Prevacid

Prevacid marketed by Novartis belongs to the proton pump inhibitor drug group. The generic name of Prevacid is Lanzoprazole. As a proton pump inhibitor, Prevacid is used to treat erosive esophagitis, GERD, Zollinger Ellison syndrome, gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is available in the dose of 15mg and 30mg. Prevacid has now become the drug of choice of many Americans suffering from heartburn.

Prevacid is available as delayed release capsules and delayed release orally disintegrating tablets.

The indications for Prevacid 30mg are as follows:

H. pylori eradication to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence where it is used along with 1gm of Amoxicillin and 500mg of Clarithromycin twice daily for 10 to 14 days (triple therapy)

In the dual therapy of H. pylori eradication Prevacid 30mg should be used with Amoxicillin 1gm three times a day for 14 days.

In the short term treatment of benign gastric ulcer as once daily for 8 weeks.

In healing the NSAID associated gastric ulcer as once daily dose for 8 weeks.

In the short term treatment of erosive esophagitis as once daily dose for 8 weeks.

In children of age 1-11 years in the short term symptomatic treatment of gastro esophageal reflux disease and in the short term treatment of erosive esophagitis as once daily dose for 12 weeks.

In the pathological hypersecretory conditions like Zollinger Ellison Syndrome the dose is 60mg once daily.

Prevacid 30 mg capsules are available as opaque, hard gelatin, pink and black colored capsules with the TAP logo and PREVACID 30 imprinted on it. The 30mg tablets are available as white to yellowish white, uncoated, with orange to dark brown speckles on them. The number “30” embossed on one side of the tablet. The delayed release capsules are available similarly.