Lansoprazole: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor sold in the U.S. under 4 brand and generic names, for duodenal ulcer, esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Proton Pump Inhibitor
- Treats (across its forms)
- Duodenal Ulcer, Esophagitis and Gastroesophageal Reflux
- Available as
- Capsule, delayed release · Tablet, orally disintegrating · Injectable
- Sold as
- 4 products — Prevacid 24 Hr, Lansoprazole and Prevacid, and others
- Prescription?
- Both Rx and OTC forms
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 1.5 hours (mean, ±1.0) in healthy adults — the label states the plasma elimination half-life is less than two hours
- What the pharmacy pays
- about $5 for a 30-count supply — not your price
Get treated for Lansoprazole conditions online
Licensed online providers — consult & get prescribed if eligible.
Advertising disclosure: We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our ratings. Details
How Prevacid is dosed
From the FDA label for Prevacid (application NDA021428). Other lansoprazole products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Recommended Dosage : See full prescribing information for complete dosing information for PREVACID and PREVACID SoluTab by indication and age group and dosage adjustment in patients with severe hepatic impairment. ( 2.1 , 2.2 , 2.3 ) Administration Instructions ( 2.4 ) PREVACID capsules Should be swallowed whole. See full prescribing information for alternative administration options. PREVACID SoluTab Should not be broken or cut. Should not be chewed. Place the tablet on the tongue and allow it to disintegrate, with or without water, until the particles can be swallowed. See full prescribing information for alternative administration options. 2.1 Recommended Adult Dosage by Indication Indication Recommended Dose Frequency Duodenal Ulcers Short-Term Treatment 15 mg Once daily for 4 weeks Maintenance of Healed 15 mg Once daily Eradication of H. pylori to Reduce the Risk of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence Please refer to the amoxicillin and clarithromycin full prescribing information, Contraindications and Warnings and Precautions sections, and for information regarding dosing in elderly and renally-impaired patients. Triple Therapy: PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab 30 mg Twice daily for 10 or 14 days Amoxicillin 1 gram Twice daily for 10 or 14 days Clarithromycin 500 mg Twice daily for 10 or 14 days Dual Therapy: PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab 30 mg Three times daily for 14 days Amoxicillin…
Everything below is the FDA label for Prevacid (capsule, delayed release). Lansoprazole is also sold as tablet, orally disintegrating and injectable, and those are different medicines to take — follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Prevacid side effects
The following serious adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in labeling: Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Bone Fracture [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Cutaneous and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) Deficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Hypomagnesemia and Mineral Metabolism [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Fundic Gland Polyps [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ] Most commonly reported adverse reactions (≥1%): diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and constipation. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. at 1-877-TAKEDA-7 (1-877-825-3327) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Worldwide, over 10,000 patients have been treated with PREVACID in Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials involving various dosages and durations of treatment. In…
Who shouldn’t take Prevacid
PREVACID and PREVACID SoluTab are contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the formulation. Hypersensitivity reactions may include anaphylaxis, anaphylactic shock, angioedema, bronchospasm, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, and urticaria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) , Adverse Reactions (6) ] . Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), including PREVACID and PREVACID SoluTab, are contraindicated with rilpivirine-containing products [see Drug Interactions (7) ] . For information about contraindications of antibacterial agents (clarithromycin and amoxicillin) indicated in combination with PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab, refer to the Contraindications section of their prescribing information. Contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to any component of the PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab formulations. ( 4 ) Patients receiving rilpivirine-containing products. ( 4 , 7 )
Prevacid drug interactions
Tables 2 and 3 include drugs with clinically important drug interactions and interaction with diagnostics when administered concomitantly with PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab and instructions for preventing or managing them. Consult the labeling of concomitantly used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with PPIs. Table 2. Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting Drugs Coadministered with PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab and Interactions with Diagnostics Antiretrovirals Clinical Impact: The effect of PPIs on antiretroviral drugs is variable. The clinical importance and the mechanisms behind these interactions are not always known. Decreased exposure of some antiretroviral drugs (e.g., rilpivirine, atazanavir, and nelfinavir) when used concomitantly with lansoprazole may reduce antiviral effect and promote the development of drug resistance. Increased exposure of other antiretroviral drugs (e.g., saquinavir) when used concomitantly with lansoprazole may increase toxicity of the antiretroviral drugs. There are other antiretroviral drugs which do not result in clinically relevant interactions with lansoprazole. Intervention: Rilpivirine-containing products : Concomitant use with PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) ] . See prescribing information. Atazanavir : See prescribing information for atazanavir for dosing information. Nelfinavir : Avoid concomitant use with PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab. See prescribing information for nelfinavir. Saquinavir : See the prescribing information for saquinavir and monitor for potential saquinavir toxicities. Other antiretrovirals : See prescribing information. Warfarin Clinical Impact: Increased INR and prothrombin time in