This medication description is not meant for treatment prescription without the intervention of a specialist.

Common Uses

Agopton is a proton pump inhibitor which prevents the stomach from producing acid. It reduces symptoms and prevents injury to the esophagus or stomach in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease or ulcers. Agopton is also useful in conditions that produce too much stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

How to Take

For Short-Term Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer: The usual dose for adults is 15 milligrams once daily, before eating, for 4 weeks.

To Prevent Relapse of Duodenal Ulcer: Take 15 milligrams once a day.

To Eradicate Ulcer-causing Bacteria: To eliminate the H. pylori bacteria that cause most duodenal ulcers, Agopton is taken with amoxicillin alone or amoxicillin and Biaxin. When combined with amoxicillin only, the usual dosage is 30 milligrams of Agopton and 1 gram of amoxicillin 3 times daily for 14 days. If all three drugs are used, the usual dosage is 30 milligrams of Agopton, 1 gram of amoxicillin, and 500 milligrams of Biaxin twice daily for 10 to 14 days.

For Short-Term Treatment of Stomach Ulcer: The usual dose is 30 milligrams once a day for up to 8 weeks.

To Prevent Stomach Ulcer Due to Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs:The usual dose is 15 milligrams once a day for up to 12 weeks.

For Short-Term Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Take 15 milligrams once a day for up to 8 weeks.

For Short-Term Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis: The usual dose is 30 milligrams daily, before eating, for up to 8 weeks. Depending on your response to the medication your doctor may suggest another 8-week treatment regimen.

Other Excess Acid Conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome): The usual starting dose is 60 milligrams once daily. This dose can be adjusted upward by your doctor, depending on your response. Dosages totaling more than 120 milligrams a day should be divided into smaller doses.

For Short-Term Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: The usual dose for children 12 to 17 years old is 15 milligrams once a day for up to 8 weeks.

For Short-Term Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis: The usual dose is 30 milligrams once a day for up to 8 weeks.

Children 1 year to 11 years old

For Short-Term Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or Erosive Esophagitis: dosage is based on the child's weight. For children weighing 66 pounds or less, the usual dose is 15 milligrams once a day for up to 12 weeks. For children weighing more than 66 pounds, the usual dose is 30 milligrams once a day for up to 12 weeks. If the child's symptoms don't improve after 2 or more weeks, the doctor may increase the dose up to a maximum of 30 milligrams twice a day. Children with severe liver problems will need their dosage adjusted.

Safety and effectiveness have not been studied in children less than 1 year old.

Warning and Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have any type of liver disease. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Agopton.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of Agopton and antibiotics. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

If you also take sucralfate (Carafate), avoid taking it at the same time you take Agopton. Sucralfate can make it harder for your body to absorb Agopton. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking Agopton before you take sucralfate.

Take Agopton for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before your treatment is completed.

Some forms of Agopton may contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

Overdoses of Agopton are not known to cause any problems. Nevertheless, no medication should be taken in excess. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store Agopton at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Protect from moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Possible Side Effects

More common: diarrhea; skin rash or itching. Less common: abdominal or stomach pain; increased or decreased appetite; joint pain; nausea; vomiting. Rare: anxiety; cold or flu-like symptoms; constipation; increased cough; mental depression; muscle pain; rectal bleeding; unusual bleeding or bruising. Incidence not known: abdominal tenderness; back, leg, or stomach pains; bleeding gums; blistering, peeling, loosening of skin; bloating; bloody, black, or tarry stools; change in mental status; chest pain; chills; clay colored stools; constipation; cough or hoarseness; dark or bloody urine; difficulty breathing; difficulty speaking; difficulty swallowing; fast heartbeat; fatigue; fever; general body swelling; high fever; hives; indigestion; loss of appetite; lower back or side pain; nosebleeds; painful or difficult urination; pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back; pale skin; puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; red irritated eyes; pinpoint red spots on skin; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; seizures; shortness of breath; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth; swelling of feet or lower legs; swollen or painful glands; tightness in chest; unusual tiredness or weakness; wheezing; yellowing of the eyes or skin.

More Information

The information given above is a summary. Your pharmacist can provide more information about Agopton. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. If using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.