Overview
- Lansoprazole is a prescription proton pump inhibitor used for heartburn, GERD and ulcers, typically taken once or twice daily about 30 minutes before meals.
- Common side effects include stomach pain, dizziness, nausea, wind, diarrhoea or vomiting, headaches, dry mouth or throat, itchy rashes and constipation, with stomach pain affecting more than 1 in 100 users.
- The NHS says severe reactions are very rare, generally affecting fewer than 1 in 1,000 people taking the drug.
- Worsening abdominal pain may indicate inflamed liver or pancreas, and severe or frequent diarrhoea may suggest an inflamed bowel.
- Patients are advised to consult a pharmacist or GP for routine concerns, call NHS 111 for worrying symptoms, and dial 999 for emergency signs such as throat tightness, trouble breathing, fainting, sudden swelling of the lips or tongue, or skin and lips turning blue or grey.