prevacid
What is Prevacid?
Prevacid is a proton pump inhibitor, known as a PPI. Cells in the stomach lining contain so-called pumps which produce the acid needed for digestion. When this stomach acid backs up, or refluxes, we experience pain from acid reflux disease. What Prevacid does it to turn off some of the acid-producing pumps, therefore limiting the amount of acid which backs up into the esophagus.
Acid reflux disease itself can cause mild to severe symptoms, with the most common symptoms being recurring heartburn. Other symptoms include difficult in swallowing, a sour taste in the mouth, recurring coughing or hoarseness and belching or slight regurgitation of food.
What symptoms does it treat?
Prevacid treats the symptoms of heartburn associated with acid reflux disease. It may also help to heal any damage caused to the esophagus by acid reflux.
How is it taken?
Prevacid is taken in tablet form or in a powder form which is mixed with water.
REVIEWS OF PREVACID
Review by Joyce 
I was diagnosed with IBS when I was 11, I am 31 now. I have taken Mylanta, Rolaids, Zantac, Pepcid and everything else imaginable. I now take Prevacid twice a day. Prevacid has been a wonder drug. When I wasn't on heartburn medication, I would wake up with heartburn and go to bed with heartburn. My heartburn was so bad that I would get nauseated and would eventually vomit at times. With Prevacid I am heartburn-free. It is expensive, but it is worth every penny.
Review by Sandie 
I have IBS-C and heartburn. I have been taking Prevacid with Zelnorm since having my gallbladder removed a month ago. I tried to stop taking the Prevacid as it was too expensive to take along with the even more expensive Zelnorm (after insurance it was costing me $110 a month for both). But I am finding that the Zelnorm helps with the IBS-C, but not the heartburn, so I went back on the Prevacid last week and feel so much better.
I think once I get my diet going on a regular basis and do not cheat, no trigger foods, I will eventually be able to go off the Prevacid. But, yes, it is very expensive. My husband also takes Prevacid (he swears by it) as well as other meds for a heart condition and our pharmacy bill per month is astronomical and we are only in our early 40's.
Review by Chip
Prevacid, when taken one hour before dinner, really helps a lot since most of our diet consists of acid-causing foods. Also, night-time is when our stomachs produce acid. Prevacid lessened the gassy feeling in me. It also reduced the pain in the middle part of the abdomen. The only problem is that it's too expensive.
Do you suffer from IBS? Have you tried Prevacid? Please send in your review.