Losectil

Description

Losectil Tablet, which contains Omeprazole, is a medication used to treat various conditions caused by excessive stomach acid. As a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI), it works by significantly reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces. Losectil is manufactured by Eskayef Bangladesh Ltd. and is available in Nepal.

What Losectil Tablet Treats

Losectil is prescribed for a range of acid-related problems in your digestive system, including:

• Peptic Ulcers: This includes ulcers in the small intestine (duodenal ulcer) and the stomach (gastric ulcer).
• H. pylori Infection: It’s used as part of a combination therapy to eliminate Helicobacter pylori, a common bacterial cause of ulcers.
• Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Often called acid reflux, this condition causes symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation.
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: A rare condition where the stomach produces abnormally high levels of acid.
• Oesophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus, frequently caused by acid reflux, including more severe forms like erosive oesophagitis.
• Acid-related Dyspepsia: General discomfort, pain, or indigestion in your upper abdomen due to stomach acid.
• NSAID-associated Ulceration: Ulcers that develop as a side effect of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Prophylaxis of Acid Aspiration: It’s used before general anesthesia to prevent stomach acid from entering the lungs.

Dosage Guidelines

Losectil can be taken orally (by mouth) or administered intravenously (into a vein) in clinical settings.

Oral Dosing for Adults:

• Peptic Ulcer:
  • Typically 20 mg daily, or 40 mg daily for severe cases.
  • Treatment usually lasts 4 weeks for duodenal ulcers and 8 weeks for gastric ulcers.
  • For long-term prevention (maintenance), the dose is usually 10-20 mg daily.
  • All doses should be taken once in the morning.
• NSAID-associated Ulceration: 20 mg once in the morning.
• Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):
  • 20 mg daily for 4 weeks; can be extended for another 4-8 weeks if necessary.
  • For severe or unresponsive oesophagitis (refractory oesophagitis): 40 mg daily.
  • Maintenance after healing: 20 mg daily for oesophagitis; 10 mg daily for acid reflux.
  • All doses should be taken once in the morning.
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome:
  • Initial dose is 60 mg once in the morning, adjusted based on your response.
  • The typical daily dose range is 20-120 mg.
  • If your daily dose is more than 80 mg, it should be given in two divided doses.
• Prophylaxis of Acid Aspiration (before general anesthesia): 40 mg given the evening before surgery, and another 40 mg 2-6 hours before the procedure.
• Acid-related Dyspepsia: 10 or 20 mg once in the morning for 2-4 weeks.
• Erosive Oesophagitis:
  • 20 mg daily for 4-8 weeks.
  • Maintenance to prevent recurrence: 20 mg daily for up to 12 months.
  • All doses should be taken once in the morning.
• H. pylori Infection (always combined with antibiotics):
  • Triple Therapy (for 7 or 10 days):
    • 20 mg twice daily (bid) OR 40 mg once daily.
    • Combined with: Amoxicillin (500 mg) and Metronidazole (400 mg) (both taken three times daily, tid), OR Clarithromycin (250 mg) and Metronidazole (400 mg or Tinidazole 500 mg) (both taken twice daily, bid), OR Amoxicillin (1 g) and Clarithromycin (500 mg) (both taken twice daily, bid).
  • Dual Therapy (for 2 weeks):
    • 20 mg twice daily (bid) OR 40 mg once daily.
    • Combined with: Amoxicillin (750 mg to 1 g) twice daily (bid), OR Clarithromycin (500 mg) three times daily (tid).

Intravenous (IV) Dosing for Adults:

• GERD; Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers; NSAID-associated Ulceration: 40 mg once daily, given as an infusion over 20-30 minutes, or a slow injection over 5 minutes. This is used until oral medication can be resumed.
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: Initial dose is 60 mg daily, adjusted based on your body’s response. Daily doses over 60 mg should be given in two divided doses.