patients receiving PPIs and warfarin concomitantly. Increases in INR and prothrombin time may lead to abnormal bleeding and even death. Intervention: Monitor INR and prothrombin time. Dose adjustment of warfarin may be needed to maintain target INR range. See prescribing information for warfarin. Methotrexate Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of PPIs with methotrexate (primarily at high dose) may elevate and prolong serum concentrations of methotrexate and/or its metabolite hydroxymethotrexate, possibly leading to methotrexate toxicities. No formal drug interaction studies of high-dose methotrexate with PPIs have been conducted [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] . Intervention: A temporary withdrawal of PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab may be considered in some patients receiving high-dose methotrexate. Digoxin Clinical Impact: Potential for increased exposure of digoxin. Intervention: Monitor digoxin concentrations. Dose adjustment of digoxin may be needed to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations. See prescribing information for digoxin. Theophylline Clinical Impact: Increased clearance of theophylline [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Individual patients may require additional titration of their theophylline dosage when PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab is started or stopped to ensure clinically effective blood concentrations. Drugs Dependent on Gastric pH for Absorption (e.g., iron salts, erlotinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, mycophenolate mofetil, ketoconazole/itraconazole) Clinical Impact: Lansoprazole can reduce the absorption of other drugs due to its effect on reducing intragastric acidity. Intervention: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF): Coadministration of PPIs in healthy subjects and in transplant patients receiving MMF has been reported to reduce the exposure to the active metabolite, mycophenolic acid (MPA), possibly due to a decrease in MMF solubility at an increased gastric pH. The clinical relevance of reduced MPA exposure on organ rejection has not been established in transplant patients receiving PREVACID and MMF. Use PREVACID and PREVACID SoluTab with caution in transplant patients receiving MMF. See the prescribing information for other drugs dependent on gastric pH for absorption. Combination Therapy with Clarithromycin and Amoxicillin Clinical Impact: Concomitant administration of clarithromycin with other drugs can lead to serious adverse reactions, including potentially fatal arrhythmias, and are contraindicated. Amoxicillin also has drug interactions. Intervention: See Contraindications and Warnings and Precautions in prescribing information for clarithromycin. See Drug Interactions in prescribing information for amoxicillin. Tacrolimus Clinical Impact: Potentially increased exposure of tacrolimus, especially in transplant patients who are intermediate or poor metabolizers of CYP2C19. Intervention: Monitor tacrolimus whole blood trough concentrations. Dose adjustment of tacrolimus may be needed to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations. See prescribing information for tacrolimus. Interactions with Investigations of Neuroendocrine Tumors Clinical Impact: CgA levels increase secondary to PPI-induced decreases in gastric acidity. The increased CgA level may cause false positive results in diagnostic investigations for neuroendocrine tumors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) , Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] . Intervention: Temporarily stop PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab treatment at least 14 days before assessing CgA levels and consider repeating the test if initial CgA levels are high. If serial tests are performed (e.g., for monitoring), the same commercial laboratory should be used for testing, as reference ranges between tests may vary. Interaction with Secretin Stimulation Test Clinical Impact: Hyper-response in gastrin secretion in response to secretin stimulation test, falsely suggesting gastrinoma. Intervention: Temporarily stop PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab treatment at least 28 days before assessing to allow gastrin levels to return to baseline [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] . False Positive Urine Tests for THC Clinical Impact: There have been reports of false positive urine screening tests for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients receiving PPIs. Intervention: An alternative confirmatory method should be considered to verify positive results. Table 3. Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab When Coadministered with Other Drugs CYP2C19 OR CYP3A4 Inducers Clinical Impact: Decreased exposure of lansoprazole when used concomitantly with strong inducers [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: St John's Wort, rifampin : Avoid concomitant use with PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab. Ritonavir-containing products : See prescribing information. CYP2C19 or CYP3A4 Inhibitors Clinical Impact: Increased exposure of lansoprazole is expected when used concomitantly with strong inhibitors [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Voriconazole : See prescribing information. Sucralfate Clinical Impact: Decreased and delayed absorption of lansoprazole [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Intervention: Take PREVACID or PREVACID SoluTab at least 30 minutes prior to sucralfate [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ] . See full prescribing information for a list of clinically important drug interactions. ( 7 )
Every lansoprazole product we track (4)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64/100 | Over-the-counter | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 2 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Tablet | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 3 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Capsule | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 4 | Not yet rated | Prescription | Injectable | Generic | $5 | View → |
What lansoprazole pills look like
Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.
| Imprint | Strength | Colour | Shape | Maker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MYLAN;8030 | 30 mg | pink | capsule | — |
| 30 | 30 mg | white | round | — |
| 24HR | 15 mg | pink, green | capsule | — |
| 807 | 30 mg | black, white | capsule | — |
| 30mg;A263 | 30 mg | white | capsule | — |
Combination products containing lansoprazole
A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.
