Remember to keep all prescription drugs out of reach and sight of children when not in use. Store all medicines in a cool dry place in their original labeled containers. Always read the label before using.

What is Prevacid?

Introduced in 1995, Prevacid (pre -va-cid) is a proton-pump inhibitor - a new class of drugs that almost totally blocks the production of stomach acid. It is primarily used in the treatment of heartburn due to regurgitation of stomach acid into the esophagus. This also creates a more favorable environment for the healing of peptic ulcers. So it may also sometimes be used to treat and prevent ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. Taken by mouth, Prevacid is a man-made compound and is much more potent than Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, and Axid. Prevacid is a delayed-release tablet. It begins working within one hour and provides relief for over 24 hours.

Lansoprazole is the chemical name for this drug. It is still under protected patent and not yet available in a generic form. As with many new powerful drugs, it is expensive.

What Prevacid is not.

Prevacid has a different chemical structure and means of action than other drugs used for treatment of heartburn and peptic ulcers. It is not an antacid. Prevacid is not habit forming. It does not cause any drowsiness, sexual dysfunction, or breast enlargement.

Taking Prevacid properly

1. Take the dose as prescribed. There is no fixed rule for the correct dose of Prevacid. Each case is different. Your doctor will determine what initial dose is best for you depending on the activity of your symptoms, your age, your weight, and any other medical conditions you may have. In general, most adults require a single 30 mg. tablet of Prevacid per day. Some conditions such as severe reflux esophagitis may require higher doses.

If you have difficulty swallowing capsules, Prevacid can be opened and the granules taken with water or applesauce.

Do not alter the dose on your own. Your doctor will routinely reassess what dose is necessary for you. The goal, of course, is to control your illness with the lowest effective dose of Prevacid possible.

2. Prevacid can be taken either on an empty stomach or with food or milk. It is usually prescribed once daily. It is best to take the medication 30 minutes before breakfast. In severe cases, your doctor may suggest a second dose in the evening. Do not crush or chew the capsules. There are no food or beverage restrictions due to the Prevacid.

3. Do not miss doses. If you do miss a dose, take your normal dose of Prevacid as soon as you remember and resume your normal schedule with the following dose. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. While an occasional unintentional extra dose is unlikely to be harmful, do not double doses.

4. Do not stop taking this medication on your own. If you have a peptic ulcer or severe esophagitis, you should take the full course of treatment as prescribed by your doctor. Keep taking Prevacid even if your symptoms quickly disappear. The painful symptoms can rapidly improve due to Prevacid even before the healing process is complete. The usual duration of therapy is from 4 to 8 weeks.

All medicines - even those purchased without a prescription - may sometimes produce unwanted side effects. In general, the risk of serious side effects from Prevacid has been extremely low. You can help limit side effects by taking the medication exactly as prescribed and promptly reporting any problems to your doctor. It is important that you keep all your appointments with your doctor so that he can be sure the medication is working and check for possible side effects.

These side effects should be reported to your doctor:

• Severe skin rash, severe itching
• Unexplained fever

• Mild headache
• Dizziness

Precautions

It is safe to take antacids as needed while you are taking Prevacid but do not take antacids at the same time as your dose of Prevacid. If you need antacids, take them at least 2 hours before or after your Prevacid. Cigarette smoking will block the beneficial effects of Prevacid. You should not smoke or chew tobacco when taking this drug.

Be sure your doctor knows if you are on Valium, Coumadin, Dilantin, or have severe liver disease. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding, pregnant, or plan to become pregnant in the near future. We feel it is best to avoid all potent prescription drugs during pregnancy whenever possible.

While Prevacid is quite effective in healing peptic ulcers and treating severe reflux esophagitis, it does not exert any long-term protective action once the medication has been discontinued. In most patients, Prevacid is used to bring the condition under better control and then the patient is switched to chronic acid-suppressive "maintenance" therapy with Zantac or a similar drug. You should be alert to the possibility of recurrence anytime after stopping the drug. If you suspect that your problem has returned, contact your doctor.

Remember Prevacid is a powerful drug with many helpful properties, but as with all medications, side effects may occur. You can best limit problems with this medication by taking it exactly as prescribed. If you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your doctor.