Voquezna (vonoprazan) is a prescription oral tablet that’s used to treat certain types of esophagitis, heartburn, and stomach infections. Voquezna is a brand-name medication and is not available in a generic form.
Like most drugs, Voquezna may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists in this article describe some of the more common side effects that Voquezna may cause. Side effects may differ slightly depending on the condition you’re taking Voquezna to treat. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Voquezna. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Voquezna can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Voquezna’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Voquezna that have been reported include:
- inflammation in your stomach lining
- abdominal pain or swelling
- upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea
- changes in the way things taste
- headache
- common cold
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- yeast infection
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Voquezna can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Voquezna, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Voquezna that have been reported include:
- high blood pressure
- acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (a type of kidney problem that causes inflammation)
- fundic gland polyps (a type of growth in the stomach), especially if you take Voquezna for 1 year or longer
- serious skin problems, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis
- higher risk of diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection
- increased risk of fracturing a bone, especially in your hip, wrist, or spine
Allergic reactionFor some people, Voquezna 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.
What might help
If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Voquezna.
If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.
If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Voquezna, they may have you switch to a different treatment.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Voquezna that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
If you have a liver or kidney problem, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose than usual, depending on the condition you’re taking Voquezna to treat.
Form and strengths
Voquezna is an oral tablet that comes in two strengths: 10 milligrams (mg) and 20 mg.
Voquezna also comes in the following combination packages, which may be prescribed 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
Recommended dosages
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Voquezna that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.
Dosage for esophagitis
When used to treat erosive esophagitis and related heartburn, your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage of 20 mg taken once daily for 8 weeks.
After 8 weeks, your doctor may have you continue your Voquezna treatment to keep your esophagus healed and to manage heartburn. For this use, your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage of 10 mg taken once daily for up to 6 months.
Dosage for H. pylori infection
For the treatment of H. pylori infection, your doctor will likely prescribe a dosage of 20 mg taken two times daily for 14 days. You’ll also be prescribed one or two antibiotics.
Your doctor may prescribe either the Voquezna Dual Pak, which also contains amoxicillin, or Voquezna Triple Pak, which contains amoxicillin and clarithromycin.
Dosage for relief of heartburn from non-erosive GERD
When used to treat heartburn associated with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the dosage is 10 mg taken once daily for 4 weeks.
Questions about taking Voquezna
Below are some common questions about taking Voquezna.
- Can Voquezna be chewed, crushed, or split? No, you shouldn’t chew, crush, or split Voquezna tablets. You should swallow them whole. If you have trouble swallowing pills, check out this article or ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
- Is there a best time of day to take Voquezna? Voquezna can be taken at any time of day. But it’s best to take your dose (or doses) around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body, which helps Voquezna work effectively.
- What if I miss a dose of Voquezna? The guidance depends on how often you take the drug. But in either case, you should not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
- If you take Voquezna once daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember if it’s within 12 hours of when you were supposed to take it. But if 12 hours or more have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time.
- If you take Voquezna twice daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember if it’s within 4 hours of your usual time. But if 4 hours or more have passed, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at its usual time.
- Will I need to use Voquezna long term? It depends on the condition you’re taking it to treat. For example, if you have an H. pylori infection, you’ll take Voquezna for 14 days. If you have erosive esophagitis, you may take Voquezna for up to 6 months. The risk of certain serious side effects (such as diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile or bone fractures) increases the longer you take Voquezna. Because of this, your doctor will likely prescribe Voquezna for the shortest amount of time needed to treat your condition.
- How long does Voquezna take to work? Voquezna starts to work within a few hours of taking a dose. The amount of time it takes to see results from Voquezna will depend on your condition. For example, if you have erosive esophagitis, you may notice improvement in 2 to 8 weeks after starting treatment.
Overdose
Do not take more Voquezna than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to harmful effects.