Lansoprazole recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
Lansoprazole Delayed-Release Capsules USP
CGMP Deviations
NATCO Pharma Limited · Mar 27, 2024
Lansoprazole Delayed-Release Capsules USP
CGMP Deviations: Inadequate induction sealing on bottles, capsules were observed with bubbles on band seal, capsules with holes and spheres sticking to capsules. Also coding details were missing on one bottle.
NATCO Pharma Limited · Feb 1, 2024
Can you crush or split lansoprazole?
At least one lansoprazoleproduct is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day’s dose at once. Which applies depends on the form you were given.
What each lansoprazole label says about crushing, splitting and chewingHow long does lansoprazole take to work?
“It may take 1 to 4 days for you to feel the full benefit of the medication.” — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
What the NIH says about how quickly lansoprazole worksHow long lansoprazole keeps
No lansoprazole label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does lansoprazole expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsLansoprazole and breastfeeding
From LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s Drugs and Lactation Database — quoted, not rewritten.
Full LactMed record for lansoprazole: levels in milk, effects in breastfed infants, and the drugs it would consider insteadNo information is available on the use of lansoprazole during breastfeeding. However, lansoprazole has been used safely in newborn infants, so it is unlikely that the amount in breastmilk would be harmful.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, record revised February 15, 2025. LactMed states its information is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What people report to the FDA about lansoprazole
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 110,195 reports naming lansoprazole, and the FDA flagged 93% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- diarrhoea6,876 reports
- dyspnoea6,113 reports
- nausea5,895 reports
- fatigue5,427 reports
- vomiting5,394 reports
- acute kidney injury5,080 reports
- malaise4,881 reports
- headache4,862 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean lansoprazole caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 25, 2026.
How long lansoprazole stays in your system
The elimination half-life of lansoprazole is about 1.5 hours (mean, ±1.0) in healthy adults — the label states the plasma elimination half-life is less than two hours. This is the terminal plasma elimination half-life; the label reports a single half-life, not separate distribution/elimination phases. Important: the short half-life does NOT reflect duration of effect — lansoprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor whose acid-suppressing effect lasts more than 24 hours even though the drug clears from plasma in under 2 hours, so the label explicitly warns the half-life does not reflect its duration of acid suppression. No long-lasting active metabolite: the two identified plasma metabolites (hydroxylated sulfinyl and sulfone) have very little or no antisecretory activity, and the active species that block the proton pump are not present in the systemic circulation. Population changes per the label: in older adults clearance falls and the elimination half-life rises roughly 50%–100% (mean 1.9–2.9 hours); in hepatic impairment it is prolonged from 1.5 hours to about 4 hours (Child-Pugh A) or 5 hours (Child-Pugh B), with much larger AUC increases in cirrhosis; in renal impairment the elimination half-life is SHORTENED (not lengthened) and no dosage change is needed.
Lansoprazole delayed-release capsules — DailyMed label, §12.3 Pharmacokinetics ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related guides
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is Prevacid?
The active ingredient in PREVACID Delayed-Release Capsules and PREVACID SoluTab Delayed-Release Orally Disintegrating Tablets is lansoprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, 2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridyl] methyl] sulfinyl] benzimidazole, a compound that inhibits gastric acid secretion.
What kind of drug is lansoprazole?
The FDA classifies lansoprazole as a proton pump inhibitor. Proton pump inhibitors block the H+/K+ ATPase 'proton pump' in the stomach's acid-making cells, the final step in producing stomach acid. By binding this pump, they sharply and lastingly cut acid output, easing heartburn and helping ulcers heal. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
How long does lansoprazole stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of lansoprazole is about 1.5 hours (mean, ±1.0) in healthy adults — the label states the plasma elimination half-life is less than two hours — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the terminal plasma elimination half-life; the label reports a single half-life, not separate distribution/elimination phases. Important: the short half-life does NOT reflect duration of effect — lansoprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor whose acid-suppressing effect lasts more than 24 hours even though the drug clears from plasma in under 2 hours, so the label explicitly warns the half-life does not reflect its duration of acid suppression. No long-lasting active metabolite: the two identified plasma metabolites (hydroxylated sulfinyl and sulfone) have very little or no antisecretory activity, and the active species that block the proton pump are not present in the systemic circulation. Population changes per the label: in older adults clearance falls and the elimination half-life rises roughly 50%–100% (mean 1.9–2.9 hours); in hepatic impairment it is prolonged from 1.5 hours to about 4 hours (Child-Pugh A) or 5 hours (Child-Pugh B), with much larger AUC increases in cirrhosis; in renal impairment the elimination half-life is SHORTENED (not lengthened) and no dosage change is needed. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take lansoprazole with other medicines?
