Generic Name: Prevacid for GERD (lansoprazole)
"I have been taking Prevacid for 20 years. I have had numerous side effects in the last 5 years: migraine headaches, major memory loss, blurred vision, heart palpitations, and most of the side effects listed, I have. I have taken this medication as I have severe acid reflux, and when I stop, I have instant reflux. But my side effects are getting worse, so I have to try something different, or I fear this medication may end my life."
"5 days on Prevacid and my anxiety is overwhelming. Heart palpitations, insomnia, feeling like I'm completely losing it. I get that these drugs help some - but frankly, in my experience, they are potentially dangerous, and folks should know the side effects before they jump in. (Part of the problem is that every drug nowadays lists the same side effects - for legal reasons - so we take those warnings with a grain of salt.) Don't ignore the side effects listed for this drug. They are factual. Anxiety? Believe it. Depression? Believe it. Folks end up in the ER on this drug. Now I know why. Never again."
"Started taking Prevacid about a month ago. It started off great. It was working wonders. Then my GERD started to act up at night. I was initially on 30 mg, and I would take that just in the morning, now I'm taking it in the morning and in the evening. Still all good. However, recently I've been getting severe stomach aches and nausea. I felt extremely weak and had nonstop diarrhea as well. I drank some Gatorade, which actually fixed it. I wonder if there's some sort of electrolyte imbalance with taking Prevacid. Either way, I'm probably going to wean off of it. The constant nausea isn't worth it."
"After I turned 65, I started suffering from GERD. My doctor gave me free samples of Prilosec to use, but I found it to be only somewhat effective. I switched to Prevacid, and am now heartburn/GERD free! I've been taking Prevacid for about 4 years, and have suffered no side effects whatsoever."
"I began taking Prevacid probably 10 years ago, stopped occasionally, but found I could not go long without needing it. I never thought of anything bad coming of it. I felt wonderful, no heartburn, no need to watch what I ate anymore, no more waking up at night needing antacids. Well, a few years ago, I started having severe foot and ankle pain and weakness, and last September, I fell in the yard and severely broke my ankle, requiring ORIF surgery to put in a plate and screws. My ankle will never be the same. Gone are the 4-mile walks I used to enjoy daily, and I have also developed some heart palpitations, higher blood pressure readings, and I feel it is all due to my long-term use of Prevacid. I stopped taking it almost 2 months ago."
"I have GERD due to cyclic vomiting syndrome causing damage to my pyloric sphincter and a hiatal hernia. I take 40 mg of Pepcid AC every night, but I was still getting the feeling of acid in the back of my throat. I decided to take Prevacid since I've taken it in the past with no problems. Unfortunately, I've had some issues this time. It has helped with the regurgitation and acid, but I am having a lot of muscle cramps and diarrhea. I looked at the side effects, and this is, indeed, a problem with Prevacid. I will be seeing my GI doctor tomorrow for advice."
"I took this for about 2 1/2 years in my early 30s, and it worked amazingly! If I even missed a single dose, I was up with horrible acid problems during the night. I do highly recommend it, but also consider fundoplication surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease. I had this done about 10 years ago, and since then my GERD is completely gone and I have no need for the Prevacid at all anymore. I eat and enjoy spicy foods and never have an issue. Both Prevacid and the surgery changed my life!"
"I have tried almost every acid reducer made in the last 20 years, and nothing worked until I took Prevacid 30 mg 2x a day. I had severe stomach pain, cramps, and pain under my right shoulder. Thought I was having a heart attack. One 30 mg pill didn't do it, I still needed antacids. Another doctor suggested 2x a day. It worked. It took about 4 weeks for my symptoms to go away. I could eat anything. Periodically, I've tried to reduce the amount by slowly reducing the mg, but symptoms always came back. I've tried the generic version because my insurance company would cover it at this high dose, but symptoms came back after a few months. Generic versions are just not the same."
"I had suffered with acid reflux since childhood. I would wake up in the middle of the night, vomit, and go back to bed. This continued off and on for years. In my late teens and early 20s, it began to get worse. My doctor told me about Prevacid being OTC, and I should give that a try. It was getting so bad that no matter what I did or didn't do, ate or didn't eat, I would have heartburn. It used to be just certain foods triggered it. As time went on, anything and everything gave me heartburn. I started taking Prevacid, and now I take 15 mg daily, and have for the last 5 years or so. Since taking it, I am almost completely heartburn-free all the time. Occasionally, I have to take 30 mg. But I couldn't live without it! It has changed my life!"
"I have been on Prevacid for over 10 years now. I take 30 mg a day. I have used both the prescription and the 24-hour when I run out. Both are fantastic. I have never had a side effect, and it completely controls my acid reflux and heartburn. I stopped eating Tums and can eat whatever I choose. It works like a charm for me."
"I have been taking Prevacid for 10 years now. It has worked tremendously. I have tried to go without it, but my acid reflux just gets too bad. I had two endoscopes done prior to taking Prevacid for scarring in my esophagus. Prevacid has healed my esophagus. I would definitely recommend it for anyone who suffers from GERD like myself."
"I have been using this medication for about 15 years at 60 mg a day to treat severe GERD. Doctors, in general, are reluctant to prescribe this dosage, but in my case, it was necessary. I had been using Zantac and Prilosec prior to that and graduated onto this as a last resort. It has cleared up most of the esophagus erosion. There seems to be no side effects that I am aware of, but would be interested if anyone has noticed an uptick in kidney infections."