What to do in case you take too much Voquezna
Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Voquezna. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
Voquezna is used in adults to:
- treat erosive esophagitis and related heartburn
- keep your esophagus healed and manage heartburn after recovering from erosive esophagitis
- relieve heartburn associated with non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection (when prescribed with one or two antibiotics)
Your esophagus is the part of your digestive system that connects your throat to your stomach. Erosive esophagitis occurs when your esophagus lining becomes inflamed or damaged. This may be from stomach acid coming up into your esophagus, which may happen if you have GERD. If you have erosive esophagitis, you may experience trouble swallowing, abdominal pain, or chest pain that’s worse when you eat.
H. pylori is a bacterium that infects your stomach lining. If you have H. pylori, you may lose weight without trying to. Or you may feel bloated or full just after you start eating a meal.
Your stomach contains systems called proton pumps, which make acid. While normal amounts of acid help digest food, too much may cause erosive esophagitis and heartburn. Voquezna helps shut off these proton pumps. In this way, Voquezna works to reduce stomach acid. This reduces damage to your esophagus and relieves heartburn symptoms.
Below is important information you should consider before taking Voquezna.
Interactions
Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.
Voquezna can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain lab tests.
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.
Drug interactions
Below is a list of medications 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.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples |
|---|---|
| certain HIV drugs | • rilpivirine (Edurant) • atazanavir (Reyataz) • nelfinavir (Viracept) |
| certain cancer drugs | • erlotinib (Tarceva) • dasatinib (Sprycel, Phyrago) • nilotinib (Tasigna) |
| certain antifungals | •ketoconazole •itraconazole (Sporanox, Tolsura) |
| mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept, Myhibbin) | — |
| certain drugs that are broken down by the CYP2C19 enzyme* | • clopidogrel (Plavix) • citalopram (Celexa) • cilostazol |
| certain drugs that speed up the activity of the CYP3A4 enzyme* | • carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Equetro,Tegretol, Teril, Epitol) • rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin) |
* This enzyme (protein) is in the liver and helps break down certain drugs, including Voquezna.
Voquezna and alcohol
Alcohol is not known to interact with Voquezna. But alcohol may worsen certain side effects from taking Voquezna, including nausea and headache. In addition, alcohol may worsen symptoms of esophagitis or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as heartburn. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you avoid alcohol or limit the amount you consume.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol with your condition or treatment plan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Other interactions
Voquezna can interact with other substances such as:
- Supplements: Voquezna interacts with iron supplements. Your body may absorb less iron than usual from these supplements while you’re taking Voquezna. Talk with your doctor to learn more about how to manage this interaction if you take iron supplements.
- Diagnostic tests: Voquezna can interact with a certain test for neuroendocrine tumors called the chromogranin (CgA) test. It can also interact with the secretin stimulation test to measure how well your pancreas is working. Having these tests done during your Voquezna treatment could cause them to return false-positive results. (With a false-positive result, test results show you have a certain disease or condition when you actually don’t.) Because of this risk, your doctor may recommend stopping Voquezna for at least 14 days before having either of these tests done.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Voquezna during pregnancy.
Voquezna’s manufacturer is gathering information about the drug’s 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. Talk with your doctor to learn more.
It’s not known whether Voquezna passes into breast milk or what effects (if any) it could have on a child who is breastfed. But because of the possible risks, breastfeeding while taking Voquezna is not recommended.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Voquezna treatment.
Warnings
Voquezna can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Voquezna is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Voquezna. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- liver problems
- kidney problems
- take any drug that contains rilpivirine (an HIV drug)
- previous diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection
- another condition that increases your risk of bone fracture, such as osteoporosis
- low levels of magnesium, calcium, or potassium in your blood
- also take digoxin or certain diuretics for other conditions
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- previous allergic reaction to Voquezna or any of its ingredients
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Voquezna. What you’ll pay for Voquezna may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.
Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:
- Cost information and savings coupons: You can visit Optum Perks to get price estimates of what you’d pay for Voquezna when using coupons from the site. See the following coupon options. (Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.)
- Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You may be eligible to receive a Voquezna Savings Card.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
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Dosage
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Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Voquezna, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.
The following drugs are similar to Voquezna:
- proton pump inhibitors, such as:
- omeprazole (Prilosec)
- esomeprazole (Nexium)
- pantoprazole (Protonix)
- H2 receptor blockers, including:
- famotidine (Pepcid AC)
- cimetidine (Tagamet HB)
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.