Voquezna Dual Pak
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) is used to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections in adults. It's made up of 2 separate medications packaged together in a blister pack. Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) that's taken by mouth twice a day to lower stomach acid. Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that's taken by mouth three time a day to fight the infection. The entire treatment lasts 2 weeks. Some common side effects of Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) include diarrhea and stomach pain.
What is Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin)?
What is Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) used for?
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) stomach infection in adults
How Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) works
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) is a combination of two medications that treat stomach infections caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori):
- Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB). It blocks a protein to stop stomach acid from being made and released into your stomach. This prevents stomach acid from irritating your stomach.
- Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It kills bacteria by preventing them from making their own protective covering in your body.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Voquezna Dual Pak |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | PCAB / Penicillin antibiotic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (5%)
- Stomach pain (3%)
- Vaginal yeast infection (2%)
- Sore throat and runny nose (2%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Changes in taste or metallic taste
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, hives, itching, fast heartbeat, tightness in the throat, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, swelling in the face or tongue
- Severe skin reaction: red or purple skin rash, blisters on skin, peeling skin, fever
- Infectious diarrhea: loose and watery stools, severe stomach pain or cramps, fever, nausea
The following Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
- Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
- Severe diarrhea, fever
- Severe or prolonged vomiting or diarrhea
- Unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Change in taste
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Stomach pain
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Pros and cons of Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin)
Pros
- Works well to treat H. pylori infections, including infections caused by certain resistant (hard-to-treat) bacteria
- Conveniently packaged as 2-week treatment packs
- Can be taken with or without food
Cons
- Taken three times a day
- Can't be used in people with serious kidney or liver problems
- No generics available
Pharmacist tips for Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin)
- Take Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) with or without food. Since antibiotics can typically cause stomach side effects (e.g., nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea), you can try taking your pills with food to help.
- Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin). Doing so can worsen stomach side effects, like nausea and stomach upset.
- Diarrhea is a common side effect of Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) and can lead symptoms of dehydration, like dry mouth and feeling light-headed. Stay hydrated with fluids and eat a healthy, balanced diet that's easy to digest.
- Contact your provider you develop severe diarrhea with symptoms such as stomach cramps, fever, and tiredness. This might be a symptom of infectious diarrhea – a rare, but serious side effect of Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) that needs immediate medical attention.
- Make sure to finish all of the medication in the 2-week course, even if you start to feel better before then. This is to make sure Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) gets rid of the infection so you don't get sick again. Stopping treatment earlier than prescribed can make your infection come back and become resistant (harder to treat).
- Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) interacts with many medications. For example, because vonoprazan makes your stomach less acidic, it can affect how well your body absorbs certain antiviral medications. Tell your provider about all of the medications you're taking before starting Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin).
- If you miss your dose of Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin), take it as soon as you remember if it's within 4 hours of the missed dose. If more than 4 hours has passed, skip the dose and continue the next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Never double-up the dose to make up for the missed dose.
Risks and warnings for Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin)
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reactions
Severe allergic reactions to Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) are possible, including life-threatening reactions like facial swelling, hives, and anaphylaxis (e.g., closing of the throat).
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) can also cause serious skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). These reactions typically start off as aching, headaches, fever, or a burning sensation in the eyes. You could also get blisters, redness, or a red or purple rash on your skin. If you notice any signs of a severe allergic or skin reaction after taking Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin), get medical attention right away.
Infectious diarrhea
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) can put you at a higher risk for getting Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile)-associated diarrhea (CDAD), a dangerous side effect. Like many other bacteria, C. difficile naturally lives in your gut and normally don’t cause any problems. But taking antibiotics, like amoxicillin, can cause C. difficile to grow out of control. This can lead to infectious diarrhea which can cause rapid heart rate, foul-smelling diarrhea, fever, nausea, frequent bowel movements (even up to 15 times per day) and is an emergency. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical attention right away so your provider can test you for infectious diarrhea. Your provider might ask you to stop Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin).
Risk of false positive in lab test
Let your provider know you're taking Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) before you receive lab tests that tests for neuroendocrine tumors. This medication can cause a rise in serum chromogranin A (CgA) level, which suggests you have a certain type of tumor when you don't. If you need to take a test for CgA level, you must wait at least 2 weeks after you're finished with Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) treatment.
Difficult-to-treat infections
Only take Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) if your provider confirmed you have H. pylori stomach infection and prescribed this medication for you. Don't share this medication with anyone else. Taking Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) when it's not needed can raise the risk of developing infections that can be more difficult to treat in the future.
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) dosage
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20mg/500mg | 1 carton | $835.20 | $835.20 |
Typical dosage for Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin)
Each pack contains vonoprazan 20 mg tablets and amoxicillin 500 mg capsules.
The typical dose is 1 tablet of vonoprazan by mouth two times a day (morning and evening) and 2 capsules of amoxicillin by mouth three times a day for a total of 14 days.
How much does Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) cost?
$835.20
Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Voquezna Dual Pak (vonoprazan / amoxicillin) will not be safe for you to take.
- Severe allergy to vonoprazan or amoxicillin (or other penicillin antibiotic)
- Taking a product with rilpivirine (Edurant)