Dexilant Capsule: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Dexilant Capsule (dexlansoprazole) is a prescription proton pump inhibitor that reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes. It is used in adults and children aged 12 and older to heal and maintain healing of erosive reflux esophagitis and to relieve symptoms of non-erosive GERD. It works by blocking an acid-producing pump in the stomach lining, with a dual-release bead formulation that keeps working through the day.

What is Dexilant Capsule

Dexilant is a prescription medicine that reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes. It belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It is used in adults and children aged 12 and older.

Dexilant Capsule uses

• Helping heal the throat (esophagus) damaged by acid backing up from the stomach (erosive reflux esophagitis)
• Helping maintain a healed esophagus after erosive esophagitis
• Relieving symptoms of non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) such as heartburn during the day and night, and burning, burping, and sour taste

Benefits of Dexilant Capsule

• Reduces stomach acid
• Relieves heartburn
• Treats GERD
• Helps heal erosive esophagitis
• Helps maintain healing of the esophagus

How Dexilant Capsule works

Dexilant blocks a pump in the stomach's lining cells that produces acid, which lowers the amount of acid in the stomach. The capsule contains two types of tiny beads: one starts releasing medicine within about an hour, and the rest release the medicine four to five hours later, so the medicine keeps working through the day.

Dexilant Capsule dosage

Do not crush or chew the capsules or the granules inside them. Take at any time of day, with or without food, but try to take it at the same time each day. Swallow the capsule whole with water.

If you have trouble swallowing capsules, they can be opened and the granules sprinkled on a tablespoon of applesauce and swallowed right away without chewing, or mixed with water and given using an oral syringe. The medicine can also be given through a nasogastric tube if needed, following the specific mixing steps your healthcare provider gives you.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and do not take a double dose.

Adults may take this medicine for up to 8 weeks for healing, up to 6 months for maintenance, or 4 weeks for GERD symptoms, depending on their condition. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 may take it for similar purposes but for a maintenance period of up to 4 months instead of 6.

Available forms and strengths

Capsule (delayed release), 30 mg and 60 mg

Side effects of Dexilant Capsule

Common

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas (flatulence)
• Headache
• Nausea
• Stomach (abdominal) pain
• Upper respiratory infections such as the common cold
• Vomiting

Serious

• Severe skin reactions with blistering, peeling, or bleeding on skin, lips, eyes, mouth, nose, genitals, hands, or feet, possibly with fever, chills, body aches, shortness of breath, or swollen lymph nodes
• Bowel inflammation (Clostridium difficile colitis) with severe watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain or tenderness
• Liver problems such as dark urine, pale stools, yellowing of skin or eyes, and stomach pain
• Kidney problems with decreased urination or blood in urine
• Low magnesium levels causing irregular heartbeat, dizziness, seizures, or muscle twitching/cramps/spasms
• Bone fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine with long-term use
• Low vitamin B12 levels with long-term use
• Stomach growths (polyps), especially after a year of use
• New or worsening joint pain or a rash on cheeks or arms that worsens in the sun
• Seizures or convulsions
• Microscopic colitis with chronic watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, weight loss, and dehydration signs

Warnings and precautions

• Having symptom relief from this medicine does not rule out a serious stomach condition such as cancer. Tell your doctor if your symptoms continue.
• Taking this type of medicine every day for a year or longer may raise the risk of broken bones in the hip, wrist, or spine.
• Long-term use may interfere with your body's ability to absorb vitamin B12 from food, which could lead to a vitamin B12 shortage.
• Using this medicine for a long time, especially beyond a year, may cause a growth (polyp) in the stomach.
• Do not take this medicine together with the drug rilpivirine, and tell your doctor about all other medicines you take since several can interact with this medicine.
• If you are due to have a specific blood test called Chromogranin A, tell your doctor, as this medicine can affect the results.
• There is not enough research on the use of this medicine during pregnancy. It should only be used if your doctor decides the benefits are greater than the possible risks.
• It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. It should only be used while breastfeeding if your doctor decides it is truly necessary, and breastfeeding should be avoided if it is used.
• No dose change is needed for people with kidney problems.
• People with mild liver problems do not need a dose change. People with moderate liver problems may need a lower dose. This medicine has not been studied in people with severe liver problems.
• There is no known direct interaction between this medicine and alcohol, but alcohol can cause acid reflux and may worsen your symptoms.

Storage

• Store DEXILANT at room temperature, 15°- 30°C
• Keep out of reach and sight of children

When to see a doctor

• Tell your doctor right away if you have signs of low magnesium, such as a rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, seizures, or muscle twitching, cramps, or spasms.
• Tell your doctor before starting this medicine if you have unexplained weight loss, severe or ongoing diarrhea, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, dark stools, tiredness from anemia, or difficulty swallowing.
• Get immediate medical help for signs of severe skin reactions, including rash with blistering, peeling, or bleeding on the skin, lips, eyes, mouth, nose, genitals, hands, or feet, along with fever, chills, body aches, shortness of breath, or swollen lymph nodes.
• Contact your doctor if you develop diarrhea while taking or after recently taking antibiotics, even if it seems mild, as this could be a sign of bowel inflammation (Clostridium difficile colitis).
• Get medical help right away if you have a seizure or convulsion while taking this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you notice signs of liver problems, such as dark urine, pale stools, yellowing of skin or eyes, or stomach pain.
• Contact your doctor if you have watery diarrhea lasting more than a few days, along with stomach pain, cramps, bloating, weight loss, nausea, or signs of dehydration like extreme thirst, dark urine, fatigue, dizziness, or confusion, as this may be microscopic colitis.
• Get medical help right away if you develop a widespread rash, itching, hives, or peeling or blistering of the skin, mouth, nose, eyes, or genitals.
• Tell your doctor if you notice a decrease in urination or blood in your urine, as this may indicate a kidney problem.

Alternatives

• Omeprazole
• Esomeprazole
• Pantoprazole