Warnings & Recalls for Lansoprazole
Lansoprazole is
not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.
This medication can cause diarrhea which may be a
sign of a new infection. If the diarrhea becomes water or bloody, immediately stop taking lansoprazole and call your doctor.
If you are talking sucraifate,
Carafate, make sure to
avoid taking at the same time as lansoprazole because it can make it harder for your body to absorb lansoprazole. Wait at least
30 minute period between medications.
Do not use over the counter lansoprazole medication such as Prevacid 24HR without consulting a doctor if you have:
- trouble or pain with swallowing
- stomach pain
- unexplained weight loss
- heartburn that has lasted for over 3 months
- bloody or black stools
- nausea or vomiting
- frequent chest pain
- an electrolyte imbalance or metabolic disorder
- vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds; or
- heartburn with wheezing
Drugs that may interact with Lansoprazole
Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications that you use, including prescription, over the counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not begin any new medication without telling your doctor.
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
- methtrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
- iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others)
- atazanavir (Reyataz)
- a diuretic (water pill)
- theophylline (Elixiphyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theoclear, Theo-Dur, Uniphyl)
- ketoconazole (Nizoral)
- digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
- ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn)
Family planning
The FDA categorizes lansoprazole as a pregnancy category B.
It is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but this is not guaranteed. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is unknown if lansoprazole passes into breast milk or if it can be harmful to a nursing baby. Tell your doctor before taking this medication if you are breast feeding a baby.
Lansoprazole Treatment and Use
What is Lansoprazole?
Is part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors that block the production of acid produced in the stomach. It’s not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms. It also a potentially effective treatment for duodenal and gastric ulcers and for maintenance of healed duodenal ulcers.
How does Lansoprazole work?
Proton pump inhibitors are used to treat and prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome that are caused by excessive stomach acid. The production of acid is decreased by blocking the enzyme which allows the stomach and esophagus to heal.
Dosage information
Take as directed by doctor, no more or less than directed. The usual dose is 30 mg daily for up to 8 weeks, some patients may require an additional 8 weeks. Comes in many forms such as:
- Capsules (delayed-release): 15 mg, 30 mg
- Granules for oral suspension (delayed-release, enteric-coated): 15 mg, 30 mg
- Powder for injection: 30 mg/vial
- Prevpac (combination product for Helicobacter pylori infection): daily pack containing two 30-mg lansoprazole capsules, four 500-mg amoxicillin capsules, and two 500-mg clarithromycin tablets
- Prevacid NapraPAC 375 (combination product for reducing risk of ulcers from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]): weekly pack containing seven 15-mg Prevacid capsules and fourteen 375-mg Naprosyn tablets
- Prevacid NapraPAC 500 (combination product for reducing risk of ulcers from NSAIDs): weekly pack containing seven 15-mg Prevacid capsules and fourteen 500-mg Naprosyn tablets
- Prevacid SoluTab (delayed-release, orally disintegrating tablet): 15 mg, 30 mg
Serious side effects of Lansoprazole