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 medicine can also come as a liquid that you drink. 

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

Proton pumps are tiny substances in the stomach lining which makes 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?

While pantoprazole is technically an antacid, it’s not used in the same way typical OTC antacids such as Gaviscon are. However, you can take pantoprazole with antacids like Gaviscon. You should take it 2 hours before or after your pantoprazole dose if you need to.

What are the active ingredients?

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

What are common indigestion symptoms?

The most common symptoms of indigestion include:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• being sick (vomiting)
• heartburn (a painful burning feeling in the chest)
• feeling bloated and full

Some people may get a burning feeling in their chest. This may be heartburn or acid reflux which can be a symptom of indigestion. Pantoprazole can treat these symptoms by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes.

Pantoprazole dosage

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

Liquid pantoprazole can be prescribed for those who are unable to swallow the tablets. This will come with a spoon or syringe that can make it easier for you to take the correct amount. If you do not have a spoon or syringe, you should ask your pharmacist for one.

If you have acid reflux, you should take 1 pantoprazole 20mg tablet each day. You should take the tablet 1 hour before you eat without breaking or chewing them. 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 comparable medicines 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 Commision.

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 medicine can be delivered directly to your door:

1. Fill in a short questionnaire about your health and lifestyle.
2. Order your preferred treatment and make your payment.
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?

No. You can purchase lower strength 20mg tablets from a pharmacy over the counter, which are known as Pantoloc Control for acid reflux or heartburn.

Pantoprazole is only available with a prescription from a doctor.

Can I get pantoprazole on the NHS?

Yes, pantoprazole is available on the NHS, but you will need a prescription from your doctor before you are able to get it.

Like with any medicine, 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 delay in seeking treatment.

Why does pantoprazole cause stomach pain?

Because pantoprazole reduces the amount of acid produced in your stomach, 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 medicine, 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 medicine.

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. If you get serious or rare side effects, you should not delay in seeing your 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 medications and conditions can interact with the medicine 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 medicines can interact with pantoprazole, which can increase your chances of side effects.

Let your doctor or pharmacist know if you are taking the below medicines before you begin taking pantoprazole:

• antifungal medicines (like ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, and Posaconazole)
• HIV medicines
• digoxin (a heart medicine)
• methotrexate (a medicine used to treat psoriasis, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis)
• blood thinning medicines (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 medicine 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.

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.

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 medicine. 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