What does lansoprazole do?
Lansoprazole helps to reduce the amount of acid that’s produced by the cells in the lining of your stomach. Whilst we need some amount of stomach acid to help with digestion and other bodily functions, too much of it can cause problems, such as causing or worsening ulcers in the stomach or duodenum, and in many cases, excess acid can make its way up the oesophagus and cause a burning sensation in the chest as well as other symptoms. This is known as acid reflux.
Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, and by reducing the amount of acid that’s produced in the stomach, it can help to relieve your symptoms.
Lansoprazole uses
Whilst lansoprazole is most commonly prescribed for acid reflux or heartburn, it can also be used for other conditions if your GP thinks it’s suitable. For example, some of the problems that lansoprazole can treat include:
- Duodenal and stomach ulcers
- Reflux oesophagitis (inflamed oesophagus)
- Prevention of reflux oesophagitis
- Helicobacter pylori infections (alongside antibiotics)
- Treatment or prevention of ulcers in those that take NSAID medications
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Please note that the GMC-registered doctors at Doctor4U can only prescribe lansoprazole for acid reflux, and not for any of the other conditions listed above. If you need lansoprazole tablets or capsules for anything other than acid reflux, please make an appointment with your own doctor.
Lansoprazole 30mg
The maximum daily dose of lansoprazole is 30mg, which is usually taken once daily for acid reflux. It’s recommended that you take one lansoprazole 30mg capsule or tablet in the morning each day. However, this does depend on the severity of your condition. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose of lansoprazole and only increase it if your symptoms don’t improve.
Lansoprazole 15mg
Sometimes, your GP might recommend starting with a dose of lansoprazole 15mg in the morning, rather than lansoprazole 30mg. If your symptoms aren’t relieved within 4 weeks of starting lansoprazole 15mg, you should return to your doctor, as you may need to increase your dose, or take it twice a day. Your own GP should advise you on what to do in this case.
Lansoprazole side effects
Lansoprazole is generally well-tolerated, but some people that take it find that they experience some side effects. This is common with prescription medicines, and most side effects are easy to deal with. Some of the most commonly reported lansoprazole side effects include:
Headache
Dizziness
Diarrhoea
Constipation
Stomach pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Wind
Dry or sore mouth or throat
Skin rash
Itching
Changes in liver function
Fatigue
Benign stomach polyps
Depression
Joint or muscular pain
Fluid retention or swelling
Changes in blood cell counts
Most people find that if they do experience these common side effects, they’re only mild or easy to deal with, but if you find that you’re in pain or are finding it difficult to cope with the adverse effects, you should stop taking lansoprazole and speak to your doctor for advice as you may need a different treatment.
More side effects, including those that are rare and of an unknown frequency are available in the patient information leaflet that comes with your order when you buy lansoprazole.
Is lansoprazole safe?
Lansoprazole is generally a safe medicine to take if you’re struggling with acid reflux or a stomach ulcer. However, there are some people that should be careful with taking it as it could cause some problems. Before you buy lansoprazole, you should speak to your GP if you have any of the following conditions or problems:
- Confirmed Vitamin B12 deficiency
- At risk of vitamin B12 deficiency
- Due for a chromogranin A blood test
- History of skin reaction with other, similar medicines.
In addition to this, you should speak to your doctor if you take any of the following medications, as they’re known to interact with lansoprazole in some cases:
- HIV treatments
- Methotrexate
- Ketoconazole
- Itraconazole
- Rifampicin
- Digoxin
- Warfarin
- Theophylline
- Tacrolimus
- Fluvoxamine
- Antacids
- Sucralfate
- St John’s Wort
Lansoprazole NHS
Lansoprazole is available on the NHS for all of the conditions earlier, including acid reflux. If you want to obtain lansoprazole via the NHS, you should speak to your own GP about your symptoms, and have a conversation with them about which medication would be best for your condition.
Lansoprazole on the NHS is the cost of a standard prescription charge of £9 (rising to £9.15 on April 1st 2020).
How long does lansoprazole take to work?
How long lansoprazole takes to work can depend on several factors, including dosage, severity of your condition, and what you’re taking it for.
In most cases of acid reflux, patients find that they begin to feel better within 2-3 days of taking lansoprazole, but they may still have some milder symptoms for up to a month.
If you find that you don’t feel better within 4 weeks of starting lansoprazole, you should speak to your GP, as you may need a different treatment for your acid reflux.
How long can you take lansoprazole for?
How long you’ll take lansoprazole for depends on your condition and what your own GP advises. Some people only need to take the treatment for a few weeks until their symptoms subside, whilst others need long-term management with it.
According to the NHS, if you take lansoprazole for over a year, your risk of some side effects may be increased, so it’s always important to have regular medication and condition reviews with your GP to make sure that you aren’t experiencing any adverse effects.
If you aren’t sure how long you should be taking lansoprazole for, you should speak to your GP for advice.
Omeprazole and lansoprazole
Omeprazole and lansoprazole are very similar, and belong to the same drug family of proton pump inhibitors. They work in the same way to reduce your symptoms, but some studies have shown that lansoprazole may work faster to relieve acid reflux. However, this doesn’t mean to say that lansoprazole is the best treatment for you, or that omeprazole won’t help you. The decision on which medicine to use for acid reflux should be between you and your doctor.
Lansoprazole in pregnancy
The NHS state that lansoprazole shouldn’t be used during pregnancy because of the risk of side effects, and it’s recommended that you should try to manage your symptoms by eating small portions, raising your head when you lie down, and minimising triggers such as spicy or fatty foods. However, if you find that you still need medication to help manage your acid reflux during pregnancy, you should speak to your doctor, as you may still be able to take something such as omeprazole or an antacid like gaviscon.
If you’re taking lansoprazole and find out that you’re pregnant, you should speak to your doctor about how to handle the condition throughout pregnancy and breast-feeding.
Lansoprazole over the counter
Lansoprazole is a prescription-only medicine, meaning that there isn’t a form that’s available over the counter in a pharmacy. However, some doses of esomeprazole are available to buy without prescription. Esomeprazole is another proton pump inhibitor which works in the same way as lansoprazole, and you may be offered the branded version, Nexium, if you decide to buy it over the counter.
Buy lansoprazole
Although you need a prescription for it, you can buy lansoprazole through private online services such as Doctor4U after completing some consultation questions for our doctors to review. This saves you the hassle of making an appointment to see your own GP, and you can complete the questions at a time and place that suits you. These will then be reviewed by one of our GMC-registered doctors who will decide whether lansoprazole is the right treatment for you. If they approve your request, a prescription will be generated and your order will be sent straight to your door from our partner pharmacy.
Buy lansoprazole UK
Doctor4U is a UK-based service that connects patient to pharmacy and prescriber. You can buy UK lansoprazole from us starting from £12.99.
All treatments come from our partner pharmacy which is fully regulated to the highest UK standards, so you can be assured that when you buy lansoprazole from us, it is of the same quality that you’d receive from your own GP.
When you buy lansoprazole from Doctor4U, you’re guaranteed a fast, easy and professional service.
How is my order shipped to me?
When an order is ready for shipping, it is collected and delivered by either the Royal Mail or DPD depending on your preference (or possibly your location or the item you ordered). Each order is assigned a tracking number, which will be emailed to you at the time of dispatch. Your medicine will be sent in plain and discreet packaging that’s eco-friendly. We do not include any branding on our packaging nor any labels which inform readers what type of product is contained within.
Advice on Addiction and Medication Restrictions
If you are at all worried or concerned about an addiction to any type of medication, we urge you to speak to a professional for help and advice. Below are links to organisations that can help.
