Lansoprazole – chemical name
Pronunciation – lan-SOE-pra-zole
Prevacid – brand name

Prevacid (lansoprazole) and GERD

Prevacid (Lansoprazole) is available only with a doctor’s prescription and is commonly called by it’s brand name, Prevacid.

Prevacid belongs to a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, called PPI’s. They are:

• Prevacid – Lansoprazole
• Nexium – Esomeprazole
• Prilosec – Omeprazole
• Protonix – Pantoprazole
• Aciphex – Rabeprazole

PPIs reduce the production of acid in the stomach and intestines by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. Decreasing stomach acid can help ulcers to heal and reflux, or heartburn symptoms to subside.

Prevacid is used to treat certain conditions in which there is too much acid in the stomach. Prevacid is used to treat duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a condition in which the acid in the stomach washes back up into the esophagus.

Sometimes Prevacid is used in combination with antibiotics to treat ulcers associated with infection caused by the helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria (germ).

Prevacid is also used to treat Zollinger Ellison Syndrome, a condition in which the stomach produces too much acid. Prevacid works by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), pronounced – GAH-stroh-eh-SAW-fuh-JEE-ul REE-fluks duh-zeez, is the flow of the stomach’s contents back up into the esophagus. Happens when the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) is weak or relaxes when it shouldn’t. May cause esophagitis. Also called esophageal reflux or reflux esophagitis.