Prevacid is a proton pump inhibitor. Lansoprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Prevacid 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.

Prevacid OTC (over-the-counter) is used to treat frequent heartburn that happens 2 or more days per week.

Prevacid is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.

Prevacid can cause kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you are urinating less than usual, or if you have blood in your urine.

Diarrhea may be a sign of a new infection. Call your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it.

Prevacid may cause new or worsening symptoms of lupus. Tell your doctor if you have joint pain and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight.

You may be more likely to have a broken bone while taking this medicine long term or more than once per day.

If you also take sucralfate (Carafate), avoid taking it at the same time you take lansoprazole. Sucralfate can make it harder for your body to absorb lansoprazole. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking this medicine before you take sucralfate.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Prevacid if you are allergic to lansoprazole, or if you take any medicine that contains rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera, Odefsey).

Heartburn can mimic early symptoms of a heart attack. Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain that spreads to your jaw or shoulder and you feel anxious or light-headed.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;

• lupus;

• low levels of magnesium in your blood; or

• osteoporosis or low bone mineral density (osteopenia).

Do not use over-the-counter Prevacid OTC without the advice of a doctor if you have:

• trouble or pain with swallowing;

• bloody or black stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds;

• heartburn that has lasted for over 3 months;

• frequent chest pain, heartburn with wheezing;

• unexplained weight loss;

• nausea or vomiting, stomach pain; or

• an electrolyte imbalance or metabolic disorder.

Prevacid SoluTabs contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

You may be more likely to have a broken bone in your hip, wrist, or spine while taking a proton pump inhibitor long-term or more than once per day. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of lansoprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed by your doctor

Do not give lansoprazole to a child younger than 1 year old. Prevacid OTC is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Use Prevacid exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Prevacid is usually taken before eating. Prevacid OTC should be taken in the morning before you eat breakfast.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release capsule. Swallow the capsule whole.

If you are unable to swallow a delayed-release capsule whole:

• Open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding, applesauce, yogurt, cottage cheese, or strained pears. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use.

• You may also dissolve the medicine in 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of apple juice, orange juice, or tomato juice. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more juice to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

• The delayed-release capsule contents may also be given through a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube. Open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into 40 milliliters of apple juice (do not use any other liquid). Inject all of this mixture through the NG tube and into the stomach. Then flush the tube with more apple juice to wash the contents down.

Do not break, chew, or cut an orally disintegrating tablet, and do not swallow it whole. Allow the tablet to dissolve in your mouth without chewing. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.

If you are unable to dissolve the orally disintegrating tablet in your mouth:

• Place a 15-milligram tablet into an oral syringe and draw 4 milliliters of water into the syringe. If using a 30-milligram tablet, draw 10 milliliters of water into the syringe.

• Shake the syringe gently until the tablet is dispersed. Then empty the syringe into your mouth within 15 minutes after mixing. Refill the syringe with water, shake gently, and empty into your mouth.

• The orally disintegrating tablet may also be given through a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube as follows: Disperse the tablet in an oral syringe as directed above. Then inject the mixture through the NG tube into the stomach within 15 minutes. Flush the tube with 5 more milliliters of water to wash the contents down.

Take Prevacid for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before your condition is completely treated.

Prevacid OTC should be taken only once daily for 14 days. It may take up to 4 days for full effect. Allow at least 4 months to pass before you start another 14-day treatment with Prevacid OTC.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse while you are taking Prevacid. If you take Prevacid OTC, call your doctor if your heartburn gets worse over the 14-day treatment, or if you need treatment more than once every 4 months.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of lansoprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed.

If you use lansoprazole for longer than 3 years, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor about how to manage this condition if you develop it.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not freeze the liquid medicine.

You should not use Prevacid if you are allergic to lansoprazole, or if you take any medicine that contains rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera, Odefsey).

Heartburn can mimic early symptoms of a heart attack. Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain that spreads to your jaw or shoulder and you feel anxious or light-headed.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver disease;

• lupus;

• low levels of magnesium in your blood; or

• osteoporosis or low bone mineral density (osteopenia).

Do not use over-the-counter Prevacid OTC without the advice of a doctor if you have:

• trouble or pain with swallowing;

• bloody or black stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds;

• heartburn that has lasted for over 3 months;

• frequent chest pain, heartburn with wheezing;

• unexplained weight loss;

• nausea or vomiting, stomach pain; or

• an electrolyte imbalance or metabolic disorder.

Prevacid SoluTabs contain phenylalanine. Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

You may be more likely to have a broken bone in your hip, wrist, or spine while taking a proton pump inhibitor long-term or more than once per day. Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of lansoprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed by your doctor

Do not give lansoprazole to a child younger than 1 year old. Prevacid OTC is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

This medicine can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine.

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

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• new or unusual pain in your wrist, back, hip, or thigh;

• a seizure (convulsions);

• kidney problems - fever, nausea, little or no urination, blood in your urine, swelling, rapid weight gain;

• low magnesium - dizziness, fast or irregular heart rate, tremors (shaking) or jerking muscle movements, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms in your hands and feet, cough or choking feeling; or

• new or worsening symptoms of lupus - joint pain, and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight.

Common Prevacid side effects may include:

• nausea, stomach pain;

• diarrhea, constipation; or

• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sucralfate (Carafate) can make it harder for your body to absorb lansoprazole. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking lansoprazole before you take sucralfate.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Tell your doctor if you use methotrexate.

Many drugs can interact with lansoprazole, and some drugs should not be used at the same time. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.