Prevacid is a popular US brand name for the drug, Lansoprazole. Lansoprazole, first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1995, is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) which prevents the stomach from producing excessive amounts of gastric acid.
Lansoprazole, whose potency lasts for over 24 hours after it has been used for 1 day or more, is commonly used by hospitals to treat Dyspepsia, Peptic ulcer disease (PUD), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD/GERD), Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease, Barrett’s esophagus, stress gastritis, Gastrinomas, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
This PPI, although often prescribed by hospitals because of its high potency for common stomach problems, still produces side effects (especially if “used” improperly). Among the common symptoms of Lansoprazole misuse are dry mouth, insomnia, drowsiness, blurred vision, rash, and itching. There are also recorded cases in which the drug caused severe gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Lansoprazole is one of the few PPI drugs available in the market. Aside from Prevacid, it is also being sold under the commercial names “Helicid,” “Zoton,” and “Inhibitol.” Other proton pump inhibitors found in US markets include Esomeprazole, Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole, and Tenatoprazole.
Unlike here in the US, Lansoprazole is considered as a generic drug in the UK, Belgium, France, Colombia, Italy, and Mexico.