Protonix, is a brand name for the generic drug pantoprazole, which is a proton pump inhibitor used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition in which backward flow of stomach acid causes heartburn and injury to the esophagus. Clostridium difficile, or C. difficile, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. You may develop C. difficile while on Protonix therapy.
Protonix, Probiotics and C. difficile
Long-term use of Protonix and other acid-reducing drugs may increase the risk for C. difficile infection, according to the FDA. Protonix is a powerful drug that suppresses the production of stomach acid. Stomach acid is important for killing C. difficile and other disease-causing bacteria. Long-term suppression of stomach acid increases the likelihood of developing an overgrowth of C. difficile bacteria.
Probiotics and C. difficile
Your doctor may advise you to take probiotics to help suppress the growth of C. difficile bacteria while you are on Protonix therapy. Probiotics are live "friendly" microorganisms that are similar to the beneficial bacteria found in the human gut. Normally, your colon has friendly and disease-causing bacteria. The friendly bacteria prevent the overgrowth of disease-causing bacteria.
Probiotics Sources
Probiotics are available in foods and as dietary supplements. Examples of foods containing probiotics include acidophilus milk, yogurt, miso, tempeh, soy products, fermented milk and buttermilk, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. You should purchase foods with "live" probiotic cultures. You can obtain probiotic capsules, tablets or powders from pharmacies. Consult your doctor before taking probiotics.
C. difficile Symptoms
The most common symptoms of mild to moderate C. difficile infection include watery diarrhea a few times a day and mild abdominal cramping and tenderness. Severe infection can cause diarrhea that occurs 10 to 15 times a day, severe abdominal pain and cramping, bloody stool, pus in the stool, nausea, loss of appetite, dehydration and weight loss, according to MayoClinic.com. Consult your doctor if your symptoms last for more than three days or if you have severe pain and blood in your stool.
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