you are diabetic, there is a possibility of a false-positive result when testing for sugar in your urine while taking this medication. So talk to your doctor about that as well.
- Other medications: Tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins and herbal remedies). This medicine may interact with other medications, especially blood thinners (e.g. warfarin), cancer medications, and HIV medications.
How should I store the medicine? What do I do if I have leftovers?
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children and pets . It is best to store it in the original packaging it came in, at room temperature (between 20-25 degrees Celsius), away from light.
If you have expired or unused medicine left over, before throwing it in the trash, take the pills out of the container, mix them with something like used coffee grounds, soil, or cat litter, and put them in a tightly sealed bag and throw them in the trash. Never flush medicine down the toilet.
Take-Home Message
- Before starting this medication, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and all medications you are taking.
- Even if you feel better, take the full dose of medicine prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop halfway.
- If you experience severe diarrhea, skin blisters, or allergic symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.
- If you are taking birth control pills, talk to your doctor about using an additional form of birth control while taking this medication.
- Always keep medicine safely out of the reach of children.
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