Prevacid - when to take?

[Virginia Ray]

Instructions for 30 mg prevacid capsules say take before a meal. How much time before a meal or right before first bite?

[kathy]

I have been on Prevacid for 6 weeks. i am waking every night with very painful stomach pains. I Could it be the Prevacid?

[Michael Yahwak]

Virginia Ray wrote:

Instructions for 30 mg prevacid capsules say take before a meal. How much time before a meal or right before first bite?

I take it first thing in morning right before my morning cup of coffee then I eat, breakfast about 1/2 hour later. It lasts for 24 hours.

[Tom - Wisconsin]

kathy wrote:

I have been on Prevacid for 6 weeks. i am waking every night with very painful stomach pains. I Could it be the Prevacid?

Yes, one side effect from the Proton Pump Inhibitor class of drugs is abdominal pain. You should consult with your physician. If you have GERD, you still need acid suppression. My GI Doc advised many folks need to play musical PPI's before they hit one that works AND doesn't cause adverse side effects. I would switch to a PPI you haven't tried yet (i.e. Aciphex, Nexium, Protonix, etc.).