Lansoprazole is used to treat certain conditions where there is too much acid in the stomach. It is used to treat duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastric ulcers caused by NSAID use, erosive esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a condition wherein the acid in the stomach washes back up into the esophagus. Sometimes lansoprazole is used in combination with antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) to treat ulcers associated with an infection caused by H. pylori bacteria.

Lansoprazole is also used to treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), which is a condition where the stomach produces too much acid.

Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

This medicine is available both over-the-counter (OTC) and with your doctor's prescription.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take this medicine before a meal and for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days.

If you are taking this medicine to treat an ulcer that is associated with an H. pylori infection, take it together with the antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) at the same time of day.

To use the delayed-release capsule:

Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.
If the capsule cannot be swallowed, open it and sprinkle the contents on one tablespoonful of applesauce, Ensure® pudding, cottage cheese, yogurt, or strained pears. Swallow the mixture right away. Do not chew or crush the granules.
The contents of the capsule can also be mixed with 2 ounces (1/4 cup or 60 mL) of apple juice, orange juice, or tomato juice. After mixing, drink and swallow the mixture right away. Do not chew or crush the granules. Refill the cup 2 more times with juice and drink the liquid to make sure all of the medicine is taken.
To use the capsule with a nasogastric (NG) tube:

Open the capsule and mix the contents with 40 mL of apple juice. Do not use any other liquids.
Inject or pour the mixture into the nasogastric tube.
Flush the tube with more apple juice to rinse all of the medicine from the tube into the stomach.
To use the delayed-release orally disintegrating tablet:

Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet.
Do not crush, chew, break, or cut the tablet.
Place the tablet on the tongue, with or without water, and allow it to dissolve into particles. Swallow the particles right away.
To use the orally disintegrating tablet with an oral syringe:

Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet.
Do not crush, break, or cut the tablet.
For the 15 mg tablet: Place it in the oral syringe and add 4 mL of water.
For the 30 mg tablet: Place it in the oral syringe and add 10 mL of water.
Shake the syringe gently until the tablet dissolves and is mixed well.
Give the mixture within 15 minutes.
Refill the syringe with 2 mL (15 mg tablet) or 5 mL (30 mg tablet) of water and shake it gently. Give the mixture to make sure all of the medicine is taken.
To use the orally disintegrating tablet with a nasogastric (NG) tube:

Make sure your hands are dry before you handle the tablet.
Do not crush, break, or cut the tablet.
For the 15 mg tablet: Place it in the syringe and add 4 mL of water.
For the 30 mg tablet: Place it in the syringe and add 10 mL of water.
Shake the syringe gently until the tablet dissolves and is mixed well.
Inject or pour the mixture into the nasogastric tube within 15 minutes.
Refill the syringe with 5 mL of water and shake it gently. Flush the tube with the water to rinse all of the medicine from the tube into the stomach.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Diarrhea

itching, skin rash

Less common

Increased or decreased appetite

joint pain

nausea

stomach pain

vomiting

Rare

Anxiety

colds

constipation

increased cough

mental depression

muscle pain

rectal bleeding

unusual bleeding or bruising

Incidence not known

Back or leg pains

bleeding gums

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

bloating

bloody, black, or tarry stools

change in mental status

chest pain

chills

clay colored stools

cough

dark or bloody urine

difficulty with swallowing

drowsiness

fast heartbeat

fever

general body swelling

high fever

hives

hoarseness

indigestion

loss of appetite

lower back or side pain

mood or mental changes

muscle spasms (tetany) or twitching seizures

nosebleeds

painful or difficult urination

pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back

pale skin

pinpoint red spots on the skin

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

seizures

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth

stomach tenderness

swelling of the feet or lower legs

swollen or painful glands

tightness in the chest

trembling

unusual tiredness or weakness

yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Dizziness

headache

Less common

Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, or discoloration of the skin

mild nausea

Rare

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste

belching

burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

change in taste

feeling of heat or warmth

flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck

mild diarrhea

mild headache

mild vomiting

stomach discomfort or upset

sweating

Incidence not known

Decrease in passing urine (dribbling)

decrease in the frequency of urination

decrease in urine volume

difficulty with speaking

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

It is important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood, urine, and other laboratory tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. If your or your child's condition does not improve, or if it becomes worse, discuss this with your doctor.

Do not take this medicine if you are also using products that contain rilpivirine (Complera®, Edurant®).

Check with your doctor right away if you have a fever, joint pain, skin rash, swelling of the body, feet, or ankles, or unusual weight gain after receiving this medicine. These could be symptoms of a serious kidney problem called acute interstitial nephritis.

Taking this medicine for a long time may make it harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about vitamin B12 deficiency.

Check with your doctor right away if you have watery stool that does not go away, stomach pain, and fever while taking this medicine.

Lansoprazole may increase your risk of having fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine. This is more likely if you have osteoporosis, if you are 50 years of age and older, if you receive high doses of this medicine, or if you use it for one year or more.

Cutaneous or systemic lupus erythematosus may occur or get worse in patients receiving a PPI. Call your doctor right away if you have joint pain or a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse when exposed to the sun.

This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). This is more likely to occur if you are taking this medicine for more than one year, or if you are taking this medicine together with digoxin (Lanoxin®) or certain diuretics or "water pills". Check with your doctor right away if you have convulsions (seizures), fast, racing, or uneven heartbeat, muscle spasms (tetany), tremors, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may increase your risk for fundic gland polyps (abnormal tissue growth in the upper part of your stomach). This is more likely if you are receiving this medicine for more than 1 year. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor, or unless told to do so by your doctor.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you or your child are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription (eg, atazanavir, Reyataz®) or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.