Lansoprazole: A Comprehensive Pharmacological and Clinical Review

1. Introduction and Overview

Lansoprazole is a widely utilized pharmaceutical agent belonging to the class of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It is primarily prescribed for the management of conditions related to excessive gastric acid secretion.

• Generic Name: Lansoprazole [1]
• Brand Names: Lansoprazole is marketed under various brand names globally, with Prevacid® being one of the most recognized. Other common names include Prevacid 24HR (an over-the-counter formulation), Prevacid SoluTab (an orally disintegrating tablet), and Prevacid OTC.[1] During its development, it was also known by the code AG 1749.[1] The availability of multiple brand names, including over-the-counter (OTC) options, reflects its extensive clinical use and established profile for certain indications. However, this also necessitates careful patient education to prevent inadvertent duplication of therapy or inappropriate self-medication if a patient is also prescribed a PPI.
• DrugBank ID: DB00448 [1]
• CAS Number: 103577-45-3 [1]
• Chemical Type: Lansoprazole is a small molecule drug [User Query]. Structurally, it is classified as a substituted benzimidazole.[1] It exists as a racemic 1:1 mixture of its two enantiomers, dexlansoprazole (the R-enantiomer) and levolansoprazole (the S-enantiomer).[1] The benzimidazole core is a common structural feature among many PPIs, which may imply shared mechanistic properties and, theoretically, a potential for cross-reactivity in hypersensitivity reactions, although specific data on lansoprazole cross-reactivity were not detailed in the provided materials. The existence of dexlansoprazole as a separately marketed, enantiomerically pure drug suggests potential pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic distinctions from the racemic mixture.
• Brief Summary of Use and Therapeutic Class: As a proton pump inhibitor, lansoprazole effectively reduces the production of stoma