Prevacid, the brand name for the medication lansoprazole, treats symptoms of heartburn. According to Mayo Clinic, Prevacid works by reducing acid production in the stomach. Too much acid can lead to stomach complications such as ulcers. Drugs.com, an online drug reference, classifies this medication as a proton pump inhibitor.
Indications
According to Drugs.com, Prevacid prevents and treats stomach and intestinal ulcers, erosive esophagitis or damage to the esophagus, and other disorders in which too much acid has damaged the gastrointestinal tract. The website RxList.com reports that the following disorders are treated with Prevacid: duodenal ulcer, benign gastric ulcer; gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD; erosive esophagitis; and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Important Information
Drugs.com instructs patients not to take the medication Carafate while using Prevacid because it can decrease the effectiveness of Carafate. If you still need to take Carafate, wait 30 minutes before taking Prevacid. Use the entire prescription ordered by the health care provider even if your symptoms improve. Inform your health care provider if you have phenylketonuria, as Prevacid may contain phenylalanine. Mayo Clinic encourages patients to keep all appointments and notify the health care provider if symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
Proper Use
Take this medication orally with a full glass of water before eating, instructs Drugs.com. Do not alter the contents of a delayed-release capsule in any way. If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, empty the medicine into applesauce or pudding and take it without chewing. Dissolve the oral granules in 2 oz. of water and drink immediately. The oral disintegrating tablet will begin melting as soon as you put it in your mouth. Do not chew or swallow the tablet; let it dissolve completely on its own. Use Prevacid as ordered to receive the most benefit.
Side Effects
According to Mayo Clinic, common side effects of Prevacid include diarrhea and itching. Other side effects are stomach discomfort, changes in appetite, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, cough, depression, rectal bleeding and unusual bruising. Contact emergency medical assistance if any of the following life-threatening side effects occur: swelling of the throat, lips, mouth or tongue; rash or hives; and trouble breathing.
Availability
Mayo Clinic lists the available forms of Prevacid as disintegrating delayed-release tablets, delayed-release capsules and packets of oral granules. All forms of this medication come in either 15 mg or 30 mg doses. Prevacid is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
