⚠️ Warnings
Hepatic impairment. Patients with severe hepatic impairment should have their liver enzyme levels monitored regularly, especially during long-term treatment. If liver enzymes are elevated, treatment with the medicinal product should be discontinued.
Combination therapy. When administering combination therapy, the prescribing information of the respective medicinal products should be followed.
Gastric malignancy. The symptomatic response to pantoprazole therapy 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, the possibility of a malignant process should be excluded.
If symptoms persist despite adequate treatment, further investigation should be considered.
HIV protease inhibitors. Coadministration of pantoprazole with HIV protease inhibitors (such as atazanavir), the absorption of which 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 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, especially beyond 1 year, patients should be kept under regular medical supervision.
Gastrointestinal bacterial infections.
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 1 year. The following serious clinical manifestations of hypomagnesemia may occur and develop insidiously: 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 cases of hypomagnesemia (and associated hypocalcemia and/or hypokalemia), the condition of most patients improved after magnesium replacement therapy and discontinuation of the PPI.
Patients requiring long-term therapy, or those taking PPIs concomitantly with digoxin or medications that may cause hypomagnesemia (e.g., diuretics), should have their magnesium levels measured before initiating PPI therapy and periodically during treatment.
Bone fractures. Long-term (more than 1 year) high-dose PPI therapy may moderately increase the risk of hip, wrist, and spine fractures, mainly in elderly patients or in the presence of 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 due 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 in association 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 can be life-threatening or fatal. The frequency of these reactions is not known (see section "Adverse reactions").
When prescribing pantoprazole, patients should be informed of 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 considered.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. PPI use has been associated with very rare cases of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. If lesions occur, especially in sun-exposed areas of the skin, and are accompanied by arthralgia, the patient should seek immediate medical advice, and the physician should consider whether discontinuation of Nolpaza® is necessary. The occurrence of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus during prior PPI therapy may increase the risk of its development with other PPIs.
Effect on laboratory test results.
Elevated chromogranin A (CgA) levels may interfere with diagnostic investigations for neuroendocrine tumors. To avoid such interference, Nolpaza® therapy should be temporarily discontinued at least 5 days prior to CgA level assessment (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 therapy.
Information regarding excipients.
Nolpaza® contains sorbitol. Patients with rare hereditary fructose intolerance should not take this medicinal product.