Before taking lansoprazole,
tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to lansoprazole, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in lansoprazole capsules or orally disintegrating tablets. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor if you are taking rilpivirine (Edurant, in Complera, Odefsey). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take lansoprazole if you are taking this medication.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: certain antibiotics, including anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin), atazanavir (Reyataz), dasatinib (Sprycel), digoxin (Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin), diuretics ('water pills'), erlotinib (Tarceva), iron supplements, itraconazole (Onmel, Sporonox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), methotrexate (Trexall, Xatmep), mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept), nelfinavir (Viracept), nilotinib (Tasigna), rifampin (Rifadin, in Rifater), ritonavir (Norvir, in Viekira XR), saquinavir (Invirase), tacrolimus (Prograf), theophylline (Theo-24, TheoChron), and voriconazole (Vfend). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort. Your doctor may tell you not to take St. John's wort while taking lansoprazole.
if you are taking sucralfate (Carafate), take it at least 30 minutes after you take lansoprazole.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a low level of magnesium in your blood, low levels of vitamin B-12 in your body, osteoporosis, an autoimmune disease (condition in which the body attacks its own organs, causing swelling and loss of function) such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or liver disease.
if you plan to take nonprescription lansoprazole, first tell your doctor if your heartburn has lasted 3 months or longer or if you have experienced any of the following symptoms: lightheadedness, sweating, or dizziness along with your heartburn; chest pain or shoulder pain; shortness of breath or wheezing; pain that spreads to your arms, neck, or shoulders; unexplained weight loss; nausea; vomiting, especially if the vomit is bloody; stomach pain; difficulty swallowing food or pain when you swallow food; or black or bloody stools. You may have a more serious condition that cannot be treated with nonprescription medication.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking lansoprazole, call your doctor.
if you are 50 years of age or older, ask your doctor if it is safe for you to use prescription or nonprescription lansoprazole. The risk that you may develop a severe form of diarrhea caused by bacteria or that you may fracture your wrist, hip, or spine may be higher if you are an older adult.
if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent mental retardation), you should know that the orally disintegrating tablets may contain aspartame, which forms phenylalanine.