|
Usage: Prevacid decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Prevacid is used to treat and prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers, erosive esophagitis (damage to the esophagus from stomach acid), and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Directions: Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Prevacid should be taken before eating. Do not crush, break, or open a delayed-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. If you are unable to swallow a capsule whole: Open the capsule and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of pudding, applesauce, yogurt, cottage cheese, strained pears, or a nutritional drink such as Ensure. Swallow this mixture right away without chewing. Do not save the mixture for later use. Discard the empty capsule. You may also dissolve the medicine from a Prevacid capsule in 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of apple juice, orange juice, or tomato juice. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more juice to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away. Dissolve the oral granules in 2 tablespoons of water. Use only water when mixing Prevacid oral granules. Stir this mixture and drink all of it right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more water to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away. It is important to use Prevacid regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Take this medication for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before your treatment is completed.
Side Effects: Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as: headache; nausea, stomach pain; diarrhea; or constipation. Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
Precautions: If you also take sucralfate (Carafate), avoid taking it at the same time you take Prevacid. Sucralfate can make it harder for your body to absorb Prevacid. Wait at least 30 minutes after taking Prevacid before you take sucralfate.
Drug Interactions: Before taking Prevacid, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs: theophylline (such as Elixophyllin, Respbid, Slo-Bid, Theobid, Theoclear, Theo-Dur, Uniphyl); digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen); ketoconazole (Nizoral); iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others); or a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin). If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Prevacid, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment. There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Prevacid. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
If You Take Too Much: Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
An overdose of Prevacid is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.
Missed Dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Storage: Store Prevacid at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
|
