⚠️ Warnings
Hepatic impairment. Patients with severe hepatic impairment should have their liver enzyme levels monitored regularly, particularly during long-term treatment. Treatment with the medicinal product must be discontinued if liver enzyme levels are elevated.
Combination therapy. During combination therapy, the instructions for use of the corresponding medicinal products must be observed.
Gastric malignancy. Symptomatic response to pantoprazole may mask symptoms of gastric malignancy and delay diagnosis. In the presence of alarm symptoms (e.g. significant unintentional weight loss, recurrent vomiting, dysphagia, haematemesis, anaemia, melaena), and when a gastric ulcer is suspected or present, the presence of a malignant process should be excluded.
If symptoms persist despite adequate treatment, further investigation should be considered.
HIV protease inhibitors. Co-administration of pantoprazole with HIV protease inhibitors (such as atazanavir), the absorption of which depends on intragastric pH, is not recommended due to a significant reduction in their bioavailability (see section "Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction").
Effect on vitamin B12 absorption
Pantoprazole may reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) due to hypo- or achlorhydria. This should be considered in patients with reduced body weight or risk factors for decreased vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) absorption, especially during long-term treatment or in the presence of relevant clinical symptoms.
Long-term treatment. During long-term treatment, particularly exceeding 1 year, patients should remain under regular medical supervision.
Gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria
Treatment with the product may slightly increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, or C. difficile.
Hypomagnesaemia. Rare cases of severe hypomagnesaemia have been reported in patients treated with PPIs, such as pantoprazole, for at least 3 months, and in most cases for 1 year. The following serious clinical manifestations of hypomagnesaemia may occur and develop insidiously: fatigue, tetany, delirium, convulsions, dizziness, and ventricular arrhythmia. Hypomagnesaemia may lead to hypocalcaemia and/or hypokalaemia (see section "Special warnings and precautions for use"). In the majority of cases of hypomagnesaemia (and associated hypocalcaemia and/or hypokalaemia), patients improved following replacement magnesium therapy and discontinuation of the PPI.
Patients requiring long-term therapy or those taking PPIs concomitantly with digoxin or medicinal products that may cause hypomagnesaemia (e.g. diuretics) should have their magnesium levels measured before initiating PPI therapy and periodically during treatment.
Bone fractures. Long-term treatment (more than 1 year) with high-dose proton pump inhibitors may moderately increase the risk of hip, wrist, and spinal fractures, predominantly in elderly patients or those with other risk factors. Observational studies suggest that proton pump inhibitor therapy may increase the overall risk of fractures by 10–40%. Some of these may be attributable to other risk factors. Patients at risk of osteoporosis should receive treatment in accordance with current clinical guidelines and should have adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium.
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions have been reported with the use of pantoprazole, including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS syndrome), which may be life-threatening or fatal. The frequency of these reactions is not known (see section "Adverse reactions").
When prescribing pantoprazole, patients should be informed about the signs and symptoms and monitored closely for cutaneous reactions. If symptoms suggestive of these severe cutaneous reactions appear, pantoprazole should be discontinued immediately and alternative treatment should be considered.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. The use of proton pump inhibitors has been associated with very rare cases of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. If lesions occur, particularly in sun-exposed areas of the skin, and are accompanied by arthralgia, the patient should seek medical attention promptly, and the physician should consider discontinuation of Nolpaza®. The occurrence of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus during prior PPI therapy may increase the risk of its development with other proton pump inhibitors.
Effect on laboratory test results.
Elevated chromogranin A (CgA) levels may interfere with diagnostic investigations for neuroendocrine tumours. To avoid such interference, Nolpaza® treatment should be temporarily discontinued for at least 5 days before measuring CgA levels (see section "Pharmacodynamics"). If CgA and gastrin levels have not returned to the normal range after the initial measurement, repeat measurements should be performed 14 days after discontinuation of proton pump inhibitor therapy.
Information regarding excipients
Nolpaza® contains sorbitol. Patients with rare hereditary fructose intolerance should not take this medicinal product.