Prevacid
® (
lansoprazole) is a medication that is used to treat a number of conditions within the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
Prevacid is manufactured by TAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
What Is Prevacid Used For?
This medication is licensed to treat a number of conditions, including:
-
- Erosive esophagitis
- Duodenal ulcers
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections
- Stomach ulcers
- Pathological hypersecretory conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
It is also licensed to treat GERD and erosive esophagitis in children 1 to 17 years of age.
Prevacid is part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which decrease the amount of acid in the stomach by blocking the acid production sites.
What Are the Effects of Prevacid?
Prevacid reduces the amount of acid in your stomach, which:
- Helps heartburn and other GERD symptoms go away
- Allows damage to the esophagus to heal
- Allows the stomach or intestines time to heal.
When and How Do I Take It?
Some general considerations for when and how to take Prevacid include the following:
- The medication comes in a tablet, capsule, or liquid form that should be taken before eating.
- Your Prevacid dosage should not be split, chewed, or crushed.
- The medication should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level in your system.
- For Prevacid to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. The medicine will not work if you stop taking it.
The dose of Prevacid your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are associated with Prevacid. However, not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. If side effects occur, in most cases, they are minor, meaning they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
Common side effects include but are not limited to:
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Starting Prevacid?
Prior to taking the drug, let your healthcare provider know if you:
- Have liver disease or liver failure
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have any allergies.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose?
There have been a limited number of cases of people overdosing on Prevacid. Therefore, the overdose symptoms are not well known. If you happen to take too much of the drug, seek immediate medical attention.
How Should Prevacid Be Stored?
Prevacid should be stored at room temperature. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you do not take your Prevacid as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your normal schedule. Never take a double dose!
Available Forms and Strengths
Prevacid comes in a number of forms, including:
- Prevacid Delayed-Release Capsule
- Prevacid Delayed-Release Oral Suspension (liquid)
- Prevacid SoluTab, which are delayed-release disintegrating tablets.
The medication also comes in a number of strengths, which include:
Is There a Generic Version of Prevacid?
There are currently no generic versions of Prevacid available for sale
(see Generic Prevacid).
