Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Flatulence, Diarrhoea.

Expert advice for Pep Capsule
Inform your doctor if you do not feel better after taking it for 14 days as you may be suffering from some other problem that needs attention. Pep can decrease magnesium levels in blood. Get your magnesium levels checked regularly. You may need a magnesium supplement or need to discontinue your medicine.  Inform your doctor if you are suffering from osteoporosis as Pep can weaken your bones by decreasing calcium levels in blood. You may need a calcium supplement, preferably calcium citrate. Pep is a well-tolerated medicine and provides relief for a long time. It may take a few days to show its effect. You can take an antacid for a quick relief during this time unless your doctor has asked you not to use them. Once you start feeling better, do not stop taking your medicine. Take it for the duration as advised by your doctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the side effects of Pep use in infants?
Use of Pep in infants (children < 1 year of age) may commonly cause diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, and flatulence. It may make infants irritable and inconsolable and difficult to sleep. Long-term use may cause inflammation of the pancreas, irritable colon, stool discoloration, growth of fungus in food pipe, stomatitis, abdominal swelling, mucosal atrophy of the tongue and decrease absorption of vitamins and minerals. Some may have severe allergic reactions also.

Q. Can I take Pep with clopidogrel?
Pep can be safely taken with clopidogrel. No clinically important changes in the action of clopidogrel have been seen when Pep and clopidogrel are used together.

Q. How is Pep given through the nasogastric tube?
Open the Pep capsule and empty the granules into a syringe. Mix the contents with apple juice in the syringe and attach it to the nasogastric (NG) tube and give directly into the stomach. Once given, flush the NG tube with more apple juice to clear the tube.

Q. Does long term use of Pep is associated with side effects?
Patients taking Pep for a long period of time (a year or longer) may have decreased calcium levels leading to an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. It can also decrease magnesium levels when used for more than 3 months. Long-term use may also cause inflammation of stomach lining (atrophic gastritis). Take Pep only at the dose and for duration advised by your doctor

Q. Why does Pep cause diarrhea?
Use of Pep lowers the natural stomach acid which normally helps to kill bacteria. So, use of Pep leads to overgrowth of the harmful bacteria which can cause diarrhea. This is known as Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD). Inform your doctor if you have loose stools many times in a day and for many days with stomach cramps and fever.

Q. Does Pep cause burping?
Burping also known as belching or eructations is a side effect seen with Pep use. Other common side effects associated are nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Is Pep a CYP3A4 inhibitor?
No, Pep does not inhibit CYP3A4, it inhibits other subtypes of CYP enzymes namely, CYP2C19 and CYP2C9. However, there are no significant drug-drug interactions because of this property.

Q. Is Pep safe to use?
Pep is safe to use when taken at doses and for a duration strictly as advised by the doctor. However, there are some common side effects associated with its use includes nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Why does Pep cause a sore throat?
Sore throat occurs in less than 1% of the patients who take Pep but the reason for the same is not known.

Q. Can I use Pep with antacids?
Pep can be taken with antacids like aluminum hydroxide, magnesium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. However, antacids should be taken two hours before or one hour after taking Pep because it requires a lower pH for its action and antacids can increase the pH of the stomach and decrease the action of Pep.

Q. Why do Pep cause vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis?
Pep decreases calcium absorption leading to calcium deficiency. So, it increases the risk of osteoporosis (thinning of bones) and bone fractures on long-term use, like hip, wrist or spine fractures. Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (they increase the risk of osteoporosis) before starting your therapy. Take enough calcium and vitamin D to reduce the risk.

Q. Does Pep increase appetite (make you hungry)?
Yes, Pep can increase appetite and make you feel hungry. This is reported to be an uncommon side effect seen with the use of Pep.

Q. What is the role of Pep in the treatment of H. pylori?
Pep is used along with antibiotics for the treatment of H.Pylori infection. It works by decreasing stomach acid volume and breakdown and washout of antibiotics leading to an increase in antibiotic concentration and tissue penetration. It also helps in the symptomatic relief by decreasing associated acidity, reflux, and heartburn.

Q. Is Pep a vesicant?
A vesicant is a substance which causes blistering and tissue injury. Pep is not a vesicant. It is a proton pump inhibitor used for the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Q. Why does Pep cause weight gain?
Weight gain is reported in less than 1% of the patients taking Pep but the exact cause is unknown. One of the possible explanation is higher food intake once the reflux symptoms are relieved. Lifestyle modifications such as proper diet and avoidance of overeating should be observed to avoid weight gain.

Q. Can I take Pep with ibuprofen?
Yes, Pep can be taken with ibuprofen. Pep can be used to prevent ibuprofen (painkillers) induced gastritis and stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. Moreover, there are no clinically significant interactions of Pep with ibuprofen.