"Do not start on Prevacid or any PPI. They work fine but if you develop serious side effects as I have you are stuck taking them because they are almost impossible to get off of. The rebound pain and heartburn are even worse than the serious side effects. You then suffer from both problems at the same time. These pills suck the very life out of you. Use Pepcid or Tagamet. Stay away from these."
"After several months of taking Prevacid, if I don't take it for a day, my symptoms now are 10 times worse than they used to be before I started taking it. Not only that, but the doctor has told me that if I continue to take Prevacid, I will most likely develop osteoporosis (I am only 18 years old). Overall, after taking this medicine for about half a year, my only choice is to continue taking it, but risk being deficient in some essential nutrients and develop osteoporosis, or stop taking it and experience burning pain and reflux every day, and continue to damage my esophagus."
"I've been taking Prevacid for over 10 years, 1 in the morning, that's it. I've had acid reflux since I was 13 years old, used to keep bottles of Tums in my car, my nightstand, my pocket. I suffered for years. Not anymore. I'm 53, I eat, drink whatever I want, hardly ever get indigestion anymore. Sure works for me."
"I have been taking Prevacid for 28 years. I’ve tried to stop taking this medication so many times and the heartburn/reflux comes back with a vengeance. I went to a top notch gastroenterologist and he said he needed to test the ph of my esophagus/stomach. I had to stop taking Prevacid seven days before procedure. Without it, I felt like I was having a heart attack. I have broken both my ankles and shoulder and I wasn’t really doing anything! I have numerous health problems that I believe stemmed from this drug that was prescribed when I was in the hospital from a major asthma attack. It kept the heartburn/reflux at bay and didn’t exacerbate the asthma (wheezing and coughing). I never had a gastroenterologist care or seem concerned every time I said I need to get off of this medication until the one I’m seeing!"
"I was told by my MD that I probably have a hiatal hernia that is causing G.E.R.D. He prescribed an RX. When I went to the pharmacy and it was too expensive, the pharmacist suggested I try an over-the-counter one. I read all the labels of ingredients on Prevacid, Prilosec, etc. I chose Prevacid because of its ingredients. I have been VERY happy with it! It works well!"
"I have used Prevacid before, and it does work well. Years ago, a doctor told me that they wanted to put a scope down my throat. I am not really into that idea, so it has not been done. I do not use this often due to the price increase, but I would recommend it."
"I have used Prevacid 30 mg (lansoprazole) for almost a year now. It works wonders for my acid reflux, except when I'm bad and eat something to trigger it! I have found it works better when not used daily. My doctor said do not take it every day as the effects will wear off sooner, take it when you need it or on a day you know you will be eating something to trigger your acid reflux. As with any other medication, the effects of relief will wear off, but when you stagger, you take it. It works all the time."
"I had my gallbladder removed about 10 years ago due to an infection (not gallstones). Of all the heartburn medications I have taken and been prescribed (Nexium, Prilosec, Zantac), only Prevacid seems to give me relief."
"I have tried several medications for GERD. Did not work. When I go in to the hospital, I have to have my doctor order that I can bring in my generic Prevacid because they do not carry Prevacid in their pharmacy and the one they give me doesn't work. I take 30mg 2x daily. Have had no side effects. But now my new insurance requires me to get an exception to be able to take 2 per day."
"It's the best medication for my acid reflux, chronic heartburn. Two capsules, and I no longer wake at night with painful heartburn. I can continue to enjoy my normal (somewhat spicy) foods without suffering afterwards. Please note: the instructions tell you not to take it for more than 14 days. Then take a break of nearly 4 months before starting another course. The over-the-counter Prevacid is NOT for daily use ad infinitum. If it doesn't help, then you need to see a doctor!!"
"I got immediate improvement switching from omeprazole 20 mg and 40 mg to Prevacid 30 mg for my long-term struggle with severe acid reflux. I still occasionally supplement with a Pepcid Complete at bedtime, but overall I'm much better."
"I've had extremely bad heartburn for several years. While I don't experience reflux the chest pain and throat/sinus pain are all consuming. I can no longer tolerate this pain. I've been on a diet of mostly rice, applesauce, oatmeal, lean protein and an occasional veggie. Everything including water gives me heartburn all day/everyday. It appears I have Nutcracker Esopgagus or esophageal spasms. Two weeks ago I received an esophageal Botox injection which is meant to relax the esophagus, thus reduce spasms. I've experienced no relief. I had this same procedure six months ago and enjoyed nearly 3 months heartburn free! I believe it's failed this time. I tried Prevacid 15mg OTC and experienced 25% improvement. Suggestions?"
"I started using Prevacid after several months (actually years) of a condition of acid reflux getting increasingly worse. Tums just wasn't working anymore, and I was crossing more and more foods off the list of what I could eat without getting severe heartburn. After several kinds of tests at a specialist, I was prescribed Prevacid. I couldn't believe how quickly and permanently my heartburn went away. I could even eat onions. There was one side affect though - frequent diarrhea for about the first six months - it really became kind of regular thing, but seriously, it was better than the awful heartburn. After the first six months, it went away and never returned."
