Side effects of Lansoprazole

Lansoprazole (Prevacid) is the medication used in prevention of intestinal ulcers and other conditions due to the excess of gastric acid. This medication belongs to the group of medications known as proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) and they prevent the production of stomach acid.

The medication may induce the chronic watery diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain. Rare side effects might include vomiting and constipation, and pancreas problems. Some of the patients have reported a lansoprazole related colitis. This condition improved once the patients stopped the lansoprazole treatment.

Almost ¼ of all the patients using this medication reported headache, pain and dizziness. The manufacturer claims that the headaches are more likely to occur in patients on the placebo therapy, then on lansoprazole treatment. A certain number of patients on lansoprazole are suffering from speech disorders. Extremely in rare situations this medication can affect the psyche of the patient and leads to anxiety or depression.

Use of lansoprazole affects the liver. It could induce hepatotoxicity and elevate the levels of liver enzymes (such as GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and ALT, alanine aminotransferase).

All kinds of hematologic problems may occur with the use of this medication. Those include leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, aplastic and hemolytic anemia, granulocytosis and thrombocytopenic purpura and decreased levels of hemoglobin.

Metabolic and other changes might be possible, most likely increased levels of potassium and urea in the blood, present crystal urine and blood in the urine.

The patients using lansoprazole may be exposed to increased risk of hip fracture, especially the patients using high doses of the drug for a long time. It is possible to experience myalgia, myositis or tetany after the use of lansoprazole.

Dermatological side effects are rare, and include skin rash and erythema multiforme (a type of allergic reaction to medications).

Lansoprazole has some allergic potential. It could cause toxic epidermal necrolysis, eosinophilia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and anaphylactic reactions.

Repiratory side effects are rare, most likely the patients would suffer from rhinitis or pharyngitis, and sometimes they'd be bothered with cough or symptoms of influenza.

Urinary retention and interstitial nephritis have been reported as rare urinary side effects of lansoprazole.

The drug rarely has some effect to the heart. Sometimes it might cause angina, infarction or blood pressure problems.

Lansoprazole is not known to have cancerous potential on the people. Studies on animals show the increase of gastrin in plasma and increased risk of gastric cell carcinoid in female animals.