Pantoprazole is a gastric medicine.
It is used to treat conditions caused by excessive acidity in your stomach, such as ulcers in the stomach or duodenum (upper portion of the small intestine), reflux disease (also known as "heartburn", in which food or acid from your stomach backs up into your mouth, leaving a sour or bitter taste) and hypersecretory conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (a condition in which a tumour growth in the pancreas or duodenum causes the secretion of too much stomach acid).
Pantoprazole treats these conditions by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes.
Pantoprazole is to be given intravenously (into the vein) via injection or infusion. It is delivered directly into the bloodstream via the blood vessel.
Your doctor or nurse will administer the injection for you.
This medicine may be replaced with oral Pantoprazole therapy as soon as you are well enough to swallow a tablet.
Ensure that you keep all appointments with your doctor so that you do not miss any doses. Your doctor also needs to regularly monitor your response to Pantoprazole.
If you miss an appointment or miss an injection, alert your doctor or nurse. A replacement appointment or injection should be given as soon as possible.
Do not use Pantoprazole with rilpivirine or atazanavir (medicines for HIV infection).
Inform your doctor if you have liver disease.
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not use Pantoprazole for a long period of time as it may slightly increase your risk of fracture in the hip, wrist or spine. Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis (soft, brittle bones).
If your gastric problem seems to be getting worse, let your doctor know.
If you are going for certain laboratory tests (e.g. urine screening, Chromogranin A), inform your doctor that you are using this medicine.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition. He may also need to perform routine blood test (magnesium level) to check your body’s response to this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have this test.
Pantoprazole may cause dizziness or visual disturbances. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting and stomach wind.
If you get a rash on your skin, especially in areas exposed to the sun, and accompanied by joint pain, inform your doctor.
Some side effects may be serious, although they are not common. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience:
- rashes with skin peeling or blisters
- severe stomach pain or cramps, loose, watery or bloody stools, or severe diarrhoea
- signs of low levels of magnesium e.g. muscle cramps, pain or weakness, fits or seizures, tremors, or abnormal heartbeat
- painful urination and lower back pain
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not use Pantoprazole with medicines for HIV infection e.g. rilpivirine or atazanavir.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or using any of these medicines:
- blood-thinning medicines e.g. warfarin
- medicines for fungal infection e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole
- medicines for cancer e.g. erlotinib, methotrexate
- digoxin (medicine for heart disease)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Pantoprazole.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicine, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
It may be helpful to discuss your diet with your doctor or dietitian. A change in diet may help improve your symptoms. For example, spicy food tends to worsen reflux and should be avoided. Likewise, carbonated ("fizzy") drinks such as soft drinks should also be avoided.
You should also try to avoid lying down soon after eating as this will worsen the reflux symptoms.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
Sign Out
