Medication Guide

VIMOVO®
(vi-moh'-voh)
(naproxen and esomeprazole magnesium) Delayed-Release Tablets

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking VIMOVO and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your health care provider about your medical condition or your treatment.

What is the most important information I should know about VIMOVO?

VIMOVO, which contains naproxen [a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)] and esomeprazole magnesium, may increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This chance increases

• with longer use of NSAID medicines
• in people who have heart disease

NSAID-containing medicines, such as VIMOVO, should never be used right before or after a heart surgery called a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

NSAID-containing medicines, such as VIMOVO, can cause ulcers and bleeding in the stomach and intestines at any time during treatment.

Ulcers and bleeding

• can happen without warning symptoms
• may cause death

The chance of a person getting an ulcer or bleeding increases with

• taking medicines called steroid hormones (corticosteroids) and blood thinners (anticoagulants)
• longer use
• smoking
• drinking alcohol
• older age
• having poor health

NSAID medicines should only be used

• exactly as prescribed
• at the lowest dose possible for your treatment
• for the shortest time needed

What are NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)?

NSAID medicines are used to treat pain and redness, swelling, and heat (inflammation) from medical conditions such as

• different types of arthritis
• menstrual cramps and other types of short-term pain

Who should not take a NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID)?

Do not take an NSAID medicine

• if you had an asthma attack, hives, or other allergic reaction with aspirin or any other NSAID medicine
• for pain right before or after heart bypass surgery

Tell your health care provider

• about all of your medical conditions
• about all of the medicines you take. NSAIDs and some other medicines can interact with each other and cause serious side effects. Keep a list of your medicines to show to your health care provider and pharmacist
• if you are pregnant. NSAID medicines should not be used by pregnant women late in their pregnancy
• if you are breastfeeding. Talk to your health care provider

What are the possible side effects of NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)?

Get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms

• shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• chest pain
• weakness in one part or side of your body
• slurred speech
• swelling of the face or throat

Stop your NSAID medicine and call your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms

• nausea
• more tired or weaker than usual
• itching
• your skin or eyes look yellow
• stomach pain
• flu-like symptoms
• vomit blood
• there is blood in your bowel movement or it is black and sticky like tar
• skin rash or blisters with fever
• unusual weight gain
• swelling of the arms and legs, hands and feet

These are not all of the possible side effects with NSAID medicines. Talk to your health care provider or pharmacist for more information about NSAID medicines. Call your health care provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Other information about NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

• Aspirin is an NSAID medicine but it does not increase the chance of a heart attack. Aspirin can cause bleeding in the brain, stomach, and intestines. Aspirin can also cause ulcers in the stomach and intestines
• Some of these NSAID medicines are sold in lower doses without a prescription (over-the-counter). Talk to your health care provider before using over-the-counter NSAIDs for more than 10 days

NSAID medicines that need a prescription

What is VIMOVO?

VIMOVO contains 2 medicines: naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflam-matory drug (NSAID), and esomeprazole magnesium, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

VIMOVO is a prescription medicine used to

• relieve signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis
• decrease the risk of developing stomach (gastric) ulcers in people who are at risk of developing gastric ulcers with NSAIDs

It is not known if VIMOVO is safe or effective in children under the age of 18.

Who should not take VIMOVO?

Do not take VIMOVO

• If you had an asthma attack, hives, or other allergic reaction after taking aspirin or other NSAID medicine
• If you are allergic to any of the ingredients in VIMOVO. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in VIMOVO
• If you are allergic to any other Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) medicine
• For pain right before or after heart bypass surgery
• If you are in the late stages of pregnancy (third trimester)

What should I tell my health care provider before taking VIMOVO?

Before you take VIMOVO, tell your health care provider about all your medical conditions, including if you

• have been told that you have low magnesium levels in your blood
• have liver or kidney problems
• have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease or IBD)
• have any other medical conditions
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. See “What is the most important information I should know about VIMOVO?”
• are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. VIMOVO can pass into your milk and may harm your baby. You should not breast-feed while taking VIMOVO. Talk to your health care provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take VIMOVO

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Since VIMOVO contains naproxen, talk to your health care provider before taking any other NSAID-containing products.

Especially tell your health care provider if you take:

• steroid hormones (corticosteroids)
• St. John's Wort
• rifampin (Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane, Rifadin)
• a medicine for high blood pressure or heart problems
• aspirin
• cholestyramine (Questran, Questran Light, Locholest, Locholest Light, Prevalite)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) or tacrolimus (Prograf)
• a water pill (diuretic)
• lithium carbonate
• methotrexate sodium (Trexall)
• blood thinner medicines, including warfarin sodium (Coumadin, Jantoven), dicumarol, or a blood thinner that contains heparin
• an antidepressant medicine
• Erlotinib (or other anticancer drug from the same class)

Ask your health care provider if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is listed above.

