• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is lansoprazole?
Lansoprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Lansoprazole is used to treat and prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers, erosive esophagitis (damage to the esophagus from stomach acid), and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Lansoprazole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of lansoprazole?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache;

• nausea, stomach pain;

• diarrhea; or

• constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take lansoprazole?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Lansoprazole should be taken before eating. Do not crush or break a delayed-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

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What is the most important information I should know about lansoprazole?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have any type of liver disease. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take lansoprazole. Some conditions are treated with a combination of lansoprazole and antibiotics. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect lansoprazole?
Before taking lansoprazole, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: atazanavir (Reyataz); theophylline (such as Elixophyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theoclear, Theo-Dur, Uniphyl); digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen); ketoconazole (Nizoral); iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others); or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin). This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with lansoprazole. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Lansoprazole has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies have revealed no evidence of fetotoxicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Lansoprazole is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of lansoprazole into human milk. Lansoprazole or its metabolites are excreted into the milk of rats. The manufacturer suggests that, because of the risk of tumorigenicity in animals, and due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account he importance of the drug to the mother.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to lansoprazole, any ingredient in the formulation, or to other substituted benzimidazoles (e.g., esomeprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole).

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of lansoprazole is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lansoprazole?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to lansoprazole. Before taking lansoprazole, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have any type of liver disease. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take lansoprazole. Some conditions are treated with a combination of lansoprazole and antibiotics. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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