The information contained in the following drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.
The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.
The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.
**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
What is Prevacid?
Prevacid is a medication that decreases the amount of acid that is produced in your stomach. In the group of medications called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, Prevacid helps to prevent and treat intestinal ulcers, erosive esophagitis and hypersecretory conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Prevacid is also prescribed for short-term treatment (up to 8 weeks) for healing and symptom relief of an active benign gastric ulcer.
Prevacid may also be used for conditions not stated in this medication guide.
Key Facts About Prevacid
Prevacid is part of a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. Prevacid can help you by decreasing the amount of acid produced in your stomach.
Your doctor may have prescribed Prevacid to help treat your symptoms from conditions involving excess stomach acids, like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Prevacid may also be given alongside antibiotics to treat certain conditions. It is important that you take all of the medications your doctor has prescribed.
Prevacid should not be used for an immediate relief of your heartburn symptoms.
Heartburn may be confused with initial symptoms of a heart attack. You should seek emergency medical assistance if you experience chest pain or a heavy feeling, nausea, sweating, pain spreading to your arm or shoulder, or a general feeling of being ill while taking Prevacid.
If you are being treated with both Prevacid and sucralfate (Carafate) you should avoid taking these medications at the same time. Sucralfate can make it harder for your body to absorb Prevacid. You should wait at least 30 minutes after taking this Prevacid before you take sucralfate.
If you take a proton pump inhibitor like Prevacid you may have an increased risk of bone fractures in your hips, wrists, or spine. This effect has occurred in people who have either taken this medication for a long time and at high doses, or who are older than age 50. It is not known if Prevacid is the cause of this increased risk of fractures.
Prevacid is in FDA Category B. We do not know if Prevacid can harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant if you are taking Prevacid. We do not know if Prevacid can pass into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breast-feeding while you are taking Prevacid.
You should not give Prevacid to a child younger than 1 year of age without your doctor’s consent.
Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria, as some forms of Prevacid may contain phenylalanine.
Before You Take Prevacid
If you are allergic to lansoprazole you should not take Prevacid.
You should tell your doctor if you have low levels of magnesium in your blood or liver disease, as these may be reasons for you not to take Prevacid. Tell your doctor if you have either of these conditions.
You should not take Prevacid OTC (over the counter) without the advice of your doctor if you have ever had any of the following conditions:
black or bloody stools
chest pain that is frequent
electrolyte imbalance
heartburn which lasts longer than 3 months
heartburn with wheezing
metabolic disorder
nausea
pain or difficulty swallowing
stomach pain
unexplained weight loss
vomit which looks coffee grounds or is bloody
Prevacid may cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is bloody or watery immediately stop taking Prevacid and call your doctor. Do not take an anti-diarrhea medication without consulting with your doctor first.
Prevacid Drug Interactions
You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
ampicillin (Principen, Unasyn)
antifungal medications like ketoconazole (Nizoral) or voriconazole (Vfend)
atazanavir (Reyataz)
digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
disulfiram (Antabuse)
diuretics or water pills
iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron)
ketoconazole (Nizoral)
sucralfate (Carafate)
theophylline (such as Elixophyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theoclear, Theo-Dur and Uniphyl)
Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Prevacid. You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.
Directions for Taking Prevacid
You should take Prevacid for the entire length of time your doctor has prescribed you to take it, even if your symptoms improve before you have finished your prescription. Sometimes your symptoms may improve but your condition has not yet been fully treated. You should call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if you experience a worsening of your symptoms while taking this medicine.
You should take each dose of Prevacid before eating, preferably in the morning before you eat breakfast.
Prevacid 24 HR should be taken only one time every 24 hours, for 14 days. You may not notice an improvement in your symptoms for up to 4 full days while taking Prevacid. Do not stop taking this medication and do not take more than one tablet every 24 hours.
You should allow at least 4 months to pass before you start another 14-day treatment with Prevacid. Tell your doctor if you experience symptoms before the 4 month time period has passed, and if you feel you need additional treatment.
You may also take the Prevacid delayed-release capsule and open it to sprinkle the medication into a spoonful of applesauce or pudding to make it easier for you to swallow. You must swallow this mixture immediately, without chewing it. You can alternatively dissolve the contents inside the Prevacid capsule into 2 ounces of juice, such as apple, orange or tomato. Do not save any unused mixture for later use, and be sure to discard the empty capsule.
If you are being treated with the Prevacid oral suspension (liquid) shake it well before taking it. Be sure to use a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, and not a regular table spoon to take Prevacid. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, your pharmacist can give one to you.
If you are taking the oral granules of Prevacid you can put them in 2 tablespoons of water. You must only use only water when mixing Prevacid oral granules. Stir this mixture well and drink it all immediately. You can add a bit more water to your glass, swish it a little and drink it to be sure that you got the entire dose. You should not save the mixture for later use.
Store Prevacid at room temperature, and away from both moisture and heat. Do not freeze the Prevacid liquid.
You should not use Prevacid with a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube.
If you miss a dose of Prevacid you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose do not take the missed dose in addition to your regular dose.
Prevacid Side Effects
If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Prevacid and seek emergency medical help immediately.
allergic reaction including breathing difficulties, hives or swelling of your face, lips, throat or tongue
confusion
coughing or choking feeling
diarrhea that is watery or bloody
dizziness
fast heart rate
feeling jittery
jerking muscle movements
muscle cramps or weakness
seizure activity
Less serious side effects may include:
constipation
diarrhea (mild)
headache
nausea
stomach pain
It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Prevacid. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.
Prevacid Description and Dosing
In the United States Prevacid is available in the following dosages:
5 milligram capsules, which are opaque, hard gelatin, colored pink and green with the TAP logo and “Prevacid 15” imprinted on the capsule.
30 milligram capsules, which are opaque, hard gelatin, colored pink and black with the TAP logo and “Prevacid 30” imprinted on the capsule.
15 milligram tablets, which are white to yellowish white, uncoated, colored orange to dark brown speckles with “15” debossed on one side of the tablet.
30 milligram tablets, which are white to yellowish white, uncoated, colored orange to dark brown speckles with “30” debossed on one side of the tablet.
Dosing of Prevacid is based on individual needs. Your doctor will determine the correct dose for your age, situation and state of health.
All people taking Prevacid should consult their doctor for specific dosing pertaining to them. Do not attempt to alter or change your dose without your physician’s consent.
If you think you may have overdosed on Prevacid seek emergency medical help immediately.
Ingredients in Prevacid
The active ingredient in Prevacid Delayed-Release Capsules and Prevacid SoluTab Delayed-Release Orally Disintegrating Tablets is lansoprazole. Inactive ingredients in the delayed-release capsule include sugar sphere, sucrose, methacrylic acid copolymer, low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, starch, magnesium carbonate, talc, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, polysorbate 80, hydroxypropyl cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, D&C Red No. 28, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Green No. 31, and FD&C Red No. 40. Inactive ingredients in the SoluTab Delayed-Release Orally Disintegrating Tablets aremannitol, methacrylic acid, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate-microcrystalline cellulose sphere, triethyl citrate, crospovidone, polyacrylate, magnesium carbonate, aspartame2, glyceryl monostearate, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, citric acid, titanium dioxide, talc, artificial strawberry flavor, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80 and ferric oxide.
The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.
The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.
The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.
**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
