Prevacid (Lansoprazole): What is it, Therapeutic indication, Dosage and rules of Intake, Drug Interactions, Who should be careful with Prevacid, Side Effects, Prevacid vs. Other Ulcer Treatment Remedies, Generic Prevacid, FAQs
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CONTENT
- What is Prevacid?
- What is Prevacid for?
- Prevacid dose and rules of intake
- How Prevacid interacts with Other Medications
- Precautions
- Who should be careful with Prevacid?
- Prevacid Side Effects
- We compare: Prevacid vs. other ulcer treatment remedies
- Generic for Prevacid
- FAQ
What is Prevacid (Lansoprazole)?
Prevacid is a branded product tailored to the US and Canadian markets. Prevacid is produced in Japan and the USA.
Prevacid ingredients include major active substance – Lansoprazole and other auxiliary substances. Lansoprazole refers to the proton pump inhibitors.
Prevacid has several pharmacological forms: it is manufactured in the form of capsules, tablets and orally disintegrating pills. Lansoprazole content in each pill makes up 15 or 30 mg.
At the market Prevacid is offered as a prescribed medication and over-the-counter (OTC) drug. OTC version of Prevacid is approved by FDA and allowed to be sold without the prescription.
What is Prevacid for?
Prevacid (Lansoprazole) is designed for treating and preventing the ulcers in the gastrointestinal organs. The therapeutic indication of Lansoprazole also includes erosive esophagitis and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the states when stomach acid damages esophagus, stomach etc.
Prevacid OTC treats frequent heartburns which occur several times a week. However it does not provide immediate relief from the heartburn symptoms.
Prevacid dose and rules of intake
Prevacid is a medical drug that requires strict adherence to the recommendations provided in the medical leaflet or to the doctor’s prescription. It is very dangerous for health either to increase the dosage or to take smaller dosage as both cases will lead to the negative consequences being they side effects or undertreated disease.
Prevacid dosage, medication regimen and treatment duration depend upon several factors: age, diagnosis and health state of the patient.
- Erosive esophagitis: adults should take 30 mg orally once a day. The duration of treatment is not more than 8 weeks. The maintenance dosage is 15 mg. The dosage of Prevacid for babies depends upon the age and weight of the child:
- Up to 11 years: up to 30 kg – 15 mg per day, more than 30 kg – 30 mg per day during12 weeks. 12-17 years: 15 mg per day during 8 weeks
- Gastric Ulcer: daily dosage for adults makes up 30 mg. It should be taken 30 minutes before eating. The treatment lasts for 44 or 8 weeks depending upon the disease severity.
- Duodenal Ulcer: the daily dosage should not exceed 15 mg taken 30 minutes prior to eating. Therapy duration is 4 weeks.
- Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis: smaller dosage of 15 mg once a day. The dosage should be taken 30 minutes prior to eating.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: the adult patient should take 15 mg every day during the 8-week therapy. Pediatric dosage of Prevacid depends upon the age and weight of the child:
- Up to 11 years: up to 30 kg – 15 mg per day, more than 30 kg – 30 mg per day during12 weeks. 12-17 years: 15 mg per day during 8 weeks
- Systemic mastocytosis: the dosage of 60 mg is taken once a day. The duration of the therapy may last for four years. The maintenance course lasts not more than 12 months.
- Multiple endocrine adenomas: daily dosage is 60 mg. The dosage should be taken once a day. In some cases the therapy can last up to four years.
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: the dosage and the therapy duration are similar to multiple endocrine adenomas.
- Helicobacter pylori infection: Prevacid is included in the complex therapy with Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin. Prevacid is taken in the dose of 30 mg two times per day within 10-14 days. The therapy with Prevacid only is not effective.
- Gastric Ulcer: NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer requires 8-week therapy with Prevacid taken in the dose of 30 mg once a day. Gastric Ulcer Prophylaxis presupposes intake of Prevacid 15 mg once a day within 12 weeks.
- Aspiration Pneumonia: children older than 3 years and up to 11 years should take Prevacid 30 mg at the night before surgery and 30 mg in the morning of the surgery day.
