2. BEFORE YOU TAKE ZOTON FASTAB
Do not take Zoton FasTab:
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to lansoprazole or any of the other ingredients of Zoton FasTab
- if you are taking a medicine containing the active substance atazanavir (used in the treatment of HIV).
Take special care with Zoton FasTab
Please tell your doctor if you have serious liver disease. The doctor may have to adjust your dosage.
Your doctor may perform or have performed an additional investigation called an endoscopy in order to diagnose your condition and/or exclude malignant disease.
If diarrhoea occurs during the treatment with Zoton FasTab contact your doctor immediately, as Zoton FasTab has been associated with a small increase in infectious diarrhoea.
If your doctor has given you Zoton FasTab in addition to other medicines intended for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection (antibiotics) or together with anti-inflammatory medicines to treat your pain or rheumatic disease: please also read the package leaflets of these medicines carefully.
If you take Zoton FasTab on a long-term basis (longer than 1 year) your doctor will probably keep you under regular surveillance. You should report any new and exceptional symptoms and circumstances whenever you see your doctor.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
In particular tell your doctor if you are taking medicines containing any of the following active substances as Zoton FasTab may affect the way these drugs work:
- ketoconazole, itraconazole, rifampicin (used to treat infections)
- digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
- theophylline (used to treat asthma)
- tacrolimus (used to prevent transplant rejection)
- fluvoxamine (used to treat depression and other psychiatric diseases)
- antacids (used to treat heartburn or acid regurgitation)
- sucralfate (used for healing ulcers)
- St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) (used to treat mild depression)
Taking Zoton FasTab with food and drink
For the best results from your medicines you should take Zoton FasTab at least 30 minutes before food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, breast-feeding or if there is a chance you might be pregnant ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Side effects such as dizziness, vertigo, tiredness and visual disturbances sometimes occur in patients taking Zoton FasTab. If you experience side effects like these you should take caution as your ability to react may be decreased.
You alone are responsible to decide if you are in a fit condition to drive a motor vehicle or perform other tasks that demand increased concentration. Because of their effects or undesirable effects, one of the factors that can reduce your ability to do these things safely is your use of medicines.
Descriptions of these effects can be found in other sections.
Read all the information in this leaflet for guidance.
Discuss with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are unsure about anything.
Important information about some of the ingredients of Zoton FasTab
Zoton FasTab contains lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Zoton FasTab contains aspartame. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine, which may be harmful for people with phenylketonuria.
3. HOW TO TAKE ZOTON FASTAB
Place the tablet on your tongue and suck gently. The tablet rapidly dissolves in the mouth, releasing microgranules which you should swallow without chewing. You can also swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
Your doctor might instruct you to take the tablet with an oral syringe, in case you have serious difficulties with swallowing.
The following instructions should be followed if administered via oral syringe:
It is important that the appropriateness of the selected oral syringe is carefully tested.
- Remove the plunger of the syringe (at least 5 ml syringe for the 15 mg tablet and 10 ml syringe for the 30 mg tablet)
- Put the tablet into the barrel
- Put the plunger back onto the syringe
- For the 15 mg tablet: Draw 4 ml tap water into the syringe
- For the 30 mg tablet: Draw 10 ml tap water into the syringe
- Invert the syringe and draw an additional 1 ml of air into it
- Shake the syringe gently for 10-20 seconds until the tablet is dispersed
- The contents can be emptied directly into the mouth
- Refill the syringe with 2-5 ml of tap water to flush the remnants out of the syringe into the mouth
If you are taking Zoton FasTab once a day, try to take it at the same time each day. You may get best results if you take Zoton FasTab first thing in the morning.
If you are taking Zoton FasTab twice a day, you should have the first dose in the morning and the second dose in the evening.
The packaging has been printed with the days of the week to help you keep track of the medicines you have already taken.
The dose of Zoton FasTab depends on your condition. The usual doses of Zoton FasTab for adults are given below. Your doctor will sometimes prescribe you a different dose and will tell you how long your treatment will last.
Treatment of heartburn and acid regurgitation: one 15 mg or 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day for 4 weeks. If symptoms persist you should report to your doctor. If your symptoms are not relieved within 4 weeks, please contact your doctor.
Treatment of duodenal ulcer: one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day for 2 weeks
Treatment of stomach ulcer: one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day for 4 weeks
Treatment of inflammation in your oesophagus (reflux oesophagitis): one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day for 4 weeks
Long-term prevention of reflux oesophagitis: one 15 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day, your doctor may adjust your dose to one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day.
Treatment of infection of Helicobacter pylori: The usual dose is one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet in combination with two different antibiotics in the morning and one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet in combination with two different antibiotics in the evening. Treatment will usually be every day for 7 days.
The recommended combinations of antibiotics are:
- 30 mg Zoton FasTab together with 250-500 mg clarithromycin and 1000 mg amoxicillin
- 30 mg Zoton FasTab together with 250 mg clarithromycin and 400-500 mg metronidazole
If you are being treated for infection because you have an ulcer, it is unlikely that your ulcer will return if the infection is successfully treated. To give your medicine the best chance of working, take it at the right time and do not miss a dose.
Treatment of duodenal or stomach ulcer in patients requiring continued NSAID treatment: one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day for 4 weeks.
Prevention of duodenal or stomach ulcer in patients requiring continued NSAID treatment: one 15 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day, your doctor may adjust your dose to one 30 mg oro-dispersible tablet every day.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: The usual dose is two 30 mg oro-dispersible tablets every day to start with, then depending on how you respond to Zoton FasTab the dose that your doctor decides is best for you.
Zoton FasTab should not be given to children.
Take your medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor if you are not sure how to take your medicine.
If you take more Zoton FasTab than prescribed
If you take more Zoton FasTab than you have been told to, seek medical advice quickly.
If you forget to take Zoton FasTab
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose. If this happens skip the missed dose and take the remaining oro-dispersible tablets as normal. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten oro-dispersible tablet.
If you stop taking Zoton FasTab
Do not stop treatment early because your symptoms have got better. Your condition may not have been fully healed and may reoccur if you do not finish your course of treatment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor.