PREVACID

Who is Prevacid for ?

this medication may be used to treat:

• Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

this medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. This medication works by decreasing the amount of stomach acid that is made.

Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors decrease the amount of acid in the stomach. Acid in the stomach is produced by the gastric acid pump. Lansoprazole binds to this pump and blocks the secretion of acid into the stomach. Decreasing stomach acid can help ulcers to heal and reflux, or heartburn symptoms to subside.

When should I be careful taking Prevacid ?

Before taking lansoprazole,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lansoprazole or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially ampicillin, digoxin (Lanoxin), iron-containing medicines (including multivitamins), ketoconazole (Nizoral), sucralfate (Carafate), theophylline (Theo-Dur), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking lansoprazole, call your doctor.

Side Effects

Although side effects from lansoprazole are not common, they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain

If you have any of the following symptoms, stop taking lansoprazole and call your doctor immediately:

• rash or hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing