The NHS has important guidance on its website for anyone prescribed lansoprazole, especially if they have been taking it for three months or more. The health service's website is filled with vital information for people suffering from health issues and offers trusted, evidence-based health advice regarding many types of medication.

Lansoprazole is a widely used medicine that many doctors in the UK often prescribe. It's one of the most frequently prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) by the NHS, and PPIs account for a significant portion of all prescriptions dispensed in England.

Lansoprazole is a type of PPI and is used to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. It helps treat and prevent various acid-related conditions. Lansoprazole is primarily used to treat:

• Cancer symptom may appear on pillows in the morning


• 'I slept so much I missed my son's birthday - then I got life-threatening diagnosis'

• Indigestion and heartburn


• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)


• Stomach and duodenal ulcers


• NSAID-associated ulcers


• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections


• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

There are four other medicines similar to lansoprazole, including omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole. Just like lansoprazole, these medicines are proton pump inhibitors. They help to lower the acid in your stomach in the same way that lansoprazole does. Usually, they work just as well and have similar side effects as lansoprazole.

But they might be prescribed in different amounts than lansoprazole. Sometimes, if lansoprazole isn't working for you or if you have side effects, your doctor might recommend trying another proton pump inhibitor.

People taking lansoprazole should begin to feel better in about two to three days. But it could take as long as four weeks for lansoprazole to fully take effect, so you might still experience some acid symptoms during this period.

The length of time you take lansoprazole depends on what you're treating, but usually, it should be taken for the shortest time and at the lowest dose that works to prevent long-term side effects. Although a lot of people use lansoprazole for a long time, sometimes even for years, it should only be taken with regular check-ups from a doctor because of possible risks.

According to the NHS, if you take lansoprazole for more than three months, the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall. On the NHS website, it warns that low magnesium levels can cause fatigue, confusion, dizziness, muscle twitches, shakiness, and an irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.

Magnesium is essential for more than 300 functions in the body. It helps with nerves, muscles (including the heart), and bones, as well as energy levels, blood sugar, and blood pressure. If you don't have enough magnesium, it can lead to muscle cramps, feeling tired, irregular heartbeats, and long-term problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. This can affect how our cells work and our electrolyte balance.

Taking lansoprazole for more than a year may increase your chances of certain side effects, including bone fractures, gut infections and vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms of this kind of deficiency include feeling very tired, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers and pins and needles.

The NHS says: "If you take lansoprazole for longer than one year, your doctor will regularly check your health to see if you should carry on taking it. It's not known if lansoprazole works less well the longer you take it. If you feel that lansoprazole is not working any more, talk to your doctor."

Inform your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you are currently taking. Lansoprazole can interact with certain drugs like warfarin, digoxin, and some HIV medicines. Avoid taking antacids (such as Gaviscon) within two hours of taking lansoprazole. Do not use St John's wort (a herbal remedy) with lansoprazole.

Contact your doctor immediately or call emergency services if you experience severe symptoms, such as an allergic reaction (swelling of face/throat, difficulty breathing), worsening stomach pain, severe or persistent diarrhoea, or signs of low magnesium (for example, muscle spasms, irregular heartbeat, confusion).

It may be possible to alleviate symptoms caused by excessive stomach acid by making a few adjustments to your diet and lifestyle. Firstly, maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet.

Avoid eating foods that can exacerbate your symptoms, such as rich, spicy, and fatty foods, as well as acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings, and fizzy drinks. Reduce your intake of caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee, and cola.

Cut down on alcohol. Quit smoking if you can. If you experience symptoms at night, try to avoid eating for at least three hours before going to bed. Prop your head and shoulders up when you go to bed. This can prevent stomach acid from rising while you sleep.

The NHS says there is some information to suggest that people taking medicines that reduce stomach acid, like PPIs such as lansoprazole and H2 blockers, might have a very small increased chance of developing stomach cancer. It may be more likely in people who take them for longer than three years.

But studies involving more people need to be done to be sure that PPIs and H2 blockers cause stomach cancer, rather than something else causing it. PPIs, like most medicines, can have side effects, so it's best to take them for the shortest time possible.

It's important to speak to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms, which can be signs of stomach cancer, including having problems swallowing (dysphagia), feeling or being sick, feeling full very quickly when eating and losing weight without trying to. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you're concerned.