Lansoprazole

The Basics

What is Lansoprazole?

Used to treat and prevent the return of ulcers caused by a certain type of bacteria (H. pylori).

Brand names for Lansoprazole

Prevacid

How Lansoprazole is classified

Anti-Ulcer Agents, Gastrointestinal Agents, Proton Pump Inhibitors

Lansoprazole During Pregnancy

Lansoprazole pregnancy category

Category BNote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Lansoprazole while pregnant

Reproduction studies have been performed in pregnant rats at oral doses up to 40 times the recommended human dose and in pregnant rabbits at oral doses up to 16 times the recommended human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to lansoprazole. There are, however, no adequate or well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Taking Lansoprazole While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Lansoprazole?

No information is available on the use of lansoprazole during breastfeeding. However, lansoprazole has been used safely in newborn infants, so it is unlikely that the amount in breastmilk would be harmful.

Maternal / infant drug levels

No information is available on the use of lansoprazole during breastfeeding. However, lansoprazole has been used safely in newborn infants, so it is unlikely that the amount in breastmilk would be harmful.

Possible effects of Lansoprazole on milk supply

The Spanish pharmacovigilance system found 3 cases of gynecomastia associated with lansoprazole reported during the time period of 1982 to 2006.[1] A retrospective claims database study in the United States found that users of proton pump inhibitors had an increased risk of gynecomastia.[2]

One case of elevated serum prolactin and galactorrhea was reported in a 21-year-old man. When omeprazole was substituted for lansoprazole, the serum prolactin decreased to the normal range and galactorrhea ceased. Although this case occurred in Spain, it was not included in the report above.[3]

A 13-year-old girl with a recent history of bilateral galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia from omeprazole and domperidone on separate occasions was given lansoprazole to prevent gastrointestinal irritation following intravenous diclofenac for a severe headache. After 3 days of lansoprazole therapy, she again developed galactorrhea and an elevated serum prolactin that returned to normal a week after discontinuing lansoprazole.[4]

A 17-year-old woman using a progestin-containing IUD for 1 year began lansoprazole 15 mg daily and presented after 1 week with bilateral galactorrhea and hyperprolactinemia of 92 mcg/L. Seventy-two hours after discontinuation of lansoprazole, galactorrhea ceased. Four months later, serum prolactin was normal at 24.1 mcg/L with no recurrence of galactorrhea. The authors judged the adverse reaction likely to be caused by lansoprazole.[5]

The prolactin level in a mother with established lactation may not affect her ability to breastfeed.

Possible alternatives to Lansoprazole

Cimetidine, Famotidine, Nizatidine, Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Ranitidine, Sucralfate.