What is this medication for?
Pantoprazole is used to treat and prevent acid regurgitation (e.g. a backflow of stomach acid up the throat) / gastroesophageal reflux disease or heartburn.
It is also used to treat ulcers in the digestive tract or prevent ulcers caused by Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs.
How should I take or use this medication?
Do not stop taking your medication without checking without checking with your healthcare professional.
Tablets should not be crushed or chewed and should be swallowed whole with water.
Takes this medication half to one hour before food.
What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. The take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.
What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?
Inform your healthcare professional if:
- You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
- You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
- You develop symptoms such as significant weight loss without any intent or reason, repeated vomiting and / or the vomiting of blood, difficulty swallowing or blood in the stool.
What are some common side effects of this medication?
Pantoprazole is generally well-tolerated. Though uncommon, it may affect your sleep, cause headaches, dizziness, and stomach discomfort.
What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
- Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
- Difficulty in breathing
- Itchy skin rashes over your whole body
Rarely pantoprazole may cause low magnesium levels in the blood. This may cause tiredness, fits / seizures, dizziness, and a change in how fast your heart beats.
Long term use of pantoprazole may lead to vitamin B12 deficiency which may result in fatigue and numbness.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.
What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?
Pantoprazole may interact with some medicines used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) e.g. atazanavir and rilpivirine.
It may also interact with drugs used in the treatment of some cancers and other immune system related conditions such as methotrexate, acalabrutinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, dasatinib, neratinib, pazopanib and sotorasib.
It may interact with medicines used to treat certain infection including cefuroxime (antibiotic), itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole (antifungal medication) and velpatasvir (treatment for hepatitis C).
It may also interact with sulpiride which is used to treat some mental health conditions.
How should I store this medication?
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
How do I throw away this medication safely?
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.
Disclaimer
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side-effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side-effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (NHG Health, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Contributed By
- Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore