Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Acid reflux is the movement of stomach acid up into your oesophagus (food pipe), when this happens frequently it is commonly referred to as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Heartburn is one of the main symptoms of acid reflux and symptoms of heartburn are caused when the acid irritates the sensitive surface of the oesophagus.

Symptoms of heartburn are typically described as a burning pain in the stomach which moves up towards the chest. Discomfort may be felt in the back of the throat creating an unpleasant or acid like taste in the mouth. Some people may also notice that swallowing can become more difficult as a consequence of recurrent acid reflux.⁹

Adults may use Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets for the short-term treatment of acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn. This medicine should not be used by children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets contains the active substance omeprazole which belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors. It works to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach by blocking the proton pump inside the cells which produce acid. It may be necessary to take Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets for 2-3 days to see an improvement in symptoms.

You should take Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets exactly as directed by your doctor or pharmacist or as described in the patient information leaflet included with the product. In the leaflet it is recommended that you take one 20mg tablet daily in the morning. This tablet should be swallowed whole with half a glass of water and can be taken with food or on an empty stomach. You should not take it for more than 14 consecutive days.

As with all medicines there may be potential side effects. Common side effects of Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting

The full list of side effects can be found in the patient information leaflet of the product.

There are some rare but potentially serious side effects to be aware of. If you notice any of the following symptoms, stop taking this medication and contact a doctor immediately:

• Allergic reaction – wheezing, swelling of your lips, tongue and throat, body rash, fainting or swallowing difficulties.
• Skin reddening with blistered or peeling skin which may possibly indicate Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis.
• Yellow skin, dark urine and tiredness which may indicate possible issues of the liver.
• Blood problems (decrease in white blood cells or platelets) – may present as general weakness, bruising or increase the likelihood of infections.

Any potential side effects experienced while taking the product should be reported to your pharmacist or doctor or alternatively as indicated in the leaflet enclosed with the product.

If and when your reflux symptoms have fully resolved, you should stop taking Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets. It might be necessary to take the tablets for 2-3 consecutive days to achieve improvement of symptoms and most patients achieve complete relief of heartburn within 7 days. It is not recommended to continue taking Pyrocalm 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets after 14 days of use. If you are not symptom free after 14 days, it is advised that you contact your doctor.

This medicine is not meant to bring immediate relief. It might be necessary to take the tablets for 2-3 consecutive days to achieve improvement of symptoms. The recommended dose is one 20 mg tablet once a day for up to 14 days. Contact your doctor if you are not free from symptoms after this period.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This is because Pyrocalm Control Tablets can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Pyrocalm Control Tablets.

• Do not take Pyrocalm Control Tablets if you are taking a medicine containing nelfinavir (used to treat HIV infection).
• You should specifically tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking clopidogrel (used to prevent blood clots (thrombi)).
• Do not take this medicine with other medicines that limit the amount of acid produced in your stomach such as other proton pump inhibitors(e.g. pantoprazole, rabeprazole or esomeprazole) or an H2 antagonist(e.g. ranitidine or famotidine).
• You may take this medicine with antacids (e.g. alginic acid, sodium bicarbonate, aluminium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate or combinations of these) if needed.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole or voriconazole (used to treat infections caused by a fungus)
• Clarithromycin (used to treat infections)
• Digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
• Diazepam (used to treat anxiety, relax muscles or in epilepsy)
• Phenytoin (used in epilepsy). If you are taking phenytoin, your doctor will need to monitor you when you start or stop taking Pyrocalm Control Tablets
• Medicines that are used to thin your blood, such as warfarin or other vitamin K blockers. Your doctor may need to monitor you when you start or stop taking Pyrocalm Control Tablets
• Rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis)
• Atazanavir (used to treat HIV infection)
• Tacrolimus (in cases of organ transplantation)
• St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) (used to treat mild depression)
• Cilostazol (used to treat intermittent claudication)
• Saquinavir (used to treat HIV infection)
• Erlotinib (used to treat cancer)
• Methotrexate (a chemotherapy medicine used in high doses to treat cancer) – if you are taking a high dose of methotrexate, your doctor may temporarily stop your Omeprazole treatment.

It is always advised to speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medication before taking Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets. You should not take Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets with other medicines that limit the amount of acid produced in your stomach such as other proton pump inhibitors (e.g. pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole or esomeprazole) or an H2 antagonist (e.g. ranitidine or famotidine). You may take Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets with antacids if needed, but some antacids may advise a time interval between taking them and the administration of other medicines like Pyrocalm 20mg Gastro-Resistant tablets. If you do wish to take any another medicine or remedies alongside Pyrocalm 20mg Gastro-Resistant tablets, please make sure you read the information provided with the product carefully before deciding to use and speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

If you forget to take a dose of Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets, take it as soon as you remember on the same day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed or forgotten dose.

Pyrocalm Control Gastro-Resistant Tablets may be used if you are pregnant, however you should consult your doctor or pharmacist first. Medicines can affect the unborn baby.

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets can be used if you are breastfeeding. The active ingredient in Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets is omeprazole; omeprazole is excreted in breast milk but it is not likely to have a negative effect on your child when the product is used at the recommended daily dosage.

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets contain the excipients lactose and sodium stearate. The lactose used in the manufacture of this product is derived from milk and the sodium stearate is of animal origin. Therefore, this product may not be suitable for vegans or vegetarians.

Alcohol does not affect how Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets work, however drinking alcohol can cause your stomach to produce more acid, making it harder to manage your symptoms.

It is recommended to swallow Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets whole with at least half a glass of water. You should not crush or chew the tablets as they have an enteric coating which stops the tablet from breaking down in the stomach. This enteric coating helps the tablet reach the intestine where the medicine is then released and absorbed by the body.

Pyrocalm Control tablets are not likely to affect your ability to drive or use any tools or machines. Side effects such as dizziness and visual disturbances may occur. If affected, you should not drive or operate machinery.

Pyrocalm Control tablets contain less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

Pyrocalm Control Tablets contain lactose. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

Additional information for patients is provided in the patient information leaflet (PIL) that is included with the product. An electronic version of the latest PIL can also be viewed online. Alternatively, use the ‘Contact Us’ section of the website.

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc) (medicines.org.uk)

Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets – Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) – (emc) (medicines.org.uk)

Heartburn and acid reflux – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Common questions about omeprazole – NHS (www.nhs.uk)