contains the active ingredient lansoprazole
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Zopral. It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Zopral against the benefits this medicine is expected to have.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Zopral is used for
Peptic Ulcers
Zopral is used to treat peptic ulcers in adults. Depending on the position of the ulcer it is called a gastric or duodenal ulcer. A gastric ulcer occurs in the stomach. A duodenal ulcer occurs in the duodenum, which is the tube leading out of the stomach.
Too much acid being made in the stomach can cause these ulcers.
Zopral is also used to help stop duodenal ulcers from coming back.
Reflux Oesophagitis
Zopral is used to treat the symptoms of reflux oesophagitis or reflux disease in adults and in children from 6 to 17 years of age.
This can be caused by backflow (reflux) of food and acid from the stomach into the food pipe or gullet, also known as the oesophagus.
Reflux can cause a burning sensation in the chest rising up to the throat, also known as heartburn.
Heartburn and stomach pain associated with reflux or peptic ulcer
Zopral is used for the short-term treatment of heartburn and peptic ulcer symptoms in adults.
Peptic Ulcers Associated with Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Most people who have a peptic ulcer also have bacteria called Helicobacter pylori in their stomach. Zopral can be taken in conjunction with certain antibiotics to help eradicate Helicobacter pylori and let your peptic ulcer heal. However, it is possible that the antibiotics may not always get rid of Helicobacter pylori.
How Zopral works
Zopral contains lansoprazole, which is a type of medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by decreasing the amount of acid the stomach makes, to give relief from the symptoms of excessive acid and allow healing to take place. This does not stop food being digested in the normal way.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Zopral has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another reason.
There is no evidence that Zopral is addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take Zopral
When you must not take it
Do not take Zopral if you have an allergy to:
lansoprazole
any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
any medicines containing a proton-pump inhibitor.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
shortness of breath
wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not use Zopral if you have severe liver disease.
Do not take Zopral if you are already taking the medicine atazanavir.
Atazanavir is used to treat HIV infection. If it is taken at the same time as Zopral, it won't be absorbed properly and will be less effective in treating HIV infection.
Do not take this medicine after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take it
You must tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
liver or kidney problems
inflammation of the bowel
a tumour in the stomach region.
Tell your doctor if you have problems with digestion, or have an intolerance to:
fructose
glucose
galactose
lactose
sucrose.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved. It is not known if your baby can take in Zopral from breast milk if you are breast-feeding. The use of Zopral during breast-feeding should be avoided.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking Zopral.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Zopral may interfere with each other. These include:
theophylline, used to treat asthma
oral contraceptives
warfarin, used to prevent blood clots
carbamazepine and phenytoin, used to treat seizures
ketoconazole, used to treat fungal infections
digoxin, used to treat heart complaints
sucralfate (used to treat gastric ulcers) and antacids (used to treat heartburn and indigestion).
Zopral should be taken at least one hour before taking sucralfate or an antacid.
iron preparations
ampicillin esters, used in some antibiotics
tacrolimus, used in transplant patients to reduce organ rejection
atazanavir or other medicines used to treat HIV infection
Methotrexate used to treat some cancers
These medicines may be affected by Zopral or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.
How to take Zopral
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
Take one tablet each day, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.
Adults
The dose is usually 30 mg a day. The dose may vary from 15 mg to 30 mg a day depending on what the condition is and how long you need treatment.
Children (6 years or older)
The recommended dose depends on the weight of the child.
For children weighing 30 kg or less, the usual dose is 15 mg daily.
For children weighing over 30 kg, the usual dose is one 30 mg tablet daily.
How to take it
Zopral (capsules)
Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water.
Do not crush or chew the capsules.
If the granules in the capsules are crushed or chewed they will not work properly.
If you have difficulty swallowing the capsules whole, empty the capsule contents onto some food or drink by following these instructions.
The capsules may be emptied onto a small amount of either apple sauce, strained pears, cottage cheese or yoghurt and used like this:
open the capsule
do not crush the granules
sprinkle the granules onto one tablespoon of apple sauce, strained pears, cottage cheese or yoghurt
swallow immediately.
The capsules may be emptied into a small amount of either apple juice, orange juice or tomato juice and used like this:
open the capsule
do not crush the granules
sprinkle the granules into a small amount of apple juice, orange juice or tomato juice
stir and swallow the mixture immediately
to make sure that you get the full dose, rinse the glass two or three times with more juice and swallow it immediately each time.
Do not take Zopral with any other food or drink.
Zopral ODT (tablets)
Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water, or gently suck the tablet, then swallow the granules with your saliva.
If the tablet is chewed or crushed, it will not work properly.
When to take it
Take Zopral in the morning before food.
Zopral ODT works best when taken on an empty stomach.
How long to take it for
Keep taking Zopral as directed, unless your doctor gives you other instructions.
In most patients, Zopral relieves symptoms rapidly and healing is usually complete within 4 weeks. However, you may find that the pain and discomfort caused by an ulcer or heartburn will go away well before you finish taking all your medicine.
Although Zopral heals ulcers very successfully, the ulcer may come back at a later date. Your doctor may want you to keep taking Zopral on a long-term basis to prevent the condition from coming back. However, Zopral is recommended only for short-term use (8 to 12 weeks) in children.
Tell your doctor if your symptoms return.
You may need further treatment.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when you are meant to. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to your normal routine.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Zopral. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking Zopral
Things you must do
Use Zopral exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while you are taking Zopral.
If you are about to start any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Zopral.
Things you must not do
Do not take Zopral to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not stop taking your medicine or change the dosage without checking with your doctor.
