The secretion of more acid in the stomach can be very dangerous. Hence, proper care should be taken on time to get rid of such critical situations. To decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach, generic Prevacid is widely used. The generic Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole belongs to a group of compounds known as ‘Benzimidazoles’ that act on certain enzymes to suppress secretion of gastric acid. When acid production is reduced, the irritated esophagus and GI tract are allowed to heal. It is used in the treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease i.e. GERD, erosive Esophagitis i.e. EE, the rare Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome i.e. ZES and in the short-term treatment of gastrointestinal ulcers.

However, before taking Lansoprazole i.e. Prevacid medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Prevacid medication. However, Prevacid may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

The medicine should be taken before meals. The regular delayed-release capsule has to be swallowed with water/juice. But if you experience difficulty in swallowing, you can open the capsule and mix the contents into a tablespoon of applesauce/pudding/yogurt, which should be swallowed immediately. The granules can also be mixed with 2 ounces of orange/tomato juice, and downed with another 4 ounces of the juice, so that you get the full dose.

The delayed-release SoluTab can be placed on the tongue – it takes about a minute to dissolve the dissolved contents can be swallowed with water. It can also be taken with an oral syringe. Do not chew or crush the contents of either the capsules or the tablets, for the medicine should be released slowly in the body.

Remember: Dosage and duration of this medicine is dependent upon age, weight and the medical condition of the patient.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most common side effects seen are: Dizziness, Abdominal pain, Diarrhea, Constipation, Headache, Nausea etc. And if you have an allergic reaction such as: Constriction in the chest, Swelling in the mouth/face/lips/tongue, Labored breathing, Itching, Rashes stop the medicine and ask your doctor for help.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, Lansoprazole is less likely than omeprazole to interact with other drugs.The absorption of certain drugs may be affected by stomach acidity and as a result Lansoprazole and other PPIs that reduce stomach acid also reduce the absorption and concentration in blood of ketoconazole i.e. Nizoral and increase the absorption and concentration in blood of digoxin i.e. Lanoxin. This may lead to reduced effectiveness of ketoconazole or increased digoxin toxicity respectively.

Moreover, Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Prevacid medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Prevacid medication.

Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory and keep regular checks ups.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole medication dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Prevacid is used in the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers, including gastric ulcers caused by NSAIDs it also helps in the treatment of GERD, EE, and ZES that causes one or more tumors in the pancreas/duodenum or both, and leads to severe GERD. It may occur in babies as well.

Moreover, generic Prevacid is also used with other medicines to eradicate the H.pylori bacteria that cause ulcers.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole medication may be prescribed for other uses also and hence ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole medication.

Store generic Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole, at room temperature in between 15-30°C and 59-86°F, in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Prevacid medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, aortic stenosis, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, anemia/blood disorder, seizures, kidney disease serious injury/infection or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Prevacid medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Prevacid i.e. Lansoprazole medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated accordingly.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Prevacid medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Prevacid medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Prevacid.

11. Remember: It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular intervals. If you are taking this medicine for gastric ulcers or reflux disease, your symptoms should improve within 4 to 8 weeks. If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, contact your doctor.