Pantoprazole

Brand Names

Pantoprazole, Protonix, pantoprazole sodium

What is Pantoprazole

Pantoprazole is a prescription medicine that belongs to a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). It works by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Pantoprazole is used to treat erosive esophagitis, pathological hypersecretory diseases, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Side effects of Pantoprazole

There is a row of common side effects of pantoprazole included:

• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Flatulence
• Abdominal pain
• Insomnia
• Rash
• Burping
• High sugar levels in the blood (hyperglycemia)
• Vomiting
• gas
• joint pain

People who use pantoprazole or any other PPIs may have a great risk to break their wrists, hips or spine. It is very dangerous for people (especially of 50 years of age or older) who take high doses of pantoprazole or take it for one year or longer.

People who use pantoprazole for a long period of time may increase weakening of the stomach lining and a low level of vitamin B12 in the blood.

You should discuss with your doctor the safeness of taking pantoprazole.

Indication

Pantoprazole is used to treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Pathological Hypersecretory Diseases and Erosive Esophagitis.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acids and other contents of the stomach go back into the esophagus (acid reflux). This can result in GERD symptoms such as heartburn. The most serious complication of GERD is erosive esophagitis. It may occur when the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by stomach acid.

Pantoprazole prevents the return of the erosive esophagitis after it healing.

Pantoprazole is used in people with pathological hypersecretory diseases for long-term treatment. Pathological hypersecretory diseases are the conditions that cause the production of too much stomach acid. One of the most common of these conditions is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Precautions

It’s obligatory to infrorm your doctor if you have an allergic reaction to pantoprazole, dexlansoprazole (Dexilant), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), rabeprazole (AcipHex) or any of the ingredients in pantoprazole tablets or powder.

You should tell your doctor if you are using any prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products.

If you have or have ever had a low level of magnesium in your blood, you have to tell it to your doctor.

It’s very important inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding, because it may harm a baby.

Dosage forms

Pantoprazole Dosage for Erosive Esophagitis and GERD is 40mg once a day for up to 8 weeks. If the symptoms of GERD do not improve, your doctor may recommend GERD treatment with pantoprazole for another 8 weeks. As soon as the erosive esophagitis has been healed, the daily dose of pantoprazole is 40 mg once a day to prevent the return of the condition.

Pantoprazole dosage for erosive esophagitis due to GERD in children age five years and older is either 20 or 40mg daily. It depends on your child's weight. Children of 33-87 pounds should take 20mg once daily while heavier children should take 40mg daily.