NHS has Lansoprazole warning over potentially life-changing side effect
Lansoprazole is a widely used medication, but Brits are now being urged to check the potential side effects before they take it.
Similar to its sister medication, Omeprazole, the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) is used to treat acid reflux and stomach ulcers by reducing stomach acid production.
The tablets are also commonly prescribed when someone is taking a lot of other medications, as a way of settling the stomach, but while some side effects are mild and go away when we come off the medication, others can be more serious.
As well as migraines, nausea and stomach pain, the tablets can, in some cases, lead to a rare condition known as subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.
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The rare condition occurs after prolonged use of lansoprazole and is described by the NHS as joint pain, along with a red skin rash, especially on parts of your body which are exposed to the sun, such as your arms, cheeks and nose.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is an auto-immune condition, meaning that our own immune system attacks the skin, which then causes inflammation and the painful, itchy rashes.
While people are able to live with the condition and feel well, it can be a completely life-changing condition, as the sun can often cause painful flare-ups, and there is currently no known cure.
Fortunately, if you are only on the medication for a while longer, then the SCLE could possibly settle once you come off the medication, but this may well take up to six months and is unlikely to be a quick fix.
Strong or very strong corticosteroid creams and ointments are commonly offered as a first-line treatment, while in more severe cases where topical treatments aren't working or the rash is more widespread, an oral medication may well be utilised.
However, the most important thing for people struggling with SCLE is to avoid sunlight where possible, particularly when it's at its strongest in the middle of the day, which also means wearing strong sunscreen and making sure you get enough vitamin D through other sources, such as fish or vitamin tablets.
Lansoprazole isn't the only PPI to be linked with health problems, however, as a research study completed last year also connected Omeprazole to a serious condition, with 25 per cent of participants who were taking the medication experiencing a migraine or severe headache.
If you do think you've contracted SCLE because of your Lansoprazole, you should speak with your doctor and ensure that you don't stop taking the medication that you've been prescribed.
James Moorhouse