Lansoprazole
Brand names
Usage
To treat stomach and duodenal (intestinal)
ulcers, gastro esophageal reflux disease
(chronic heartburn caused by
the backwash of stomach acid
into the esophagus), and conditions that cause increased
stomach acid secretion, such
as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Lansoprazole is also prescribed in conjunction with
the antibiotics amoxicillin and clarithromycin to eradicate
the bacterium H. pylori and
thus prevent the recurrence
of duodenal ulcers caused by
this bacterium.
How it works
Lansoprazole blocks the
action of a specific enzyme in
the cells that line the stomach, thus decreasing the
production of stomach acid.
Reduction of stomach acid
creates a more favorable environment for the eradication of
H. pylori and promotes the
healing of ulcers.
Side effects
- Serious
- No serious side effects have been reported.
- Common
- Diarrhea,
itching or
rash,
headache,
dizziness.
- Less common
- Abdominal or stomach pain,
nausea, increase or decrease
in appetite, anxiety,
flu like symptoms,
constipation,
coughing, mental
depression,
muscle pain.
Possible interactions
- Other medicaments:
Lansoprazole taken concurrently with:
- antacids may blunt how much lansoprazole gets into your body, blunting
lansoprazole benefits.
- clarithromycin (Biaxin) may lead to a blackening of the tongue or
stomatitis. Lower lansoprazole doses and stopping the clarithromycin may be required.
- ritonavir (Norvir) may change lansoprazole
blood levels.
- sucralfate (Carafate) may decrease lansoprazole absorption; separate doses
by 2 hours.
- theophylline (Theo-Dur, others) may decrease blood theophylline level,
requiring dosing adjustments.
- Foods:
- Lansoprazole is best taken on an empty stomach.
- Herbal medicines or minerals:
- Kola and ma huang may increase stomach acid,
blunting the benefits of this medicine.
Black cohosh root,
ginkgo and
squill are
contraindicated in gastrointestinal disturbances.
Licorice root has a Commission
E monograph indication for gastrointestinal ulcers, but use with proton pump
inhibitors has not been studied. Talk to your doctor before adding any herbals to these medicines.
- Alcohol:
- Alcohol stimulates the secretion of stomach acid and may lessen the therapeutic benefits of this medicine.
- Tobacco smoking:
- Smoking can stimulate stomach acid and lessen benefits of
this medicament.
- Discontinuation:
- Talk with your doctor before stopping this medicine for any
reason. Taking the medicine for a shorter time than needed may result in
incomplete ulcer healing and continuation of the original problem.
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