What is Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body.
Clarithromycin is in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Clarithromycin fights bacteria in your body.
Lansoprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach.
The combination of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole is used to prevent stomach ulcer caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
Amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Dispermox), clarithromycin (Biaxin), lansoprazole (Prevacid), or to certain other antibiotics.
While you are taking amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole, do not take any of the following medications: cisapride (Propulsid), ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Ercaf, Migergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or pimozide (Orap).
Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, myasthenia gravis, or if you are allergic to any drugs (especially any antibiotics).
Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before taking amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.
There are many other medicines that can interact with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox, Dispermox), clarithromycin (Biaxin), lansoprazole (Prevacid), or to any of the following antibiotics:

• ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen)
• azithromycin (Zithromax)
• carbenicillin (Geocillin)
• dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen)
• erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin)
• oxacillin (Bactocill)
• penicillin (Beepen-VK, Ledercillin VK, Pen-V, Pen-Vee K, Pfizerpen, V-Cillin K, Veetids, and others)
• telithromycin (Ketek); or
• troleandomycin (Tao)

Taking any of the following medicines together with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole can cause a life-threatening side effect on your heart:

• cisapride (Propulsid)
• ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Ercaf, Migergot)
• dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate); or
• pimozide (Orap)

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication. Before taking amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole, tell your doctor if you have:

• kidney disease
• liver disease
• myasthenia gravis; or
• if you are allergic to any drugs (especially an antibiotic)

FDA pregnancy category C. Clarithromycin may be harmful to an unborn baby. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Amoxicillin can make birth control pills less effective, which may result in pregnancy. Before taking amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole, tell your doctor if you use birth control pills.
Amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Prevpac Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
* diarrhea that is watery or bloody
* signs of new infection, such as fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, mouth sores
* easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
* agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior
* dizziness, fainting, fast or pounding heartbeat; or
* fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash
Less serious side effects may include:
* unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth
* headache
* nausea, vomiting, stomach pain
* constipation, dark colored stools
* dry mouth, increased thirst; or
* vaginal itching or discharge
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Prevpac Interactions

What other drugs affect Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

Many drugs can interact with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• HIV/AIDS medications such as atazanavir (Reyataz), ritonavir (Norvir), or zidovudine (Retrovir)
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• clopidogrel (Plavix)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• iron supplements (Feosol, Fergon, Slow Fe, and others)
• fluconazole (Diflucan) or ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• sildenafil (Viagra)
• tacrolimus (Prograf)
• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, and others)
• a sulfa drug (such as Bactrim or Septra)
• HIV/AIDS medications such as atazanavir (Reyataz), ritonavir (Norvir), or zidovudine (Retrovir)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and others
• a heart rhythm medication such as disopyramide (Norpace) or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release)
• a sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), or triazolam (Halcion)
• seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Equetro, Carbatrol, Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or valproate (Depakote, Depakene); or
• a tetracycline antibiotic such as demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), or tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap)

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Prevpac Dosage

How should I take Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Each dose of this combination medication contains 4 pills ( 3 capsules and 1 tablet). Take all 4 pills twice daily before you eat, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open the pills. Swallow each pill whole. You may swallow the pills one at a time.
Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.
This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and lansoprazole.
Store this medication at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light

What happens if I overdose on Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or urinating less than usual.

What happens if I miss a dose of Prevpac (Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin/Lansoprazole)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com