Brand name: Dexilant (formerly Kapidex)
Drug class: Proton-pump Inhibitors
- Acid-pump Inhibitors
- Antiulcer Agents
- Gastric Antisecretory Agents
Chemical name: 2-[(R)-[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridinyl]methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole
Molecular formula: C₁₆H₁₄F₃N₃O₂S
CAS number: 138530-94-6

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Jan 27, 2025. Written by ASHP.

Introduction

Acid- or proton-pump inhibitor; gastric antisecretory agent. The R-isomer of lansoprazole.

Uses for Dexlansoprazole

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)

Short-term treatment of all grades of erosive esophagitis.

Maintenance therapy following healing of erosive esophagitis to reduce recurrence of the disease.

Short-term management of symptoms (e.g., heartburn) of GERD in patients without erosive esophagitis.

Crohn’s Disease-associated Ulcers

Some evidence for use of proton-pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole) for gastric acid suppressive therapy as an adjunct in the management of upper GI Crohn’s disease^{† [off-label]}, including esophageal, gastroduodenal, and jejunoileal disease.

Dexlansoprazole Dosage and Administration

Administration

Oral Administration

Administer orally once daily.

Administer without regard to food; however, if symptoms after a meal do not respond adequately to postprandial administration, consider preprandial administration (because the effect on gastric pH during the initial 4 hours after a dose may be decreased slightly when dexlansoprazole is taken after a meal).

Swallow capsules whole; alternatively, open capsule and sprinkle contents on a tablespoonful of applesauce and swallow immediately without chewing.

Dosage

Adults

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Chronic, lifelong therapy with a proton-pump inhibitor is appropriate for many GERD patients.

Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis

Oral

60 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks.

Maintenance of Healing of Erosive Esophagitis

Oral

30 mg once daily. Controlled studies beyond 6 months not performed.

GERD without Erosive Esophagitis

Oral

30 mg once daily for 4 weeks.

Special Populations

Hepatic Impairment

No dosage adjustment necessary in mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class A). Consider maximum dosage of 30 mg daily in moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B). Not studied in severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C).

Renal Impairment

No dosage adjustment necessary.

Geriatric Patients

No dosage adjustment necessary.

Cautions for Dexlansoprazole

Contraindications

• Known hypersensitivity to dexlansoprazole or any ingredient in the formulation.

Warnings/Precautions

Sensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome) reported.

Gastric Malignancy

Response to dexlansoprazole therapy does not preclude presence of occult gastric neoplasm.

Clostridium difficile Infection

Proton-pump inhibitors associated with possible increased (1.4–2.75 times) risk of Clostridium difficile infection, including C. difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis (CDAD; also known as antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis or pseudomembranous colitis). Many patients also had other risk factors for CDAD. May be severe; colectomy and, rarely, death reported.

Use the lowest effective dosage and shortest duration of therapy appropriate for the patient's clinical condition.

Consider CDAD if persistent diarrhea develops and manage accordingly; initiate supportive therapy (e.g., fluid and electrolyte management), anti-infective therapy directed against C. difficile (e.g., metronidazole, vancomycin), and surgical evaluation as clinically indicated.

Bone Fracture

Several observational studies suggest that use of proton-pump inhibitors, particularly in high dosages (i.e., multiple daily doses) and/or for prolonged periods of time (i.e., ≥1 year), may be associated with increased risk of osteoporosis-related fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. Magnitude of risk is unclear; causality not established. FDA is continuing to evaluate this safety concern.

Use the lowest effective dosage and shortest duration of therapy appropriate for the patient’s clinical condition.

Individuals at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures should receive an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D; assess and manage these patients’ bone health according to current standards of care.

Hypomagnesemia

Hypomagnesemia, symptomatic and asymptomatic, reported rarely in patients receiving long-term therapy (≥3 months or, in most cases, >1 year) with proton-pump inhibitors, including dexlansoprazole. Serious adverse effects include tetany, seizures, tremors, carpopedal spasm, arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia), and abnormal QT interval. Paresthesia, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, lethargy, fatigue, and unsteadiness may occur. Most patients required magnesium replacement and discontinuance of the proton-pump inhibitor. Hypomagnesemia resolved within 1 week (median) following discontinuance and recurred within 2 weeks (median) of rechallenge.

In patients expected to receive long-term proton-pump inhibitor therapy or in patients currently receiving digoxin or drugs that may cause hypomagnesemia (e.g., diuretics), consider measuring serum magnesium concentrations prior to initiation of prescription proton-pump inhibitor therapy and periodically thereafter.

Respiratory Effects

Administration of proton-pump inhibitors has been associated with an increased risk for developing certain infections (e.g., community-acquired pneumonia).

Possible Prescribing and Dispensing Errors

Ensure accuracy of prescription; similarity in spelling of Kapidex (former trade name for dexlansoprazole) and Casodex (trade name for bicalutamide, a nonsteroidal antiandrogenic antineoplastic agent ) or Kadian (a trade name for morphine sulfate, an opiate agonist analgesic ) may result in errors. In April 2010, manufacturer changed trade name for dexlansoprazole from Kapidex to Dexilant to avoid future errors.

