Lansoprazole

About lansoprazole

Lansoprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes. It's used for indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux. Lansoprazole is also taken to prevent and treat stomach ulcers.

Sometimes, lansoprazole is taken for a rare illness caused by a tumour in the pancreas or gut called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Lansoprazole is available only on prescription. It comes as capsules, tablets and as a liquid that you swallow (made to order).

Key facts

It's usual to take lansoprazole once a day in the morning.
For severe illness, you can take it twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.
Common side effects include headache, diarrhoea and stomach pain. These tend to be mild and go away when you stop taking the medicine.
Lansoprazole is called by the brand name Zoton FasTabs.

Who can and can't take lansoprazole

Lansoprazole can be taken by adults. It can also be taken by children when prescribed by a doctor.

Some lansoprazole capsules contain gelatin so they are not suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Some lansoprazole capsules contain small amounts of lactose, so they may be unsuitable for people with a digestive problem called lactose intolerance.

Lansoprazole isn't suitable for some people.

To make sure lansoprazole is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

had an allergic reaction to lansoprazole or any other medicines in the past
liver problems

Lansoprazole is generally not recommended in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

How and when to take it

It's usual to take lansoprazole once a day - first thing in the morning.

If you take lansoprazole twice a day, take one dose in the morning and one dose in the evening.

Lansoprazole works best if you take it 30 minutes before a meal or snack. That's because food slows down lansoprazole getting into your system.

How much will I take?

The usual dose to treat:

indigestion is 15mg to 30mg a day
acid reflux disease is 15mg to 30mg a day
stomach ulcers is 15mg to 30mg a day
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is 60mg a day - this can increase to 120mg a day depending on how well it works for you

Doses are usually lower for children, elderly people and people with liver problems.

Tablets and capsules

Swallow tablets and capsules whole with a glass of water or juice.

If you have problems swallowing capsules, you can open lansoprazole capsules and mix the granules inside with a little water or fruit juice, or sprinkle them onto soft food, such as yogurt or apple puree, to help you swallow them.

Lansoprazole also comes as a dispersible tablet that melts in your mouth.

Each tablet or capsule contains 15mg or 30mg of lansoprazole.

Liquid lansoprazole

Liquid lansoprazole can be prescribed and made to order for children and people who cannot swallow capsules or tablets. It will come with a syringe or spoon to help you take the right amount. If you don't have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one.

Will my dose go up or down?

Sometimes your doctor will increase your dose of lansoprazole if it isn't working well enough.

Depending on the reason you take lansoprazole, you may take a higher dose to begin with, usually for a month or two. After this, your doctor may recommend that you take a lower dose.

How long will I take it for?

Depending on your illness, you may only take it for a few weeks or months. Sometimes you might need to take it for longer, even many years.

Some people don't need to take lansoprazole every day and take it only when they have symptoms. Once you feel better (often after a few days or weeks), you can stop taking it. Taking lansoprazole in this way is not suitable for everyone. Discuss with your doctor what is best for you.

What if I forget to take it?

If you usually take it:

once a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it is within 12 hours of your next dose in which case skip the missed dose
twice a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it is within 4 hours of your next dose in which case skip the missed dose

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Accidentally taking too much lansoprazole may cause side effects such as:

flushed skin
feeling sweaty
a fast heartbeat
feeling sleepy
blurred vision
feeling confused or agitated.

If this happens, call your doctor or go to your nearest hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department straight away.

If you need to go to hospital, take the lansoprazole packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you.

Side effects

Most people who take lansoprazole do not have any side effects. If you do get a side effect, it is usually mild and will go away when you stop taking lansoprazole.

Common side effects

These common side effects may happen in more than 1 in 100 people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don’t go away:

headaches
diarrhoea
stomach pain
constipation
wind
feeling sick or vomiting
itchy skin rashes
feeling dizzy or tired
dry or sore mouth or throat

Lansoprazole may also make you feel depressed. It may also make your feet or ankles swell.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Tell a doctor straight away if you have:

joint pain along with a red skin rash, especially in parts of your body exposed to the sun, such as your arms, cheeks and nose - these can be signs of a rare condition called subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus that can happen weeks or even years after taking lansoprazole
stomach pain that seems to be getting worse - this can be a sign of an inflamed liver or pancreas
reddening, blisters and peeling of the skin, there may also be severe blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals - these can be signs of Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis
diarrhoea more than 5 times a day or that doesn't seem to be getting better - this can be a sign of ulcerative colitis

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it’s possible to have a serious allergic reaction to lansoprazole.

A serious allergic reaction is an emergency. Contact a doctor straight away if you think you or someone around you is having a serious allergic reaction.

The warning signs of a serious allergic reaction are:

getting a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
wheezing
tightness in the chest or throat
having trouble breathing or talking
swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat

These are not all the side effects of lansoprazole. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

diarrhoea and vomiting - drink plenty of water by having small, frequent sips. It may also help to take oral rehydration solutions which you can buy from a pharmacy or supermarket to prevent dehydration. Don't take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea or vomiting without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.
constipation - eat more high-fibre foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run.
wind - steer clear of foods that cause wind like pulses, lentils, beans and onions. It might also help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. Some pharmacy remedies help wind, such as charcoal tablets or simethicone.
feeling sick - it may help if you don't eat rich or spicy food while you're taking lansoprazole.
dry mouth - chew sugar-free gum or sugar-free sweets

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Lansoprazole isn't usually recommended during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

If you're pregnant, it's always better to try to treat your indigestion without taking a medicine.

