Prevacid (lansoprazole)

Prevacid Description

Prevacid is a medicinal drug that belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors or PPIs. It contains the chemical lansoprazole which decreases the quantity of gastric acid produced and secreted by the stomach. The drug is used to treat ulcers in the stomach and duodenum, damage to the esophagus caused by gastric acid, other conditions related to excessive secretion of stomach and gastric acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and is also used for the treatment of gastroesophagal reflux disease (GERD).

Lansoprazole, used in Prevacid, is a proton-pump inhibitor pharmacologically classified in the same category as omeprazole. Lansoprazole is a racemate, that is, it is a 1:1 mixture of dexlansoprazole and levolansoprazole.

The effects of Prevacid (containing lansoprazole) last for over 24 hours after it has been used for 1 or more days.

Conditions Treated by Prevacid

As already mentioned, Prevacid is used to treat a number of conditions and disorders related to secretion of gastric acid in the stomach. These include various ulcers in the digestive system (stomach, intestines, duodenum, etc.), damage to the esophagus due to stomach acid, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastroesophagal reflux disease (GERD). As opposed to common belief, Prevacid is not effective in providing immediate relief from heartburn symptoms. There are also certain other conditions that are treated with a mixture of Prevacid and antibiotics.

Prevacid Dosage Information

a.) Typical Dosage Recommendations

It is extremely important that you take Prevacid exactly as your doctor prescribes. Be very careful not to take bigger or smaller amounts or administer the drug for a longer time than recommended and follow the directions given on the prescription label. Usually, Prevacid is taken before eating.

When taking Prevacid, swallow the capsule whole instead of crushing or breaking it. Doing so causes too much of the drug to be released in one go. If you have difficulty in swallowing the capsule, open it and sprinkle the drug into a spoonful of yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese, applesauce or a health drink and consume immediately without chewing. Alternatively, you can dissolve the medicine in a quarter cup of juice (apple, orange or tomato) or water and drink all of it quickly. To ascertain that you get the complete dose, add some more juice to the glass, stir the contents and drink instantly.

Other forms of Prevacid include orally disintegrating tablets and Prevacid 24HR. There are a number of ways to consume both. To take the former, simply use your hands (dried) to place the tablet in your mouth. It should start to dissolve right away. Do not chew while this happens but swallow several times in order to aid the dissolving process. Also, you could use an oral syringe or a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube to consume this type of tablets.

Prevacid 24HR is taken once every 24 hours for 14 days. It is usually consumed in the morning, before you eat breakfast and takes up to 4 days for full effect. Make sure to take no more than 1 tablet every 24 hours. Allow around 4 months to pass before starting on another 14-day treatment with Prevacid 24HR.

b) Missing A Dose

If you end up missing a dose, take the missed dose the moment you remember. If however you remember when it is time for your next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not however take any extra medication to make up for this missed dose.

c.) Overdosing

If you overdose on Prevacid, seek medical attention right away.

Prevacid Warnings

Prevacid can prove to be harmful if you happen to be suffering from certain conditions. If you have liver disease, you should consult a doctor or a pharmacist for dose adjustments or special tests to make sure it is safe for you to take the drug. Also, you should avoid Prevacid if you are allergic to lansoprazole, the chemical contained in Prevacid.

Additionally, you should not use Prevacid 24HR without a doctor’s advice if you happen to suffer from:

• Regular and frequent chest pain
• Stomach ache
• Vomiting or nausea
• Heartburn for over 3 months
• Bloody stool
• Bloody vomit (or vomit resembling coffee grounds)
• Weight loss
• Trouble in breathing
• Wheezing
• Pain while swallowing

Prevacid Side Effects

As with most drugs, Prevacid has a number of side effects. Infrequent side effects include dry mouth, drowsiness, insomnia, rash, blurred vision and pluritus. More severe side effects include gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Proton pump inhibitors may also increase the risk of bone fracture in the spine, wrist or hip. Hence, if you suffer from osteopenia or osteoporosis, it is essential that you consult with your doctor before taking Prevacid.

Rarer side effects include liver dysfunction, blood disorders (such as leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, pancytopenia), skin reactions (such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, bullous eruption, toxic epidermal necrolysis and erythroderma), myalgia, hypersensitivity reactions (such as angioedema, bronchoplasm and anaphylaxis), peripheral edema, taste disturbances, depression, fever, photosensitivity, interstitial nephritis, arthralgia, excessive sweating, constipation, etc.

Possible Drug Interactions With Prevacid

Prevacid can prove to be harmful if used in tandem with certain other drugs. For example, sucralfate should not be used in tandem with Prevacid as it makes it harder for the body to absorb Prevacid.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce absorption of antifungals such as ketoconazole and itraconazole and may increase levels of Digoxin in plasma. Prevacid also increases toxicity risks by increasing plasma concentration levels of Cilostazol. Absorption of lansoprazole may be reduced by

• Dulcolax (bisacodyl)
• Luvox(fluvoxamine)
• astemizole
• Vfend(voriconazole)
• Phyllocontin (aminophylline)
• Rescriptor (delavirdine)
• Carafate (sucralfate)
• iron salts

The above however is not an exclusive list and there are other drugs which should not be used simultaneously and concurrently with Prevacid. Hence, it is extremely important that you inform your doctor about any and all medications that you happen to be using at the time of taking Prevacid.

If you have any questions about buying discount Prevacid online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.