How Prevacid interacts with Other Medications
Prevacid is often prescribed as a part of the complex therapy with other medications referring to antibiotics. However, the patient should apply to the doctor for the consultation regarding the safety of using Prevacid together with ampicillin, clarithromycin or other antibiotics.
Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole are also among the medicines that should be used with care if Prevacid is prescribed. The patient should also inform his doctor if he is prescribed iron-containing drugs such as ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate and ferrous fumarate.
The other hazardous medical drugs include atazanavir, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, digoxin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), tacrolimus and others. Full list of drugs which may influence the human health is provided in the medical insert.
Patients are recommended to inform the health care specialist about all the drugs they take regularly including vitamins, herbs, nutritional supplements or other over-the-counter medications.
Precautions
Prevacid should be taken within the complete prescription period. The symptoms can improve in some days. However patients should continue taking the prescribed medicine as the complete recovery requires more time.
Prevacid OTC (or Prevacid 24) is designed only for the two-week treatment course. The medication should be taken once a day. The consequent therapy with Prevacid OTC should be started in not less than four months after the previous course is completed.
We have already told about the importance to follow the doctor’s instructions when Prevacid is used in the complex therapy with antibiotics. The patient should not change the schedule or dosage without consulting his doctor or reading the medical instruction.
If prescribed together with Sucralfate (Carafate) Prevacid should not be taken right at the same time as Sucralfate affects the effectiveness of Lansoprazole absorption. The time gap between Prevacid and Sucralfate intake should not be less than 30 minutes.
Who should be careful with Prevacid?
- Prevacid is not prescribed to children under 1 year and is not approved for patients younger than 18 years old.
- Prevacid is not used in people suffering from allergic reaction to Lansoprazole.
Lansoprazole should be prescribed with care for those who suffer from liver disorders or various bone diseases such as low bone mineral density or osteoporosis. Proton pump inhibitors are known to increase the danger of bone fracture in the spine, hips or wrists. The risk of this disorder increases in patients who use high dosages of the medication or have been taking Prevacid for a long period of time. Moreover, the risk group includes patients over 50 years old.
People suffering from various gastrointestinal disorders should apply to a doctor for a comprehensive consultation as gastrointestinal system is the one which suffers a lot in case of improper intake of Prevacid.
The contraindications for the prescription of Prevacid and OTC Prevacid include the following diseases:
- Nausea and / or stomach pains;
- Vomiting including bloody one or vomiting looking like coffee grounds;
- Heartburn including heavy one with wheezing or lasting over 3 months;
- Frequent pains in chest;
- Metabolic disorders;
- Problems with stool (black or bloody stools).
If the patient suffers from the unusual weight loss or has swallowing problems he or she will be recommended to refrain from the Prevacid therapy until the doctor defines the reason of those disorders.
Prevacid is not known to cause any harm to the unborn babies or breast-fed babies. However, doctors recommend that the patients inform them if they are pregnant or breast-feeding. The decision whether to prescribe Prevacid for the above-mentioned patients should be taken on the basis of the thorough health examination in order to avoid possible risks and to cause no harm for the baby.
The complete list of the contraindications is provided in the medical insert to the medical drug.
Prevacid Side Effects
Nearly all the side effects of Prevacid that may occur during the therapy are connected with the gastrointestinal system of the human body. They may occur if the patient changes the therapy schedule or prescribed dosage without consulting the doctor. However, side effects may also be experienced if the patient follows the doctor’s instructions, but has some health disorders.
The patient should apply for the urgent medical assistance if he or she feels chest pain or spreading pain in the arm and shoulder, sweating or general weakness. Heavy breathing, hives or swelling of the face or throat are the symptoms of heavy allergic reactions to Lansoprazole which also require urgent medical aid.
Among the Prevacid’s most frequent side effects one can name nausea, diarrhea, constipation, stomach ache or headache.
In case of severe stomach ache, kidney problems (frequent or rare urination, bloody urine etc.), convulsions doctor’s consultation is urgently required.
Prevacid may lead to the reduction of magnesium in blood. Low magnesium condition may involve dizziness, tremors, muscle spasms, choking feeling or cough, uneven or fast heart rate.
We have just described the most frequently occurred side effects. However their list is not complete. In case of any unusual health condition the patient is recommended to apply for a medical assistance.
