⚠️ Warnings
Hepatic impairment. Patients with severe hepatic impairment should have liver enzyme levels monitored regularly, particularly during long-term treatment. If liver enzyme levels are elevated, treatment with the medicinal product should be discontinued.
Combination therapy. During combination therapy, the prescribing information for the respective medicinal products must be followed.
Gastric malignancy. The symptomatic response to pantoprazole may mask the symptoms of gastric malignancy and delay their diagnosis. In the presence of alarm symptoms (e.g., significant unintentional weight loss, recurrent vomiting, dysphagia, hematemesis, anemia, melena), and when a gastric ulcer is suspected or present, malignancy 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), whose absorption is dependent on intragastric pH, is not recommended due to a significant reduction in their bioavailability (see section "Interactions 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 taken into account in patients with reduced body weight or risk factors for decreased vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) absorption, particularly during long-term treatment or when relevant clinical symptoms are present.
Long-term treatment. During long-term treatment, especially exceeding 1 year, patients should be kept under regular medical supervision.
Gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria
Treatment with the medicinal product may slightly increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter or C. difficile.
Hypomagnesemia. Rare cases of severe hypomagnesemia have been reported in patients treated with PPIs such as pantoprazole for at least 3 months, and in most cases for one year. Serious clinical manifestations of hypomagnesemia may occur and develop insidiously, including fatigue, tetany, delirium, seizures, dizziness, and ventricular arrhythmia. Hypomagnesemia may lead to hypocalcemia and/or hypokalemia (see section "Special warnings and precautions for use"). In patients with hypomagnesemia (and associated hypocalcemia and/or hypokalemia), the condition improved in most cases after magnesium replacement therapy and discontinuation of PPI treatment.
For patients who are expected to require prolonged treatment or who take PPIs concomitantly with digoxin or medicinal products that may cause hypomagnesemia (e.g., diuretics), magnesium levels should be 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 spine fractures, predominantly in elderly patients or those with other risk factors. Observational studies suggest that PPI use may increase the overall risk of fractures by 10–40%. Some of this increase 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 pantoprazole use, 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 closely monitored for skin 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, especially in sun-exposed areas of the skin, accompanied by arthralgia, the patient should seek medical attention promptly and the physician should consider whether discontinuation of Nolpaza® is necessary. The occurrence of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus during previous 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 the diagnostic investigation of neuroendocrine tumors. To avoid this interference, Nolpaza® treatment should be temporarily discontinued at least 5 days before CgA measurement (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 PPI treatment.
Information regarding excipients
Nolpaza® contains sorbitol. Patients with rare hereditary fructose intolerance should not use this medicinal product.