Pantoprazole is a medication used to lower the amount of acid your stomach makes. It is commonly used for acid reflux, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD or GERD), and heartburn. Pantoprazole can also be taken to treat and prevent stomach ulcers.

Pantoprazole comes in tablet form that you swallow by mouth. The medication can also come as a liquid that you drink.

Pantoprazole belongs to a group of medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI). These medications work by lowering the amount of acid produced in your stomach.

Proton pumps are tiny substances in the stomach lining that make it easier for stomach acid to digest your food. Pantoprazole stops proton pumps from working correctly, which lowers the level of acid your stomach makes.

Is pantoprazole an antacid?

No, pantoprazole is not an antacid – it is a PPI that works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces. Antacids, like Gaviscon, are alkaline compounds that provide fast, temporary relief from heartburn and indigestion by neutralising excess stomach acid rather than reducing its production.

What are the active ingredients?

The active ingredient of this medicine is pantoprazole. Each tablet contains 20mg or 40mg of pantoprazole (as sodium sesquihydrate).

Pantoprazole dosage

Pantoprazole comes as 20mg or 40mg daily tablets. These are appropriate for the short term treatment of acid reflux and heartburn in adults.

If you have acid reflux, you should take 1 pantoprazole 20mg tablet daily. You should take the tablet 1 hour before eating, without breaking or chewing it, as food can delay its absorption by about 3 to 4 hours. Make sure you swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.

How long does it take for Pantoprazole to work?

When you start taking pantoprazole, you should begin to feel better after 2 or 3 days. It may take up to 4 weeks for the tablets to work properly. You may still have symptoms during this time.

How effective is Pantoprazole?

A recent study showed that 98.4% of patients receiving pantoprazole for 4 weeks experienced significant relief of leading symptoms.

Pantoprazole and omeprazole are both similar medications in terms of effectiveness. This is because they are both PPIs that can be used to treat acid reflux and heartburn.

Pantoprazole tablets are usually taken once a day in the morning. If your doctor or pharmacist has advised you to take 2 a day, you should take 1 dose in the morning and 1 dose in the evening.

In some cases, your doctor or pharmacist may increase your dose of pantoprazole. This usually happens if the tablets are not working well enough. Depending on why you are taking pantoprazole, you may need to take a higher dose at first, usually for a month or two.

How long do I use Pantoprazole for?

Pantoprazole is taken for up to 2 weeks to begin with. If your symptoms begin to improve, you can carry on taking the tablets for a further 2 weeks. If there are no improvements in your symptoms, or they get worse, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before continuing with treatment.

You should not take pantoprazole for longer than 4 weeks without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first.

How many pantoprazole can I take?

The usual dose of pantoprazole is 1 or 2 tablets to be taken daily. If you take one or two extra doses, it is highly unlikely this will cause any problems. Nevertheless, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have taken too much or get any of these symptoms:

• feeling sweaty
• flushed skin
• blurred vision
• feeling agitated or confused

You can buy pantoprazole online from a reputable online doctor, such as Supedrug Online Doctor. You will need to complete a form for a doctor to review as it is a prescription only medication.

Before purchasing pantoprazole online, you should make sure you’re using a trusted and safe provider. You can do this by checking their reviews and making sure they are registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Can I buy pantoprazole online?

Yes. You can buy pantoprazole tablets through trusted sellers like Superdrug Online Doctor. The process is quick and easy, and the medication can be delivered directly to your door:

1. Fill in a short questionnaire about your health and lifestyle.
2. Order your preferred treatment and provide payment information.
3. Your order will be reviewed by one of our doctors.
4. If the order is suitable for you, your treatment can be posted directly to your door.
5. If your order is not suitable, one of our doctors will contact you through your account with more information.

Can I get pantoprazole over the counter?

Yes, you can buy pantoprazole 20mg tablets over the counter from pharmacies for short-term treatment of heartburn and acid reflux. If you need pantoprazole 20mg for longer than 2 weeks or need the higher 40mg dose, you will need a prescription from a doctor.

Can I get pantoprazole on the NHS?

Yes, pantoprazole is available on the NHS, but you will need to make an appointment with your GP to find out if it is safe and suitable for you. Your doctor will usually prescribe pantoprazole 20mg once a day for 2 to 4 weeks, up to a maximum of 8 weeks. If pantoprazole is not right for you, your GP may recommend an alternative PPI, like lansoprazole or omeprazole.

Like with any medication, pantoprazole can cause side effects. However, not everyone will get them. If you do get a side effect, it will normally be mild and will clear up when you finish treatment.