Dosing for Children (Oral):

• GERD:
  • Under 1 year: Safety and effectiveness haven’t been established.
  • 1 year and older:
    • 5-10 kg: 5 mg once daily.
    • 10-20 kg: 10 mg once daily.
    • Over 20 kg: 20 mg once daily.
• Erosive Oesophagitis (treatment and maintenance):
  • Under 1 month: Safety and effectiveness haven’t been established.
  • 1 month to under 1 year:
    • 3 to less than 5 kg: 2.5 mg once daily.
    • 5 to less than 10 kg: 5 mg once daily.
    • Over 10 kg: 10 mg once daily.
    • May be treated for up to 6 weeks.
  • 1-16 years:
    • 5 to less than 10 kg: 5 mg once daily.
    • 10 to less than 20 kg: 10 mg once daily.
    • Over 20 kg: 20 mg once daily.
    • May be treated for 4-8 weeks.

Dosing Adjustments for Specific Conditions:

• Elderly: No dosage adjustment is usually needed.
• Hepatic Impairment (liver problems): A lower dose of 10-20 mg daily is typically recommended.
• Renal Impairment (kidney problems): No dosage adjustment is usually needed.

How to Take Losectil (Administration)

The way you take Losectil depends on its specific formulation. The information provided seems to describe dosing for capsules, but the product name is “Losectil Tablet.” Please confirm the exact formulation you have.

• Delayed-release Capsules (if applicable):
  • Take on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal.
  • Swallow the capsule whole; do not chew or crush it.
  • If you have trouble swallowing, you can carefully open the capsule and sprinkle its entire contents onto a spoonful of applesauce. Swallow this mixture immediately without chewing. Don’t prepare and store the mixture for later use.
• Powder for Oral Suspension (if applicable):
  • Take on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal.
• MUPS (Multiple Unit Pellet System) Tablets (if applicable):
  • Can be taken with or without food.
• Standard Capsules (if applicable):
  • Take with food, immediately before a meal.

Important Warnings and Precautions

• Do not use Losectil if you have a known hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction) to omeprazole or any of its ingredients.
• Your doctor should rule out serious conditions like stomach cancer (gastric malignancy) before you start treatment, as some symptoms can be similar.
• Pregnancy and Lactation: Omeprazole passes into breast milk. Use caution if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor.
• Children: Safety and effectiveness are not established for children under 1 year for GERD, and under 1 month for erosive oesophagitis.
• Monitoring: Your doctor might monitor your magnesium levels before starting and periodically during treatment, especially with long-term use or if you are taking diuretics.

Potential Drug Interactions

Losectil can interact with other medications, potentially affecting their efficacy or increasing side effects. It’s crucial to inform your doctor about all medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies.

Key interactions include:

• Diuretics: Increased risk of low magnesium levels (hypomagnesaemia).
• Warfarin: May increase the effect of this blood thinner, potentially raising bleeding risk. Your doctor might need to monitor your INR and prothrombin time.
• Digoxin: Increased risk of digoxin-induced heart effects.
• Certain Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam), Clarithromycin, Methotrexate: May increase their levels in your blood.
• Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Posaconazole, Dasatinib, Iron Salts: Losectil can decrease the absorption of these medications.
• Diazepam, Cilostazol, Phenytoin, Ciclosporin: Losectil may slow down their elimination from your body.
• Clopidogrel: May reduce its antiplatelet (blood-thinning) effect.
• Potentially Fatal Interactions: Losectil may significantly decrease the blood levels and effectiveness of certain HIV medications (e.g., rilpivirine, nelfinavir, atazanavir).

Possible Side Effects

While generally well-tolerated, Omeprazole can cause side effects. Common ones (occurring in 1-10% of users) include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Flatulence (gas)
• Dizziness
• Upper respiratory infection
• Acid regurgitation
• Constipation
• Rash
• Cough

Less common but serious side effects (frequency not defined) can include:

• Bone fractures (especially with long-term use), including hip fractures
• Liver damage (hepatotoxicity – rare)
• Severe decrease in white blood cells (agranulocytosis)
• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Gastric polyps
• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Inflammation of the stomach lining (atrophic gastritis)
• Kidney inflammation (interstitial nephritis – rare)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas – rare)
• Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis)
• Taste disturbances (taste perversion)
• Abnormal dreams
• Severe skin reactions (toxic epidermal necrolysis – rare)

Potentially Fatal Side Effect:

• Anaphylaxis: A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms like sudden swelling, difficulty breathing, or severe rash.

Important Note: This information about Losectil Tablet is for general knowledge only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns, diagnosis, or treatment decisions.