Lansoprazole, a benzimidazole derivative with antisecretory and antiulcer activities, inhibits the acid pump activity at the final stage of the enzyme process and therefore reduces the acid secretion of parietal cells. Lansoprazole is converted to active metabolites in the acid environment of these cells. It is rapidly absorbed from a gastric acid-resistant formulation and is approximately 97% bound in human plasma.Single dose pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole appear to be linear over the range from 15 to 60mg. Food and time of dose influence absorption after single doses, but do not modify the antisecretory effect of multiple doses. Lansoprazole is extensively metabolised following oral administration into sulphone and 5-hydroxylated metabolites by the cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C18. Two other metabolites have been identified in plasma: sulphide and hydroxylated sulphone.Mean plasma elimination half-life (t½) is between 1.3 and 2.1 hours in healthy volunteers. 15 to 23% of the total dose is found in urine as free and conjugated hydroxylated metabolites, while unchanged lansoprazole is not detected. The pharmacokinetic profile of the drug is not modified by multiple administration. In healthy elderly volunteers, area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and t½are significantly greater after single administration than that in young volunteers; accumulation from repeated daily administration occurs to the same extent as in young volunteers.Renal failure has no influence on the pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole, but severe hepatic failure causes a significant decrease in clearance and an increase in the AUC and t½of lansoprazole. This is accompanied by modifications in the AUC of metabolites, but severe hepatic failure has minimal effect on accumulation of the drug after multiple administration. The pharmacokinetics of lansoprazole in patients with acid-related disorders do not differ from those in healthy volunteers. Studies of interactions of lansoprazole with warfarin, prednisone, theophylline, phenazone (antipyrine), diazepam, phenytoin and oral contraceptives suggest minimal risk of any clinically significant interaction.