Voquezna (vonoprazan)

Voquezna generic

Voquezna is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

Voquezna dosage

The Voquezna dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the condition you’re taking Voquezna to treat
• other medical conditions you may have, such as kidney or liver problems

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Voquezna comes as an oral tablet that you swallow. It’s available in two strengths: 10 milligrams (mg) and 20 mg.

Voquezna also comes in the following combination packages, which doctors may prescribe for treating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection:

• Voquezna Dual Pak, which contains Voquezna tablets and amoxicillin capsules
• Voquezna Triple Pak, which contains Voquezna tablets, amoxicillin capsules, and clarithromycin tablets

Dosage for erosive esophagitis

Voquezna is used for healing erosive esophagitis and relieving related heartburn in adults. For this purpose, the recommended dosage of Voquezna is 20 mg once daily for 8 weeks.

After the esophagus is healed, Voquezna may be used as a maintenance treatment to keep your esophagus healed and to relieve heartburn. For this purpose, the recommended dosage of Voquezna is 10 mg once daily for up to 6 months.

If you have kidney or liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a different dosage.

Dosage for H. pylori infection

Voquezna is used to treat H. pylori infection in combination with certain antibiotics. For this purpose, the recommended dosage of Voquezna is 20 mg twice daily for 14 days.

Your doctor will prescribe amoxicillin and/or clarithromycin to treat your infection. They’ll also give you the dosage details for these antibiotics.

If you have kidney or liver problems, your doctor may prescribe a different dosage of Voquezna.

About taking Voquezna

Below you’ll find information about key dosage issues.

• When to take: You should take Voquezna once or twice daily, according to your doctor’s instructions. If you take it once daily, you can take your dose at any time of day. If you take it twice daily, you’ll take one dose in the morning and one dose in the evening. Taking Voquezna on a consistent schedule helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps the drug work effectively.
• If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose of Voquezna, your next steps depend on the condition being treated. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about what to do after missing a dose of Voquezna. The drug manufacturer recommends the following:
  • For heartburn and erosive esophagitis: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible within 12 hours. But if the missed dose is more than 12 hours late, just skip it. Then take your regular dose at the next scheduled time.
  • For H. pylori infection: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible within 4 hours. But if the missed dose is more than 4 hours late, skip the missed dose. Take your regular dose at the next scheduled time. Then continue taking the medication on your usual schedule until you’ve completed all the doses your doctor prescribed.
• Taking Voquezna with food: You may take Voquezna with or without food.
• Crushing, splitting, or chewing Voquezna: You should not crush, chew, or cut Voquezna tablets. Swallow each tablet whole. If you have trouble swallowing pills, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• Short-term or long-term use: The recommended length of use depends on the condition being treated. For healing erosive esophagitis, Voquezna is a short-term treatment (8 weeks). For maintaining a healed esophagus, Voquezna may be a long-term treatment (up to 6 months). For treating H. pylori infection, Voquezna is a short-term treatment (2 weeks) along with antibiotics.
• Length of time to work: Voquezna starts to reduce stomach acid within a few hours after your first dose. How long Voquezna takes to work depends on the condition being treated. For erosive esophagitis, Voquezna typically heals acid-related damage within 2 to 8 weeks. For treating H. pylori infection, Voquezna is part of a 14-day treatment with antibiotics.

Overdose

Do not use more Voquezna than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

What to do in case you take too much Voquezna

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Voquezna side effects

Voquezna can cause mild or serious side effects. These side effects might differ slightly between people with erosive esophagitis and people with H. pylori infection.

The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Voquezna. These lists do not include all possible side effects. For more information about the possible side effects of Voquezna, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Voquezna, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Voquezna. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Voquezna’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Voquezna can include:

• gastritis (inflammation or irritation of the lining of your stomach)
• diarrhea
• abdominal pain or bloating
• nausea
• indigestion
• headache
• infection, such as a urinary tract infection or the common cold

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Voquezna aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• acute interstitial nephritis (sudden inflammation in the kidneys), which may cause symptoms such as:
  • urinating less than usual
  • swelling in your feet or lower legs
  • fatigue
• increased risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, which may cause symptoms such as:
  • severe, watery diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • fever
• high blood pressure
• fundic gland polyps, which are a type of growth in the stomach

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Voquezna oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t common in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Voquezna, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Voquezna uses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Voquezna to treat certain conditions. Voquezna may also be used off-label for other conditions. Off-label drug use is when an FDA-approved drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

Voquezna for erosive esophagitis

Voquezna is FDA approved for use in adults to:

• heal acid-related damage in the esophagus and relieve heartburn related to erosive esophagitis
• maintain healed acid-related damage in the esophagus and relieve related heartburn

The esophagus is a tube-like part of your body that carries the food you eat into your stomach. Erosive esophagitis can result from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With GERD, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing inflammation and erosion (damage). Heartburn is a common symptom, especially after eating.

