Lansoprazole | Health Notes at WWSM | Health Information at WWSM

Lansoprazole

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Also indexed as: Prevacid, Zoton

About lansoprazole

Lansoprazole is a “proton pump inhibitor” drug that blocks production of stomach acid. Lansoprazole is used to treat diseases in which stomach acid causes damage, including stomach and duodenal ulcers, esophagitis, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Helpful Products

Try these helpful products which may be beneficial if taken with this medicine

Beta-carotene: To avoid possible depletion of beta-carotene, eat more dark green and orange-yellow vegetables and consider supplementing with 25,000 IU per day
Vitamin B12 and folic acid: To avoid depleting these nutrients, which might lead to anaemia and high homocysteine blood levels, take 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 and 400 mcg of folate daily
Cranberry juice: Drinking cranberry juice may help prevent vitamin B12 deficiency as it increases the body's ability to absorb this nutrient from food in people taking this medicine

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or chemist. Continue reading the full article for more information on interactions with vitamins, herbs, and foods.

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, a herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized interactions.

May Be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them.	Beta-carotene* Folic acid Vitamin B12* (dietary, not supplemental B12)
May Be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better.	Cranberry*
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known
Adverse interaction	None known

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Beta-carotene
Omeprazole, a drug closely related to lansoprazole, taken for seven days led to a near-total loss of stomach acid in healthy people and interfered with the absorption of a single administration of 120 mg of beta-carotene.¹ It is unknown whether repeated administration of beta-carotene would overcome this problem or if absorption of carotenoids from food would be impaired. Persons taking omeprazole and related acid-blocking drugs for long periods may want to have carotenoid blood levels checked, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and consider supplementing with carotenoids.

Folic acid
Folic acid is needed by the body to utilise vitamin B12. Antacids, including lansoprazole, inhibit folic acid absorption.² People taking antacids are advised to supplement with folic acid.

Vitamin B12
Omeprazole, a drug closely related to lansoprazole, has interfered with the absorption of vitamin B12 from food (though not supplements) in some,³ ⁴ but not all, studies.⁵ ⁶ This interaction has not yet been reported with lansoprazole. However, a fall in vitamin B12 status may result from decreased stomach acid caused by acid blocking drugs, including lansoprazole.⁷

Interactions with Herbs

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Omeprazole was shown to reduce protein-bound vitamin B12 absorption and cranberry juice was shown to increase protein-bound vitamin B12 absorption in eight people treated with omeprazole (a drug closely related to lansoprazole).⁸ While this effect has not been studied with lansoprazole, people taking lansoprazole may choose to drink cranberry juice or other acidic liquids with vitamin B12-containing foods. Unlike vitamin B12 found in food, vitamin B12 found in supplements is not bound to peptides (pieces of protein). The absorption of B12 supplements therefore does not require acid and is unlikely to be improved by drinking cranberry juice.

Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Food
The initial dose of lansoprazole should be taken 30 minutes before a meal.⁹ Subsequent doses are equally effective taken with or without food but should be taken at the same time every day.¹⁰ Capsules and granule contents should not be chewed or crushed. However, lansoprazole capsules may be opened, the granule contents sprinkled on one tablespoon of apple sauce, then immediately swallowed.

References
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.