Your doctor or midwife will first advise that you try to ease your symptoms by eating smaller meals more often, not eating fatty and spicy foods, and raising the head of your bed a little.

If lifestyle changes don't work, you may be recommended a medicine to help ease your symptoms.

A medicine called omeprazole, which is similar to lansoprazole, is safe in pregnancy.

Lansoprazole and breastfeeding

Lansoprazole may get into breast milk, but it's not known whether it harms the baby.

Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of taking this medicine while you're breastfeeding.

A similar medicine called omeprazole, which is similar to lansoprazole, is safe to take while breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you're breastfeeding.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines and lansoprazole can interfere with each other and make it more likely that you will have side effects.

Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before your start lansoprazole treatment:

digoxin (a heart medicine)
anti-fungal medicines such as itraconazole, ketoconazole or posaconazole
methotrexate (treats psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis)
HIV medicines
phenytoin (an anti-epilepsy medicine)
rifampicin (an antibiotic)
blood thinning medicines, such as clopidogrel
fluvoxamine (an antidepressant)

Mixing lansoprazole with herbal remedies and supplements

Don't take the herbal remedy for depression, St John's wort, at the same time as lansoprazole. St John's wort may stop lansoprazole working as well as it should.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

Common questions

How does lansoprazole work?

Lansoprazole is a type of medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

Proton pumps are tiny substances in the lining of the stomach which help it make acid.

Lansoprazole prevents proton pumps from working properly. This reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes.

When will I feel better?

You should start to feel better within 2 to 3 days. However, it may take up to 4 weeks for lansoprazole to work properly so you may still have some acid symptoms during this time.

Can I take paracetamol with it?

Yes, it's safe to take paracetamol at the same time as lansoprazole.

Are there similar medicines?

There are 4 other medicines that are similar to lansoprazole. They are:

omeprazole
esomeprazole
pantoprazole
rabeprazole

Like lansoprazole, these medicines are proton pump inhibitors. They work in the same way as lansoprazole to reduce acid in your stomach. They generally work as well as and have similar side effects to lansoprazole. However, they may be given in different doses to lansoprazole.

Sometimes, if lansoprazole does not work or agree with you, your doctor may suggest you try taking another proton pump inhibitor.

Lansoprazole is only available on prescription but you can buy omeprazole, esomeprazole and pantoprazole directly from pharmacies. You can also buy esomeprazole from supermarkets.

Are there other indigestion remedies?

There are a variety of other pharmacy and prescription medicines for indigestion and heartburn.

Antacids, like calcium carbonate (Tums), sodium bicarbonate, Maalox and Milk of Magnesia, relieve indigestion and heartburn by neutralising the acid in your stomach. They give quick relief that lasts for a few hours. They're ideal for occasional bouts of stomach acid symptoms.

Some antacids, such as Gaviscon, have an extra ingredient called alginic acid. They work by lining your stomach so that juices from it don't splash up into your foodpipe. They're especially good for relieving acid reflux.

Antacids are available from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Histamine antagonists (commonly called H2 blockers) reduce the amount of acid made in your stomach, but they do this in a different way to proton pump inhibitors.

They include ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid) and nizatidine (Axid).

In general, proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole are used first because they are better than H2 blockers at reducing stomach acid. However, if you don't get on with a proton pump inhibitor (for example, because of side effects), your doctor may prescribe an H2 blocker.

You can buy famotidine and ranitidine over the counter from pharmacies.

Can I take lansoprazole with an antacid?

You can take lansoprazole with an antacid, for example Gaviscon, if you need to but leave a gap of 2 hours between them.

Is it safe to take lansoprazole for a long time?

If you take lansprazole for more than 3 months, the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall. Low magnesium can make you feel tired, confused, dizzy and cause muscle twitches, shakiness and an irregular heartbeat. If you get any of these symptoms, tell your doctor.

Taking lansoprazole for more than a year may increase your chances of certain side effects, including:

bone fractures
gut infections
vitamin B12 deficiency – symptoms include feeling very tired, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers and pins and needles.

If you take lansoprazole for longer than 1 year your doctor will regularly check your health to see if you should carry on taking it.

It's not known if lansoprazole works less well the longer you take it. If you feel like lansoprazole isn't working any more, talk to your doctor.

How do I come off lansoprazole?

Usually, you can stop taking lansoprazole without reducing the dose first.

If you've taken lansoprazole for a long time, speak to your doctor before you stop taking it. Stopping the medicine suddenly could make your stomach produce a lot more acid, and make your symptoms return. Reducing the dose gradually before stopping completely will prevent this happening.

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Occasionally, lansoprazole can make you feel dizzy, sleepy, or get blurred vision. If this happens to you, don't drive, cycle or use machinery or tools until you feel better.

Can I drink alcohol?

Yes, you can drink alcohol with lansoprazole. However, drinking alcohol makes your stomach produce more acid than normal. This can irritate your stomach lining and make your symptoms worse.

Can lifestyle advice help?

It may be possible to ease symptoms caused by too much stomach acid by making a few changes to your diet and lifestyle:

lose excess weight
don't eat foods that can make your symptoms worse, such as rich, spicy and fatty foods, and acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings and fizzy drinks
cut down on caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee and cola, as well as alcohol and smoking
if you have symptoms at night, try not to eat for at least 3 hours before you go to bed
raise the head of your bed a little