Lansoprazole, Clarithromycin, and Amoxicillin

Lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin are used to treat and prevent the return of ulcers (sores in the lining of the stomach or intestine) caused by a certain type of bacteria (<span class='ital'>H. pylori</span>). Lansoprazole is in a class of medications called proton pump inhibitors. Clarithromycin and amoxicillin are in a class of medications called antibiotics. Lansoprazole works by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach. Clarithromycin and amoxicillin work by stopping the growth of the bacteria that may cause ulcers. Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

Lansoprazole comes as a delayed-release (long-acting) capsule, clarithromycin comes as a tablet, and amoxicillin comes as a capsule, all to be taken by mouth. These medications are usually taken before a meal twice a day. To help you take the right number of capsules and tablets at each dose, the medication is packaged in dosing cards. Each dosing card contains all of the medication needed for both daily doses. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take the medication exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets and capsules whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. Take lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. If you stop taking antibiotics too soon your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics. If your condition does not improve or gets worse, call your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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diarrhea</li>
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stomach pain or cramps</li>
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vomiting</li>
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nausea</li>
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change in ability to taste food</li>
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headache</li>
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dizziness</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

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blistering or peeling skin</li>
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rash</li>
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hives`</li>
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swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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hoarseness</li>
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sore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infection</li>
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watery or bloody diarrhea with or without stomach pain that occurs during your treatment or for up to 2 months afterward</li></ul>Lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking these medications.People who take proton pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole may be more likely to fracture their wrists, hips, or spine than people who do not take one of these medications. The risk is highest in people who take high doses of one of these medications or take them for 1 year or longer. The risk may also be higher in people who are 50 years of age or older. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking lansoprazole.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to any antibiotics, including amoxicillin, azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin, and penicillin; lansoprazole (Prevacid); any other medications; or any of the ingredients in amoxicillin tablets, clarithromycin capsules, or lansoprazole capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E, Migranal), ergotamine (Ergomar, in Cafergot, in Migergot), pimozide (Orap), astemizole (Hismanal)(not available in the U.S.) or terfenadine (Seldane) (not available in the U.S.). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin if you are taking one or more of these medications. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: other antibiotics such as ampicillin (Principen); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel); carbamazepine (Tegretol); certain cholesterol-lowering medications including lovastatin (Mevacor) and simvastatin (Zocor); cilostazol (Pletal); colchicine (Colcrys, in Col-probenecid); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); certain benzodiazepines including alprazolam (Niravam, Xanax), midazolam, and triazolam (Halcion); digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); disopyramide (Norpace); fluconazole (Diflucan); iron supplements; ketoconazole (Nizoral); certain medications for HIV such as atazanavir Reyataz), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra) and zidovudine (Retrovir, in Trizivir, in Combivir); methylprednisolone (Medrol); phenytoin (Dilantin); probenecid (Probalan, in Col-probenecid); quinidine; rifabutin (Mycobutin); sildenafil (Revatio, Viagra); tacrolimus (Prograf); theophylline (Theo-Dur, Slo-Bid, Slo-Phyllin, others) ),and valproate (Depacon). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. if you are taking sucralfate (Carafate), take it 30 minutes after you take lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma, allergies, hives, hay fever, myasthenia gravis (a disease that causes muscle weakness); or kidney or liver disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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stomach pain</li>
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nausea</li>
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vomiting</li>
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diarrhea</li>
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decreased urination</li></ul>