Pantoprazole is the generic form of the medication Protonix. According to Mayo Clinic, pantoprazole lowers the amount of acid in the stomach. Drugs.com, an online drug reference, states pantoprazole is classified as a proton pump inhibitor and can treat problems related to the stomach and throat, such as heartburn and damage to the esophagus related to gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition in which too much acid is produced in the stomach.
Important Facts
According to Drugs.com, patients should not discontinue the use of pantoprazole even if symptoms improve. Take the entire amount prescribed by your health care provider. The effects of long-term pantoprazole use on humans is unknown, but it has caused stomach cancer in animals. The use of pantoprazole for extended lengths of time may cause vitamin B-12 deficiency. This medication is not known to cause harm to the fetus during pregnancy but can be passed to a nursing infant while breast-feeding. Notify a health care provider before breast-feeding if you intend to take pantoprazole. Mayo Clinic states safety has not been determined in the use of children.
Precautions
Drugs.com instructs patients to take pantoprazole granules in applesauce or apple juice. Do not chew, crush or mix granules in anything else. The mixed granules should be ingested 30 minutes prior to eating. When using a nasogastric tube or feeding device that leads from the nose to the stomach, pantoprazole granules should be mixed with apple juice to prevent clogging the tube. Do not tamper with enteric coated tablets; swallow them whole. Do not take two doses of this medication at the same time.
Dosing
According to Mayo Clinic, the way in which pantoprazole is taken will differ with each patient. The medical problem being treated and the health care provider will determine which dose is correct for you. Typically, 40 mg of pantoprazole is taken by adults once a day for eight weeks. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is treated with 40 mg two times daily for an undetermined amount of time with a possibility of increasing the dose.
Side Effects
Drugs.com encourages patients to seek immediate help if life-threatening side effects such as the following occur: rash; trouble breathing; or swelling of the throat, face, tongue or lips. Other less serious side effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea and headache.
Availability
According to Mayo Clinic, pantoprazole is only available with a health care provider prescription and comes in tablets, enteric-coated tablets, packets (granules) and intravenous forms. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves this medication for the treatment of GERD and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
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