Q. Does Pep treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Pep is not routinely used for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is given if there is associated dyspepsia or increased stomach acid secretion. IBS is managed with a combination of antispasmodics (to relieve stomach pain), laxatives (to relieve constipation), and anti-motility drugs (to relieve diarrhea).

Q. Can I take Pep with aspirin?
Yes, you can take Pep with aspirin. However, Pep decreases stomach acid and makes stomach juices alkaline. This can decrease absorption of aspirin and break the enteric coating of the formulations. However, these interactions are minor and can be avoided by taking the medicines at a time gap.

Q. Can I take Pep with prednisolone?
Pep can be taken with steroids like prednisolone. Pep is used to prevent prednisolone (steroid) induced gastritis and stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. No drug-drug interactions or harmful effects have been seen when Pep is used with prednisolone.

Q. Can I take Pep with hyoscine?
Yes, hyoscine can be taken with Pep. They are given together as hyoscine can help in better relief when given with Pep. However, some studies in normal individuals have also shown that hyoscine can decrease the effect of Pep. So, it is advisable to consult your doctor before taking them together.

Q. Is Pep used to treat a cough?
Pep is used for the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers and can help in providing relief in a chronic cough that may happen due to acid reflux. However, it is not used to treat a cough due to cold, flu or throat infections.

Q. While taking Pep, which foods should be avoided?
You should preferably avoid foods that cause acidity and heartburn as they would aggravate your disease condition, for example: fried foods, prepared in butter or oil, fat rich foods, tomato-based foods and juices, caffeinated drinks like cola, tea, drinks from citrus fruits like lemon water or orange juice and alcohol-containing drinks.

Q. Does Pep cause dry mouth?
Yes, use of Pep is associated with dry mouth, however, this is not a very common side. Some common side effects seen with Pep use are nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Does Pep make you tired?
Yes, use of Pep makes you feel tired (fatigue) very commonly. Some other common side effects seen with its use are nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Is Pep used to treat nausea?
Pep is used for the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers and can help in providing relief in nausea that may happen due to acid reflux. It is not used to treat nausea due to any other cause. Rather, nausea is one of the most common side effect of Pep.

Q. Can I take Pep with paracetamol?
Yes, you can take Pep with paracetamol. Pep is used to prevent paracetamol (painkillers) induced gastritis and stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. There are no clinically significant drug-drug interactions or harmful effects seen when they are used together.

Q. IS it safe to take Pep with vitamin C (ascorbic acid)?
Yes, Pep can be taken with vitamin C (ascorbic acid). There are no drug-drug interactions or any harmful effects seen when they are used together.

Q. Is it safe to take Pep with naproxen?
Pep can be taken with naproxen. No drug-drug interactions or any harmful effects have been reported when they are used together.

Q. Is Pep used for children?
Yes, Pep is used in the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erosive gastritis in children. However, the safety and effectiveness of Pep are established only in children between 1 to 17 years of age.

Q. Is Pep a controlled substance?
Pep is not a controlled substance. It's a prescription medicine and is available on providing a valid prescription by a doctor.

Q. Is Pep a beta blocker?
No, Pep is not a beta blocker. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Q. Is Pep a probiotic?
No,Pep is not a probiotic. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers. A probiotic is a substance, which is helpful in diarrhea.

Q. Is Pep a narcotic substance?
Pep is a not a narcotic substance and has not been reported to have any abuse potential. Pep does not get you high and does not cause any addiction as no withdrawal symptoms have been reported when you stop taking this drug.

Q. Is Pep an antibiotic?
No, Pep is not an antibiotic. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers. An antibiotic is a medicine, which is used to treat infections.

Q. Is Pep a sulfa drug?
No,Pep is not a sulfa drug. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Q. Is Pep a steroid?
No, Pep is not a steroid. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Q. Is Pep a NSAID?
No, Pep is not a NSAID. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers. NSAIDs are painkillers, which are used to treat pain.

Q. Is Pep a statin?
No, Pep is not a statin. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Q. Is Pep a laxative?
No,Pep is not a laxative. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers. A laxative is a medicine, which is used to treat constipation.

Q. Is Pep a diuretic?
No,Pep is not a diuretic. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers. A diuretic is a medicine, which removes excess water and electrolytes from the body through urine.

Q. Is Pep a prescription drug?
Pep is a prescription medicine and is available on providing a valid prescription by a doctor.

Q. Is Pep an H2 blocker?
No,Pep is not an H2 blocker. It is a Proton pump inhibitor is used in the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.