We compare: Prevacid vs. other ulcer treatment remedies
Apart from Prevacid pharmaceutical market offers various remedies designed for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. We have compared Prevacid with the most popular drugs of the given group.
Prevacid vs. Nexium
Nexium is a drug used for the treatment of gastroesophageal disease, peptic ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other disorders connected with gastrointestinal system. Like Prevacid Nexium is produced in several doses: 20 mg and 40 mg of Esomeprazole, the active ingredient of Nexium.
Unlike Prevacid which can be prescribed for children Nexium is not used in children under 12 years old. Side effects and contraindication of Nexium are similar to Prevacid.
Prevacid vs. Zantac
Zantac, the antihistaminic drug, treats peptic ulcers, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, erosive esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease etc. It is also used for the prophylaxis of gastric and duodenal ulcers, after-surgery stomach ulcers, hemorrhage returns in upper abdomen, returns of gastric juice aspiration during surgeries with anesthesia.
Like Prevacid Zantac has several pharmaceutical forms. However, these forms differ depending upon the drug. Prevacid is produced mainly in the form of tablets (standard or orally disintegrating); Zantac is produced if the form of pills (150 mg and 300 mg of Ranitidine), effervescent tablets and solution for injections.
Unlike Prevacid Zantac is not prescribed for children under 12 years old.
Prilosec vs. Prevacid
Both Prilosec and Prevasid have been developed for the North American market. Both remedies have prescription form and over-the-counter variant approved by FDA. Both medications are used for the treatment of ulcers of different etiology. The active ingredient of Prilosec is Omeprazole that refers to the group of proton pump inhibitors. Therapeutic indication, side effects and contraindications of Prevacid and Prilosec coincide in most cases. However, Prilosec is not used in children (except for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
Prevacid Generic at My Canadian Pharmacy
Despite the fact that generic Prevacid has already been approved by FDA it will take a lot of time and efforts to launch this product at the pharmaceutical market due to the drug patent procedures and drug exclusivity questions. However there are a lot of equivalents of Prevacid that have already been introduced at the market.
The main analogue (namely, the active ingredient) of Prevacid is Lansoprazole in the form of capsules or tablets. This medicine is produced by various companies that specialize in manufacturing both original and generic pharmaceutical products. These companies are located in Central and Eastern Europe, India, United Arab Emirates and the USA. Like the original version equivalent medication is issued in the dose of 15mg and 30 mg of Lansoprazole. Side effects and contraindications are similar to Prevacid; the therapy schedule and the proper dosage should be defined only by the doctor and strictly followed by the patient.
Prevacid’s analogues are available in various online pharmaceutical shops. One should be very attentive while ordering it via Internet as there are attempts to offer illegal or counterfeit products that may cause serious damages to the patient’s health. That is why it is vitally important to find the reliable online pharmacy. Canadian Pharmacy mycanadianpharmacyrx.com offers only certified products and provides complete information about any drug in the catalogue. Every transaction is transparent so the customer can obtain the detailed information at every stage of the order fulfillment. Besides, 24/7 customer support will help the customer with any question regarding the required medical drug.
FAQs
Can I increase the Prevacid dose if I have no therapeutic effect?
No, you shouldn’t increase the dosage without consulting your doctor as you may suffer from the undesired side effects and make much more efforts to restore your health.
What should I do if I overdose?
You should apply to your doctor immediately. The consequences of the overdose are very strong and hazardous for the human health.
Can I stop taking Prevacid if I feel better?
I want to avoid negative effect on my health. As a rule the patient notices certain improvement of his health condition in a few days. However, the therapy should be continued in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations. In most cases longer treatment is needed to kill the infection and to prevent negative consequences of the disease recurrence.
I can’t find Prevacid in my country. Where can I buy it?
If you are not in the USA or Canada you will not be able to treat with this medication as Prevacid is sold only in the USA and Canada. In other countries analogues of Prevacid are available. Besides, you can order Prevacid or its analogues in online pharmacies like Canadian Pharmacy. It is very easy: just a few clicks and the medication is sent to you. You can also track your order online to be aware of the order fulfillment.