9 Prevacid Side Effects You Should Know About
Key takeaways:
Prevacid (lansoprazole) is a medication used to treat acid reflux and stomach ulcers. It’s generally considered safe to take, but has some side effects you should know about.
Common side effects of Prevacid include diarrhea and nausea. They often resolve on their own with time.
More serious side effects include a higher risk of bone fractures and kidney disease. Rarely, side effects may need immediate medical attention.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Prevacid (lansoprazole) belongs to a group of medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It’s a medication that lowers the amount of acid in your stomach. This helps treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and stomach ulcers.
Like other PPIs, Prevacid is available both over the counter (OTC) and as a prescription. But just because you can get it OTC doesn’t mean there aren’t side effects to consider. Let’s take a detailed look at nine Prevacid side effects and how you might manage them.
1. Diarrhea
Diarrhea is the most common side effect of Prevacid. Higher doses (60 mg per day) are more likely to cause diarrhea than lower doses (15 mg or 30 mg).
There are ways you can help manage diarrhea at home. It’s important to stay hydrated with plenty of fluids, such as water or sports drinks, to replace your electrolytes. Additionally, eating more bland foods, like bananas, rice, and toast (BRAT diet), may improve symptoms. If diarrhea becomes bothersome, contact your healthcare provider for more options.
Severe diarrhea caused by clostridium difficile colitis (C.diff) is also linked to Prevacid. C. diff is a serious infection that can lead to complications, such as sepsis and kidney failure. If you develop watery, foul-smelling diarrhea along with fever or abdominal pain, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
2. Abdominal pain
Prevacid is often prescribed to help get rid of abdominal pain caused by acid reflux or ulcers. But for some people, abdominal pain may worsen when taking it. In clinical trials, around 2% of adults taking Prevacid reported abdominal pain.
It’s unclear why abdominal pain starts or worsens when taking Prevacid. Changing to a different PPI, like esomeprazole (Nexium) or omeprazole (Prilosec), may help. If your pain worsens or is severe, be sure to let your healthcare provider know. They can help figure out what the cause is and how best to manage it.
3. Higher risk of bone fracture
Prevacid can lead to a higher risk of bone fractures. The most common occur in the hip, wrist, or spine. This side effect is more common with high doses and long-term treatment.
Prevacid, like other PPIs, lowers the absorption of several vitamins and minerals that keep bones strong. It may also affect bone cells and hormone levels in the body that can weaken bones. It’s important to take the lowest effective dose of Prevacid for the shortest amount of time possible. This will help lower the chance of this side effect.
Your healthcare provider may check the thickness (or density) of your bones if you have been taking PPIs long-term. This type of screening is routine for women over 65 years old, but may be performed earlier for people who are at a higher risk for fractures. Seek medical care right away if you have fallen and suspect that a bone fracture may have occurred.
4. Kidney disease
Several studies have found that Prevacid, as well as other PPIs, may affect how well your kidneys work. Some people may have an acute (sudden) problem with inflammation in the kidney (acute interstitial nephritis [AIN]).
There is also an association with Prevacid use and an increased risk of chronic kidney disease. This could lead to problems with kidney function or kidney failure.
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice changes in your urine or swelling in your feet and ankles while taking Prevacid. You may also feel tired, nauseous, or have no appetite. With AIN, stopping Prevacid usually reverses any damage to the kidneys. But it’s not clear if stopping Prevacid will reverse chronic kidney disease once it has developed.
If you have kidney problems, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before taking Prevacid.
5. Low levels of vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) helps make your body’s red blood cells and keeps your nervous system healthy. Most people absorb enough B12 from their food. But Prevacid can affect absorption of this vitamin, leading to low levels.
Vitamin B12 deficiency caused by Prevacid is rare, and usually only happens when it’s taken for a long period of time (more than 3 years). If your B12 levels are low, you may feel extra tired or have feelings of pins and needles in your hands or feet.
Your healthcare provider will likely check your B12 levels if you’re on long-term treatment with Prevacid. But be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you have any of the symptoms of low B12 levels.