Using VIMOVO with other medicines can cause serious side effects. VIMOVO may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how VIMOVO works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your health care provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take VIMOVO?

• Take VIMOVO exactly as your health care provider tells you to take it
• Your health care provider may tell you to take Vitamin D and Calcium supplements during treatment with VIMOVO
• Your health care provider will tell you how many VIMOVO to take and when to take them
• Do not change your dose or stop VIMOVO without first talking to your health care provider
• Take VIMOVO at least 30 minutes before a meal
• Swallow VIMOVO tablets whole with liquid. Do not split, chew, crush, or dissolve the VIMOVO tablet. Tell your health care provider if you cannot swallow the tablet whole. You may need a different medicine
• You may use antacids while taking VIMOVO
• If you forget to take a dose of VIMOVO, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose on time. Do not take 2 doses at one time to make up for a missed dose
• If you take too much VIMOVO, tell your health care provider or go to the closest hospital emergency room right away. Symptoms that you have taken too much VIMOVO may include
  • feeling weak and tired
  • dizziness
  • feeling sleepy
  • upper stomach-area pain or discomfort
  • heartburn, indigestion, or nausea
  • a change in breathing or you stop breathing
  • vomiting
  • bleeding
  • movements of a body part that you cannot control
  • coordination problems and decreased movement

If you take more VIMOVO than your health care provider recommends, call your Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

• Your health care provider may do certain tests from time to time to check you for side effects of VIMOVO

What should I avoid while taking VIMOVO?

VIMOVO can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or depression. You should not drive or do other activities that require you to be alert until you know how VIMOVO affects you.

What are the possible side effects of VIMOVO?

VIMOVO may cause serious side effects.

See “What is the most important information I should know about VIMOVO?”

• High blood pressure
• Heart problems such as congestive heart failure. Tell your health care provider about any swelling of your body, hands or feet, sudden weight gain, or trouble breathing
• Active bleeding. Tell your health care provider if you have signs of active bleeding including
  • passing black sticky bowel movements (stools)
  • having bloody diarrhea
  • vomiting or coughing up blood or dark particles that look like coffee grounds
• Serious allergic reactions. Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you develop sudden wheezing; swelling of your lips, tongue, throat or body; rash; fainting; or problems breathing or swallowing (severe allergic reaction)
• Serious skin reactions. Tell your health care provider or get medical help right away if you develop
  • reddening of your skin with blisters or peeling
  • blisters and bleeding of your lips, eye lids, mouth, nose, and genitals
• Liver problems. Tell your health care provider if you develop:
  • yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes
  • dark urine
  • feel tired
  • nausea
  • right upper stomach area (abdomen) pain
  • flu-like symptoms
• Bone fracture. Talk to your health care provider about your risk for fractures if you take VIMOVO for a long period of time People who are taking high (defined as more than once daily) doses of proton pump inhibitor medicines for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist or spine.
• Low magnesium levels in your body. This problem can be serious. Low magnesium can happen in some people who take a proton pump inhibitor medicine for at least 3 months. If low magnesium levels happen, it is usually after a year of treatment. You may or may not have symptoms of low magnesium. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:
  • seizures
  • dizziness
  • abnormal or fast heart beat
  • jitteriness
  • jerking movements or shaking (tremors)
  • muscle weakness
  • spasms of the hands and feet
  • cramps or muscle aches
  • spasm of the voice box

Your doctor may check the level of magnesium in your body before you start taking VIMOVO, during treatment, or if you will be taking VIMOVO for a long period of time.

The most common side effects of VIMOVO include

• inflammation of the lining of the stomach, with or without loss of the protective layer of the stomach (erosive gastritis)
• indigestion
• diarrhea
• stomach ulcers
• upper stomach-area (abdominal) pain
• nausea

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of VIMOVO. For more information, ask your health care provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store VIMOVO?

• Store VIMOVO at 59°F to 86°F (15°C to 30°C)
• Keep VIMOVO in the original container and keep the bottle tightly closed
• Keep VIMOVO dry

Keep VIMOVO and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about VIMOVO

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in this Medication Guide. Do not use VIMOVO for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give VIMOVO to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about VIMOVO. If you would like more information, ask your health care provider. You can ask your health care provider or pharmacist for information that is written for health care professionals.

For more information, call 1-800-236-9933 or go to www.VIMOVO.com

What are the ingredients in VIMOVO?

Active ingredients: naproxen and esomeprazole magnesium

Inactive ingredients: carnauba wax, colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, iron oxide yellow, glyceryl monostearate, hypromellose, iron oxide black, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion, methylparaben, polysorbate 80, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, povidone, propylene glycol, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and triethyl citrate.

This Medication Guide has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Last reviewed on RxList: 10/18/2012
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.