If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted side effects.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Zopral affects you.
Zopral generally does not cause any problems with your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. However, as with many other medicines, Zopral may cause dizziness in some people. Make sure you know how you react to Zopral before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while you are taking this medicine.
If you drink alcohol, dizziness may be worse.
If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.
Standing up slowly, especially when you get up from bed or chairs, will help your body get used to the change in position and blood pressure. If this problem continues or gets worse, talk to your doctor.
Things that may help your condition
Some self-help measures suggested below may help your condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these measures and for more information.
Alcohol
Your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake.
Aspirin and many other medicines used to treat arthritis, period pain or headaches
These medicines may irritate the stomach and may make your condition worse. Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest other medicines you can take.
Caffeine
Your doctor may advise you to limit the number of drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cocoa and cola drinks because they contain ingredients that may irritate the stomach.
Eating habits
Eat smaller, more frequent meals. Eat slowly and chew your food carefully. Try not to rush at meal times. Eat your meals well before bedtime.
Smoking
Your doctor may advise you to stop smoking or at least cut down.
Weight
Your doctor may suggest losing some weight to help your condition.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Zopral.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
diarrhoea or constipation
stomach pain
indigestion
vomiting or nausea
flatulence or wind.
The above list includes the more common side effects of your medicine. They are usually mild and short-lived.
If you suffer from severe persistent diarrhoea and/or vomiting when taking Zopral, tell your doctor.
As natural acid in the stomach helps to kill bacteria, the lowering of acid by acid-reducing medicines such as Zopral may cause some people to get certain stomach infections.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have difficulty in thinking or working because of the following:
headache
dizziness
tiredness
generally feeling unwell
joint or muscle aches or pains
feeling confused, depressed or having hallucinations.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are experiencing changes to your appearance such as:
skin rashes
hives or itchy skin
hair thinning
breast enlargement and impotence in men with long term use.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are experiencing any signs of infection such as:
coughs, colds, sore throats or sinuses indicating an upper respiratory tract infection
frequent and painful passing of urine indicating a urinary tract infection
dry or sore mouth/throat.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are experiencing changes in your sight, hearing, taste or touch such as:
tingling or numbness of hands and feet
blurred vision
increased sensitivity to sunlight
taste disturbances.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
red, itchy blistering spots
watery and severe diarrhoea
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, which may cause difficulty breathing
yellowing of the skin or eyes, especially if accompanied by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark coloured urine or light coloured bowel movements
pain in the kidney region
swelling of the hands, ankles or feet
bruising or bleeding more easily than normal, bleeding under the skin or red or purple flat pinhead spots under the skin
frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
cramping of the muscles in your hands or feet
irregular heartbeat
fits or seizures.
The above list includes serious to very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything making you feel unwell when taking, or soon after finishing taking, Zopral.
Other problems are more likely to arise from the ulcer itself rather than the treatment.
For this reason, tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
pain or indigestion occurring during treatment with Zopral
you begin vomiting blood or food
you pass black (blood-stained) motions.
After taking Zopral
Storage
Keep your capsules or tablets in their blister pack until it is time to take them.
If you take the capsules or tablets out of the blister pack they may not keep well.
Keep it in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.
Do not store Zopral or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine or the expiry date has passed, ask your pharmacist what to do with any medicine that is left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Zopral 15 mg
White to off-white colored pellets filled in a hard gelatin capsule with green opaque cap and green opaque body imprinted with 'MYLAN' over '8015' on both cap and body with black ink.
Available in blister packs of 28 capsules.
Zopral 30 mg
White to off-white colored pellets filled in a hard gelatin capsule with pink opaque cap and pink opaque body imprinted with 'MYLAN' over '8030' on both cap and body with black ink.
Available in blister packs of 28 capsules.
Zopral ODT 15 mg
White to yellowish white round, flat-faced bevelled edged tablet engraved with "LP1" on one side and "M" on other side with orange to dark brown speckles.
Available in blister packs of 28 tablets.
Zopral ODT 30 mg
White to yellowish white round, flat-faced bevelled edged tablet engraved with "LP2" on one side and "M" on other side with orange to dark brown speckles.
Available in blister packs of 28 tablets.
Ingredients
Zopral
Zopral 15 mg and 30 mg enteric capsule contains either 15 mg or 30 mg of lansoprazole as the active ingredient.
The capsules also contain the following inactive ingredients:
sugar spheres
magnesium carbonate hydrate
sucrose
maize starch
hyprolose
methacrylic acid copolymer
purified talc
macrogol 6000
titanium dioxide
polysorbate 80
colloidal anhydrous silica
empty hard gelatin capsules #G2HCSA00735 SZ 2 Green Op [15 mg capsule only]
empty hard gelatin capsules #G0HCSA01082 SZ 0 Pink Op [30 mg capsule only]
Tek Print Ink SW-9009
Zopral ODT
Zopral ODT tablets contain either 15 mg or 30 mg of lansoprazole as the active ingredient.
The tablets also contain the following inactive ingredients:
magnesium carbonate hydrate
sugar spheres (sucrose & maize starch)
crospovidone
hyprolose
methacrylic acid - ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1)
triethyl citrate
sodium hydroxide
purified talc
polysorbate 80
macrogol 6000
iron oxide red
iron oxide yellow
mannitol
microcrystalline cellulose
sodium starch glycollate type A
aspartame
sodium lauryl sulphate
sodium bicarbonate
citric acid monohydrate
magnesium stearate
strawberry flavour 052311 AP0551 (ARTG No. 105990).
This medicine does not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.