Other symptoms of erosive esophagitis may include:

• persistent cough
• sour or unpleasant taste in your mouth
• throat pain or burning
• voice hoarseness

Voquezna for H. pylori infection

Voquezna is also FDA approved for use in adults to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in combination with certain antibiotics.

For this purpose, Voquezna is prescribed as part of a two-drug (“double therapy”) or three-drug (“triple therapy”) combination regimen. Double therapy includes Voquezna and amoxicillin. Triple therapy includes Voquezna, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin.

H. pylori is a bacteria that can infect the stomach. This infection increases the risk of ulcers (sores) in the lining of the digestive tract. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, indigestion, and stool or vomit that looks bloody or black.

Voquezna and children

Voquezna is only FDA approved for use in adults. It’s not known whether this medication is safe or effective for children.

Voquezna interactions

Voquezna can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

Before taking Voquezna, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with medications, foods, and supplements

Below is a list of medications, supplements, and foods that can interact with Voquezna. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Voquezna. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Voquezna.

Keep in mind that drinking alcohol may worsen heartburn or other symptoms of erosive esophagitis. (Voquezna is used to relieve heartburn and heal acid-related damage in your esophagus.) So your doctor may recommend avoiding alcohol during Voquezna treatment.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking Voquezna, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Voquezna cost and coupons

As with all medications, the cost of Voquezna can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Drug coupons: You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Voquezna. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Voquezna, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

A Voquezna savings card is available. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 833-366-7149 or visit the program website.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Generic version: Voquezna is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

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Retail price refers to the manufacturer’s published list price and is up to date as of 3/2023. Retail and discounted prices are U.S.-only and can vary based on region and pharmacy. We cannot guarantee that the discounted price listed here will exactly match the price at your pharmacy. Please contact your pharmacy for the exact price.

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Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Voquezna, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Voquezna:

• proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and esomeprazole (Nexium)
• H2-receptor blockers, such as famotidine (Pepcid)

Things to consider when taking Voquezna

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy, birth control, and breastfeeding.

Voquezna and pregnancy

It’s not known whether Voquezna should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Voquezna’s manufacturer is gathering information about Voquezna use during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking Voquezna, you or your doctor can report the pregnancy to Phathom Pharmaceuticals by calling 888-775-7428.

Voquezna and birth control

It’s not known if Voquezna is safe to take during pregnancy. If you’re sexually active and you or your partner can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about your birth control needs while you’re using Voquezna.

Voquezna and breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Voquezna. This warning is based on a possible risk of liver problems if a breastfed child is exposed to Voquezna through breast milk.

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with Voquezna.

Common questions about Voquezna

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Voquezna.

How does Voquezna work?

Voquezna works by attaching to proton pumps on cells in your stomach lining. These pumps are responsible for the last step of making stomach acid. When the drug attaches to these pumps, it blocks potassium from binding to proton pumps. This stops the pumps from working, which reduces the amount of stomach acid your body makes.

Reducing stomach acid can help prevent and relieve heartburn. It can also help reduce acid reflux, which allows the damage in your esophagus to heal and stay healed.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about how Voquezna works.

Is Voquezna a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)? How does it compare?

No, Voquezna belongs to a new class of drugs called potassium-competitive acid blockers (PCABs). But it works in a very similar way and treats some of the same conditions as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Examples of PPIs include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

In clinical trials, Voquezna was shown to be more effective than lansoprazole for healing erosive esophagitis in adults with GERD. But keep in mind that individual results may not be the same as in clinical trials.

One key difference is that most PPIs must be taken on an empty stomach to work effectively. Voquezna does not require special timing of meals to work effectively. You can take Voquezna with or without food.

If you have questions about how Voquezna compares to PPIs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.