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What Is Prevacid Used For?

Some people may wonder, "What is Prevacid used for?" Prevacid is used for treating conditions in the stomach, esophagus, and intestines. More specifically, Prevacid is used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, duodenal ulcers, and Helicobacter pylori infections.

 

What Is Prevacid Used For? -- An Overview

 Prevacid® (lansoprazole) has been licensed for use with a number of conditions, including:
 
  • Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Treatment of erosive esophagitis
  • Treatment of duodenal ulcers
  • Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections
  • Treatment of stomach ulcers
  • Treatment and prevention of stomach ulcers in those people taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen
  • Treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
 
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Erosive Esophagitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acids and other contents of the stomach go back into the esophagus. This can result in GERD symptoms, including the most common symptom of GERD -- heartburn. One of the complications of GERD is erosive esophagitis, which occurs when the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by stomach acid.
 
Prevacid is used for treatment of GERD symptoms, including heartburn. It has also been licensed to treat erosive esophagitis. Once the esophagus has healed, Prevacid may also be used to prevent the return of erosive esophagitis.
 
Duodenal Ulcers
Duodenal ulcers are ulcers that are located in the first part of the small intestine. Prevacid is used to treat duodenal ulcers and improve the ulcer symptoms. It is also used to maintain healing of duodenal ulcers.
(What Is Prevacid Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;