Pantoprazole

Pantoprazole contains pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor which lowers stomach acid. This medicine treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, gastritis and peptic ulcers. It works by blocking the secretions of stomach acids, thereby decreasing acidity. It reduces symptoms like indigestion, heartburn, acid reflux, hoarseness and stomach pain.

Pantoprazole should be taken as advised by your doctor. The dose of the medication may be adjusted depending on the severity of your clinical symptoms. It is best to take this medicine 1 hour before your meal, preferably at the same time each day. Keep taking this medicine even after you feel well.

Side effects of Pantoprazole include vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, headache, flatulence (gas) and arthralgia (joint pain). These adverse effects usually go away on their own and should not be of any concern. Talk to your doctor if they persist or get worse.

Pantoprazole is contraindicated (unsafe) for people with hypomagnesemia, anaemia, colitis, liver diseases or allergies to proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole. Let your doctor know of any health conditions you might have. Generally, this drug is considered safe for most people.

Pantoprazole reduces symptoms related to too much stomach acid. It lowers the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the organ, which helps alleviate symptoms like heartburn, indigestion and stomach pain.

Pantoprazole contains pantoprazole which is used in the treatment of the following conditions:

Pantoprazole contains pantoprazole, which works by blocking acid secretion in the stomach. This is done by blocking specific pumps in the stomach lining that secrete hydrochloric acid. This reduction in the acidity in the organ alleviates symptoms like indigestion, acid reflux, stomach pain and heartburn.

Pantoprazole is classed as a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI). It suppresses the final step in gastric acid production by binding to a specific enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric glands. This reduces both natural and stimulated acid production in the stomach for more than 24 hours. This pharmaceutical effect enables this pantoprazole to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcers. It controls acidity and prevents symptoms like heartburn and stomach pain.

Proton-pump inhibitor medications and osteoporosis

There are certain adverse effects of long-term administration of proton-pump inhibitors like pantoprazole and omeprazole on the bones. The main side effect that most studies point to is osteoporosis and the fractures related to it. Osteoporosis is a disease that develops over time, and it affects the bones, making them brittle and weak. And this can increase the risk of bone fractures. Clinical studies suggest that PPI users tend to have lower bone mineral density than non-PPI users. So it is advised to take vitamin D and calcium supplements that counter the effect of these medicines' long-term outcomes.

Proton-pump inhibitor rebound gastritis

If you stop taking PPIs, you may experience worsening symptoms, which are associated with gastritis (inflammation of the stomach’s lining). These symptoms include stomach upset, belching, hiccups, abdominal bleeding, nausea and vomiting. You might experience rebound symptoms for up to three weeks after you stop taking PPIs. You can avoid this by gradually stopping the use over a few weeks. During these few weeks, you may be advised to take antacids (calcium carbonate) or a histamine-2 antagonist (famotidine).

• Pantoprazole (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
• Pantoprazole: a brief overview (medlineplus.gov)
• Domperidone (www.nhs.uk)