Protolans is widely used to treat indigestion, heartburn (hyper_acidity) and GERD disease, and is also taken to prevent and treat stomach ulcers. Sometimes Protolans is taken as a treatment for a rare disease caused by a tumor in the pancreas or intestine called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Protolans reduces the amount of acid produced by your stomach. Protolans is a medicine that can be prescribed to both adults and children (it is not recommended to treat children under 12 years of age). Protolans is a safe and suitable drug for pregnant and lactating women, and most people who take this product do not feel any serious side effects.

Dexlansoprazole is the name of the active ingredient in Protolans. Dexlansoprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces, thus contributes to relieving symptoms associated with diseases in which the secretion of gastric acid increases or in cases where it is useful to reduce the production of stomach acid. For example, gastric or duodenal ulcers or reflux esophagitis.

Protolans: What You Need to Know

• Protolans, belongs to a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors. Protolans available in two strengths of 30 or 60 mg capsules for oral use.
• Protolans is usually taken once a day in the morning before breakfast or at bedtime, and in some severe cases, it can be taken twice a day – in the morning and in the evening.
• Common side effects include headache, diarrhea and stomach pain. These symptoms are often mild and go away when you stop taking the medication.
• If you are taking Protolans on your own, without a prescription, do not take it for longer than 2 weeks without consulting your doctor.
• Protolans can be taken by adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Protolans can be taken by children over 12 years old, and sometimes it can be prescribed to children under 10 years old.

Before you take Protolans, be sure to tell your doctor if:

• You are allergic to any medicines or any food.
• you have liver problems.
• You were scheduled to have an endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, you should ask your doctor if you should stop taking Protolans a few weeks before the endoscopy. This medicine may mask some of the problems that would normally be spotted during an endoscopy.

Protolans – Recommended dose

Protolans, is usually taken once a day, first thing in the morning (before breakfast). This medicine will not cause you any stomach discomfort if you take it on an empty stomach, so you can take your dose with or without food, but it is preferable to take the dose on an empty stomach (at least an hour before breakfast). If you take Protolans twice a day, take one dose in the morning and one dose in the evening.

• The recommended dose in cases of indigestion is 30 to 60 mg of dexlansoprazole, once daily.
• The recommended dose for heartburn and for the treatment of GERD is 30 to 60 mg of dexlansoprazole, once daily.
• The recommended dose to treat stomach ulcers or to prevent the recurrence of stomach ulcers after treatment is 30 to 60 mg, once daily.
• The recommended dose in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome ranges from 30 to 120 mg of dexlansoprazole, daily.
• Children’s doses are usually lower than adults’ doses.
• Dosages for patients with liver problems are usually lower than those mentioned above (it is not recommended for patients with severe liver damage to take this medicine).

What if I forget to take my dose?

• If you take Protolans once a day: Take the missed dose when you remember it during the day, as long as this is at least 12 hours before your next dose.
• If you take Protolans twice a day: If you remember your forgotten dose within 4 hours of your usual dose, take the missed dose. For example, if you usually take a dose around 7 AM, you can take the missed dose anytime until 11 AM. But if you remember after that time, do not take the missed dose, and take your next dose as usual.

When should Protolans start to work?

Dexlansoprazole (Protolans) starts to work right away and you should start to feel less heartburn, less discomfort and less reflux. It may take up to 4 weeks for dexlansoprazole to fully work so you may still have some symptoms during this time. If you are not sure if a medication is working well, contact your doctor.

What if I vomit after taking the dose?

• If you vomit less than 30 minutes after taking a dose of dexlansoprazole, take the same dose again.
• If you vomit more than 30 minutes after taking a dose of dexlansoprazole, you do not need to take another dose. Wait until your next dose.

Possible side effects

Dexlansoprazole is a safe medicine and most people can take it without experiencing any side effects.

Rare, serious side effects: If you have a rash or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or have trouble breathing or swallowing, you may be allergic to dexlansoprazole. Contact your doctor or go to the hospital right away.

Other side effects you need to know: The following side effects may occur when you first start taking dexlansoprazole. These effects will wear off as your body gets used to the medication. If these negative effects persist after a week or so, contact your doctor.

• stomach pain, feeling sick or vomiting, or you may have diarrhea, gas, or constipation. It may be useful to take each dose with some food to reduce these side effects on the digestive system.
• Feeling dizzy.
• Feeling sleepy, but some find it difficult to sleep at night. If this problem persists after about two weeks, contact your doctor.

Warnings and precautions

• Treatment with (Protolans) may mask stomach cancer (a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the stomach lining). Stomach cancer should be excluded, and it should be noted that improvement of symptoms does not prevent the presence of a malignant tumor in the stomach.
• Long-term treatment with dexlansoprazole has been associated with atrophic gastritis (changes in the type of cells lining the stomach wall, which are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa).
• treatment with Protolans, especially for a long period of time, may be associated with an increased risk of diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that causes severe diarrhea and colitis, a condition called pseudomembranous colitis.
• Bone fracture: Long-term therapy may be associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis-related fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine.
• High doses of dexlansoprazole reduces the anti-platelet activity of clopidogrel.
• Hypomagnesemia has been reported rarely with prolonged treatment with proton pump inhibitors.
• Avoid concomitant use of Protolans with St. John’s wort or rifampin because of a possible decrease in dexlansoprazole effect may happen.

Protolans alternative

There are many alternatives available for this drug. See the photo gallery of proton pump inhibitor drugs from the link here. All medicines in this album are suitable alternatives to each other, however, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Protolans – FAQ

What happens if I eat before taking Protolans?

Protolans will work even if you take the dose after food, but the effect of the medicine may be delayed a little, because food delays the absorption of the medicine. It’s usual to take dexlansoprazole once a day – first thing in the morning. If you take dexlansoprazole twice a day, take 1 dose in the morning and 1 dose in the evening. Dexlansoprazole works best if you take it 30 minutes before a meal or snack. That’s because food slows down dexlansoprazole getting into your system.

• It is advised for these patients to avoid spicy food.
• Protolans must be taken every morning with a glass of water for 14 days, regardless of heartburn symptoms.

If heartburn symptoms persist for more than 14 days, despite taking Protolans, you should consult your doctor, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• If you are a smoker.
• If you have a history with stomach or duodenal ulcers.
• If you are over 45 years old.
• If you have a condition that requires you to take analgesics for long periods.
• If heartburn is not related to food. Ref#A02BC07.