It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run lansoprazole against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is lansoprazole sold under?
We track 4 lansoprazole-containing products in the U.S.: Prevacid 24 Hr, Lansoprazole, Prevacid and Prevacid IV. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does lansoprazole come in?
Across the brands we track, lansoprazole is currently marketed as capsule, delayed release, tablet, orally disintegrating and injectable, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.
Is there a generic lansoprazole?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic lansoprazole product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has lansoprazole been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions lansoprazole. The most recent: Lansoprazole Delayed-Release Capsules USP (Mar 27, 2024). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
What are the common side effects of lansoprazole?
Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and constipation are the reactions reported in at least 1% of patients in the FDA label's trials. Diarrhea is the one the label ties to dose, and only at the top of the range: 2.9% on placebo, 1.4% at 15 mg, 4.2% at 30 mg, and 7.4% at 60 mg — so 15 and 30 mg behaved like placebo, and it is 60 mg that stands out. If you are on 60 mg and your stools have loosened, the dose is worth raising with your prescriber; most GERD maintenance does not require 60 mg. Take it before eating; PPIs only block proton pumps that are actively secreting, so a dose before a meal does more than one taken afterward. Delayed-release capsules and orally disintegrating tablets should not be crushed or chewed.
What lansoprazole side effects need a doctor?
Call promptly for diarrhea that is watery, bloody, or simply not improving — the label warns that PPI therapy may raise the risk of C. difficile-associated diarrhea and says this diagnosis should be considered when diarrhea does not improve. Also call for reduced urination, swelling, unusual tiredness, nausea and loss of appetite, or fever and rash, which can point to acute tubulointerstitial nephritis; the label notes it can start at any point during therapy. Go to the ER for a spreading painful rash with blistering or peeling or sores in the mouth and eyes (SJS, TEN, DRESS, AGEP are all labeled), and for muscle cramps or spasms, tremor, palpitations, or a seizure, which can be low magnesium. Alarm symptoms that mean workup rather than a refill: trouble swallowing, vomiting blood, black tarry stools, or unexplained weight loss.
What are the risks of taking lansoprazole for years?
They are the same class risks as other PPIs, and the label ties them to duration. Low magnesium has been reported after at least three months, usually after a year. Vitamin B12 deficiency is flagged for daily use beyond about 3 years. Osteoporosis-related hip, wrist, and spine fractures appear in observational studies of high-dose or year-plus therapy. Fundic gland polyps increase beyond a year of use. Cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus have been reported, sometimes years in, most often as a rash on sun-exposed skin. The OTC version (Prevacid 24HR, 15 mg) is explicitly built around this: one capsule daily for 14 days, no more than three courses a year, and not for immediate relief — it takes days to reach full effect. If you have been on daily lansoprazole for over a year without a review of whether you still need it, book that conversation.
Is lansoprazole safer than other PPIs for people on clopidogrel or other medications?
The 'avoid clopidogrel' warning that appears on the esomeprazole and omeprazole labels is not on the lansoprazole label — but do not swap PPIs yourself; ask your prescriber or pharmacist to make that call in the context of everything else you take. What is absolute for lansoprazole: it is contraindicated with rilpivirine-containing HIV products, like every PPI. Others to raise: high-dose methotrexate (PPIs can raise and prolong its levels toward toxicity), chromogranin A testing for neuroendocrine tumors, and drugs whose absorption depends on stomach acid. One note for parents: lansoprazole is not approved below 1 year of age — the label reports it was not effective in a placebo-controlled trial of infants aged 1 month to under 1 year with symptomatic GERD. The label separately describes thickening of the mitral heart valve in juvenile rats given high doses starting at ages equivalent to a newborn and to roughly a 1-year-old, and states that this finding does not appear relevant to patients 1 year of age and older.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Lansoprazole: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/lansoprazole
- MLA
- “Lansoprazole: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/lansoprazole.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.
Read the full FDA label for lansoprazole on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.