lansoprazole vs omeprazole
Side-by-side comparison of lansoprazole and omeprazole Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Prevacid
Prilosec
Lansoprazole is a medicine that reduces the amount of acid in your stomach. It belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
Omeprazole (Prilosec) is a medicine that reduces the amount of acid in your stomach. It belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
Lansoprazole can treat several conditions caused by too much stomach acid. It can heal duodenal and gastric ulcers. It also treats heartburn (GERD) and a damaged esophagus (erosive esophagitis).
This medicine treats frequent heartburn, which is heartburn that occurs 2 or more days a week. It is not meant to give you immediate relief from heartburn. It may take 1 to 4 days for the medicine to fully work.
Lansoprazole works by blocking the enzyme in the stomach that produces acid. This helps to lower the amount of acid made. Lowering acid helps to heal damage and relieve symptoms.
Omeprazole works by blocking the production of acid in your stomach. It does this by targeting the cells that make stomach acid. This helps to reduce heartburn symptoms.
- • Diarrhea
- • Abdominal pain
- • Nausea
- • Constipation
- • Headache
- Long-term kidney disease 32,775
- Sudden kidney damage 18,670
- Kidney failure 13,811
- Kidney failure requiring dialysis 9,782
- Kidney damage 9,520
- Tiredness 19,903
- Feeling sick to your stomach 19,841
- Loose stools 19,625
- Difficulty breathing 16,336
- Medicine not working 15,642
Lansoprazole may hide the symptoms of stomach cancer. If you have a poor response or early return of symptoms, your doctor may do more tests. Long-term use of PPIs like lansoprazole may increase your risk of bone fractures. It may also cause low magnesium levels or Vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Children under 18 should ask a doctor before use. Heartburn in children may be a sign of a serious condition.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lansoprazole may affect bone development in the fetus. If you take lansoprazole with clarithromycin, also consider clarithromycin's pregnancy risks.
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking this medicine. It is important to weigh the benefits and risks with your doctor.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare lansoprazole with
Compare omeprazole with
How to Read This lansoprazole vs omeprazole Comparison
lansoprazole is classified in the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) drug class, while omeprazole sits within the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are available over the counter.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, lansoprazole has 84,558 submissions while omeprazole has 91,347. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between lansoprazole and omeprazole — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.