Heartburn Drug's Name Changed to Prevent Errors: FDA
03/05/2010
The name of the heartburn drug Kapidex will be changed to Dexilant in order to avoid confusion with drugs meant to treat cancer and other conditions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
The name change by Japanese drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceuticals will take effect next month, the Associated Press reported.
Kapidex was approved in the U.S. last January. Since then, pharmacists have repeatedly confused the heartburn drug with the prostate cancer drug Casodex and the narcotic pain reliever Kadian.
Other than the name switch, the FDA said there are no other changes planned for Kapidex, the AP reported.