Also be aware of potential for Kapidex to be confused with Capadex (fixed-combination propoxyphene/acetaminophen preparation that is available via the Internet and is marketed in certain other countries [e.g., Australia]).

Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Category B.

Lactation

Not known whether dexlansoprazole is distributed into milk; however, lansoprazole and its metabolites are distributed into milk in rats. Discontinue nursing or the drug.

Pediatric Use

Safety and efficacy not established in children <18 years of age.

Geriatric Use

No substantial differences in safety and efficacy relative to younger adults, but increased sensitivity of some older patients cannot be ruled out.

Hepatic Impairment

Systemic exposure to dexlansoprazole is increased approximately twofold in individuals with moderate hepatic impairment. Not studied in severe hepatic impairment. (See Hepatic Impairment under Dosage and Administration.)

Common Adverse Effects

Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, upper respiratory infection, vomiting, flatulence.

Drug Interactions

Metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4.

Unlikely to inhibit CYP isoenzymes 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A4.

Drugs Metabolized by Hepatic Microsomal Enzymes

Substrates of CYP isoenzymes 1A1, 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, or 3A: Pharmacokinetic interaction unlikely.

Drugs that Cause Hypomagnesemia

Potential pharmacologic interaction (possible increased risk of hypomagnesemia). Consider monitoring magnesium concentrations prior to initiation of prescription proton-pump inhibitor therapy and periodically thereafter. (See Hypomagnesemia under Cautions.)

Specific Drugs

Dexlansoprazole Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

Bioavailability

Commercially available capsules contain 2 types of enteric-coated granules that dissolve at different pH values. Following oral administration, an initial (smaller) peak plasma concentration occurs at 1–2 hours followed by a second (larger) peak concentration at 4–5 hours.

Duration

Following once-daily administration for 5 days, gastric pH is >4 for 17 hours per day with dexlansoprazole 60 mg versus 14 hours per day with lansoprazole 30 mg.

Food

Administration in fed versus fasted state not associated with significant difference in mean gastric pH; however, effect on gastric pH during initial 4 hours after a dose may be decreased slightly when dexlansoprazole is taken after a meal. (See Oral Administration under Dosage and Administration.)

Distribution

Plasma Protein Binding

96–99%.

Elimination

Metabolism

Extensively metabolized in the liver by oxidation, reduction, and subsequent formation of inactive sulfate, glucuronide, and glutathione conjugates. CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 are involved.

Major circulating metabolite varies depending on CYP2C19 phenotype, but dexlansoprazole is the major circulating form of the drug regardless of CYP2C19 phenotype.

Elimination Route

Eliminated in urine (51%) and feces (48%); unchanged drug is not recovered in urine.

Half-life

Approximately 1–2 hours.

Special Populations

Intermediate or poor metabolizers of CYP2C19 substrates: Systemic exposure to dexlansoprazole generally is increased. In Japanese men, AUC increased twofold in intermediate metabolizers and up to 12-fold in poor metabolizers compared with extensive metabolizers.

Moderate hepatic impairment: Twofold increase in AUC.

Renal impairment: Pharmacokinetic alterations not expected.

Geriatric individuals: Half-life of 2.2 hours (versus 1.5 hours in younger individuals); not considered clinically important.

Stability

Storage

Oral

Capsules

25°C (may be exposed to 15–30°C).

Compatibility

Oral

Capsules

Immediately use extemporaneous mixtures of capsule contents and applesauce.

Actions

• Dexlansoprazole is the R-isomer of lansoprazole (a racemic mixture of R- and S-isomers). Both isomers inhibit hydrogen-potassium ATPase, but plasma clearance of dexlansoprazole is slower than that of S-lansoprazole.

• Proton-pump inhibitors inhibit basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion.

• Dexlansoprazole binds to and inactivates hydrogen-potassium ATPase (proton, hydrogen, or acid pump) in gastric parietal cells, blocking the final step in secretion of hydrochloric acid; results in potent, long-lasting inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

Advice to Patients

• Importance of swallowing capsule whole or, alternatively, of opening capsule and sprinkling contents on a tablespoonful of applesauce and swallowing immediately without chewing. Dexlansoprazole may be administered without regard to food (see Oral Administration under Dosage and Administration).

• Importance of continuing therapy for the entire treatment course, unless directed otherwise.

• Importance of advising patients that use of multiple daily doses of the drug for an extended period of time may increase the risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine.

• Risk of hypomagnesemia; importance of immediately reporting and seeking care for any cardiovascular or neurologic manifestations (e.g., palpitations, dizziness, seizures, tetany).

• Importance of informing clinicians of existing or contemplated concomitant therapy, including prescription and OTC drugs and herbal supplements, as well as any concomitant illnesses.

• Possible increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection; importance of contacting a clinician if persistent watery stools, abdominal pain, and fever occur.

• Importance of informing clinicians of any symptoms suggestive of an allergic reaction (e.g., facial swelling, rash).

• Importance of women informing their clinicians if they are or plan to become pregnant or plan to breast-feed.

• Importance of informing patients of other important precautionary information. (See Cautions.)

Preparations

Excipients in commercially available drug preparations may have clinically important effects in some individuals; consult specific product labeling for details.

Please refer to the ASHP Drug Shortages Resource Center for information on shortages of one or more of these preparations.

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