6. Low levels of magnesium
Low magnesium levels are also rarely associated with taking Prevacid long term. Magnesium is an essential mineral in your body. Low levels can lead to muscle cramping, seizures, and heart problems. If not corrected, very low magnesium levels can become life threatening.
Prevacid may begin to change how much magnesium your body absorbs in as little as 3 months. Your healthcare provider may check your levels of magnesium if you’re taking Prevacid long-term. Be sure to let them know if you develop any symptoms of low magnesium.
7. Higher risk of infection, including Covid-19
Prevacid may make it more likely for you to get upper respiratory infections — including COVID-19. Stomach acid helps destroy viruses. Prevacid lowers the amount of stomach acid, which may make the body less able to fight off some infections. A clinical review showed that people taking PPIs were more likely to contract Covid and have more complications than those who don’t.
If you’re concerned about the risk of infection when taking Prevacid, talk to your healthcare provider. In certain situations, the benefit of Prevacid may outweigh the possible risk. But taking
Prevacid at the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time necessary is usually your best bet.
8. Certain types of lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means the body attacks its own tissues by mistake. Sometimes medications can also cause lupus. A specific type of lupus known as subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is a rare side effect that has been linked to Prevacid and other PPIs.
Prevacid may cause new cases of SCLE, but this side effect is more likely to happen if you’ve had SCLE in the past. Although rare, this reaction can occur within weeks to years of taking Prevacid daily.
Early signs of SCLE typically include a full-body rash and muscle aches, but can also include a fever and flu-like symptoms. If you notice these symptoms, stop taking Prevacid and contact your healthcare provider. Most of the time symptoms will go away after 4 to 12 weeks after stopping Prevacid. But your healthcare provider may also refer you to a specialist for more testing.
When should I contact my healthcare provider about side effects from Prevacid?
If you’re taking OTC Prevacid and need treatment for longer than 2 weeks, talk to your healthcare provider. The risk of side effects goes up the longer you take Prevacid, so you shouldn’t take it longer than recommended without a provider’s OK.
Some Prevacid side effects may be mild, like diarrhea and abdominal pain. If stomach-related side effects don’t go away after a few days or worsen, let your healthcare provider know.
More serious symptoms, like feeling tired, fevers, or muscle aches, require more immediate attention. Contact your provider right away if you experience these symptoms.
The bottom line
Prevacid is a medication that’s helpful in treating GERD and stomach ulcers. Although available OTC, this medication doesn’t come without risks. Common side effects include diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Some side effects resolve with time, but more serious side effects can develop with continued use. Don’t take Prevacid for more than 2 weeks without your healthcare provider’s OK. And let them know if you have side effects that are bothersome.
Why trust our experts?
References
Ahmed, A., et al. (2022). Proton pump inhibitors. StatPearls.
Al-Aly,Z., et al. (2020). Proton pump inhibitors and the kidney: Implications of current evidence for clinical practice and when and how to deprescribe. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
Briganti, S. I., et al. (2020). Proton pump inhibitors and fractures in adults: A critical appraisal and review of the literature. International Journal of Endocrinology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Does osteoporosis run in your family?
Fatima, K., et al. (2022). The use of proton pump inhibitors and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases.
L. Perrigo Company. (2022). Prevacid 24 hr [package insert]. DailyMed.
National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Acute kidney injury (AKI).
Sandholdt, L. H., et al. (2013). Proton pump inhibitor-induced subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. British Journal of Dermatology.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. (2017). Prevacid solutab [package insert].
Tawam, D., et al. (2021). The positive association between proton pump inhibitors and clostridium difficile infection. Innovations in Pharmacy.
Thong, B. K. S., et al. (2019). Proton pump inhibitors and fracture risk: A review of current evidence and mechanisms involved. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2017). FDA drug safety communication: Low magnesium levels can be associated with long-term use of proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPIs).
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2018). Osteoporosis to prevent fractures: Screening.
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.