The NHS has issued a warning to Brits taking a commonly-prescribed medication. Lansoprazole works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes and is used for indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux and gastroesophageal-reflux-disease. It is also taken to prevent and treat stomach ulcers and a rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology it is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines in England, but, like any medication, it comes with some warnings – and can cause issues when mixed with other pills. The NHS website says: “Some medicines and Lansoprazole can affect each other and make it more likely that you will have side effects or stop one of the medicines working as well.”
You should therefore tell your doctor if you’re taking any of these medicines before you start Lansoprazole treatment:
- Digoxin (a heart medicine)
- Antifungal medicines such as Itraconazole, Ketoconazole or Posaconazole
- Methotrexate (a medicine that treats psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- HIV medicines
- Phenytoin (an epilepsy medicine)
- Rifampicin (an antibiotic)
- Clopidogrel or Warfarin (medicines to prevent or treat blood clots)
- Fluvoxamine (an antidepressant)
The health body said: “These are not all the medicines that may not mix well with Lansoprazole. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.”
Some of the “common” side effects of Lansoprazole may happen in more than one in 100 people. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Headaches
- Feeling sick
- Diarrhoea or being sick (vomiting)
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Wind
- Itchy skin rashes
- Feeling dizzy or tired
- Dry mouth or throat
You should call a doctor or call 111 “straight away” if you have:
- Joint pain along with a red skin rash, especially in parts of your body exposed to the sun, such as your arms, cheeks, and nose (this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin) – these can be signs of a rare condition called subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This can happen even if you’ve been taking Lansoprazole for a long time
- Stomach pain that seems to be getting worse – this can be a sign of an inflamed liver or pancreas
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea – this can be a sign of an inflamed bowel
You should also avoid taking Lansoprazole alongside a supplement called St John’s wort. The NHS continued: “St John’s wort may stop Lansoprazole working as well as it should.
“There’s not enough information to say that other complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with Lansoprazole. They’re not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They’re generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.
“Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.”
Who can’t take Lansoprazole
Most adults and children can take Lansoprazole, but it is not suitable for some people. The NHS advises telling your doctor before taking Lansoprazole if you:
- Have ever had an allergic reaction to Lansoprazole or any other medicines
- Have liver problems
- Are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
- Are due to have an endoscopy
For more information, visit the NHS website here.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
