An oral medication, Prevacid contains the drug lansoprazole, which doctors prescribe for disorders caused by excessive amounts of stomach acid. Despite its effectiveness in the treatment of acid reflux and digestive ulcers, Prevacid poses a risk of side effects in some patients.

Types of Side Effects

Common side effects of Prevacid include diarrhea, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain and headaches.

Features

The most common side effects of Prevacid occur in approximately 1 to 4 percent of patients, according to FDA clinical trials published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Often, the side effects of Prevacid diminish as your body becomes acclimated to the effects of the drug, explains the Mayo Clinic.

Drug Interactions

When taken with blood-thinning medications like warfarin, proton pump inhibitor medications like Prevacid pose an increased risk for prolonged or uncontrollable bleeding after an injury or surgery, explains the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Risks

Prevacid poses a slight increase in the risk of cancers in the digestive tract, particularly stomach cancer, warns the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Other rare risks associated with Prevacid include changes in heart rhythm, heart attack, shock, the onset of diabetes, seizures, hallucinations, severe allergic reactions, liver damage, kidney infections and life-threatening skin rashes like Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Considerations

Because Prevacid is known to cause fetal harm in laboratory animals, doctors rarely prescribe the drug for pregnant women. If you have a history of liver dysfunction, your doctor may need to adjust your dose of Prevacid or select a different medication for you to take, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Source:

U.S. National Library of Medicine Daily Med: PREVACID (lansoprazole) capsule, delayed release

Mayo Clinic: Lansoprazole (Oral Route)