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if the following side effects do not go away or bother you:

• diarrhoea
• headaches
• constipation
• being sick or feeling sick (vomiting or nausea)
• stomach wind or pain

Serious side effects of pantoprazole are rare, but you should call a doctor immediately if you get:

• joint pain
• stomach pain that continues to get worse
• peeing less, pain when you pee
• lower back pain
• high temperature

In rare instances, it can be possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to pantoprazole. You should go to A&E immediately. Do not wait to seek treatment.

Why does pantoprazole cause stomach pain?

Because pantoprazole reduces the amount of acid produced in your stomach, which changes how you digest food and the bacteria in your stomach, so you may get side effects like stomach pain. If the pain persists and continues to get worse, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Does pantoprazole cause weight gain?

Although rare, pantoprazole has been reported to cause weight gain. If you get unusual weight gain after taking this medication, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Can pantoprazole cause constipation?

Yes. Pantoprazole can cause constipation. However, it should only be mild and go away once you stop taking the medication.

What to do if you get pantoprazole side effects

If you get side effects from taking pantoprazole, most should be mild and not cause any bother. You can wait for mild side effects to go away or just manage them yourself. If you get serious or rare side effects, you should get help from a doctor or pharmacist.

What are the side effects of long-term use of pantoprazole?

If you take pantoprazole for a year or longer, this can increase your chances of certain side effects. These include:

• gut infections
• bone fractures
• vitamin B12 deficiency – symptoms include mouth ulcers, feeling very tired, and pins and needles

Pantoprazole may not be suitable for everyone. Certain other medications and conditions can interact with this treatment and make it less effective, or potentially unsafe. Your doctor will review your health and the answers to your questionnaire to make sure it’s right for you before issuing a prescription.

Pantoprazole contraindications

Pantoprazole can cause issues if you have other health conditions. To make sure pantoprazole is safe for you to take, you should let your doctor or pharmacist know if you:

• have liver problems
• are waiting to have an endoscopy
• have had a previous allergic reaction to pantoprazole

Pantoprazole can be taken by adults and children aged 12 and over. It is not generally advised to take pantoprazole if you are pregnant.

Medications that interact with pantoprazole

Certain medications can interact with pantoprazole, which can increase your chances of side effects.

Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you are taking any of the following medications before you begin taking pantoprazole:

• antifungal medications, like ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and Posaconazole
• HIV medications
• digoxin, a heart medication
• methotrexate, a medication used to treat psoriasis, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis
• blood thinning medications, like warfarin

How soon can you drink coffee after taking pantoprazole?

It is generally advised to avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee while taking pantoprazole and once you have finished treatment. This is because they can make your symptoms worse or return, but drinking coffee will not stop pantoprazole from working.

Pantoprazole and alcohol

While alcohol will not interact with how pantoprazole works, drinking alcohol will make your stomach produce more acid than usual. This can irritate your stomach lining and cause symptoms to worsen. It is advised to avoid alcohol during treatment.

Can you take Gaviscon with pantoprazole?

Yes. You can take Gaviscon with pantoprazole. However, it should be taken 2 hours before or after your dose of pantoprazole.

As well as pantoprazole, there are alternative prescription treatments you can take to get rid of acid reflux. The medication you take will depend on your symptoms. If you are allergic to pantoprazole, your doctor or pharmacist will prescribe something else.

Omeprazole vs pantoprazole

Omeprazole is also a PPI that works in the same way as pantoprazole to reduce acid in your stomach. Omeprazole comes in tablet or capsule form, which contains 10mg, 20mg, or 40mg of omeprazole.

Omeprazole and pantoprazole are equally effective at treating acid reflux, but pantoprazole has fewer drug interactions, and is usually preferred for long-term treatment.

Lansoprazole vs pantoprazole

Lansoprazole is a PPI that can be taken to lower stomach acid. Lansoprazole works similarly to pantoprazole, with it being equally as effective. One study has found that lansoprazole 30mg is more potent that pantoprazole 40mg, but pantoprazole may be preferred if you take other medications, like clopidogrel, because it has fewer interactions.

Esomeprazole vs pantoprazole

Esomeprazole, also available as the branded Nexium, is another example of a PPI that works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces. One study found that esomeprazole 20mg was more effective (87%) than pantoprazole 20mg (75%) for healing erosive oesophagitis and relieving gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) symptoms. The study also showed that esomeprazole resulted in 92% of people being free of moderate-to-severe GORD symptoms compared to 88.5% given pantoprazole.

Natural alternatives to pantoprazole

If you have too much stomach acid, there are certain changes you can make to your lifestyle and diet which may help, without the need of taking medication. These include:

• maintaining a healthy weight
• avoiding foods that make symptoms worse, like spicy and fatty foods
• avoiding caffeinated drinks, like tea and coffee
• stopping smoking
• avoiding eating at least 3 hours before going to sleep