Pantoprazole reduces the amount of acid in your stomach.
It treats:
- indigestion
- heartburn and acid reflux
- stomach ulcers
- a rare illness called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
You need a prescription for full-strength pantoprazole. You can buy low-strength 20mg tablets from pharmacies without a prescription.
Pantoprazole comes as tablets.
Brand names include:
- Controloc Control
- Nolpacid
- Nolpaza
- Pantium
- Pantozol Control
- Pantup
- Protium
- Protizole
- Somac
- Zolepant
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- your symptoms have not improved or are getting worse after 2 weeks of taking pantoprazole you bought without a prescription
How pantoprazole works
Pantoprazole is a 'proton pump inhibitor' medicine that reduces acid in your stomach. It is different to an antacid.
Proton pumps are tiny substances that make acid to digest food. Pantoprazole temporarily stops these pumps working.
Check if you can take pantoprozole
Pantoprazole can be taken by most adults. Children should only take it on prescription.
It may not be suitable if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to any medicines
- have liver problems
- are lactose intolerant
- have been treated for heartburn or indigestion continuously for 4 or more weeks
- take medicines you bought without a prescription for indigestion on a daily basis
- have a stomach ulcer or had recent stomach surgery
- take certain medicines for HIV
- are due to have an endoscopy
Pregnancy and pantoprazole
Pantoprazole is not usually recommended if you're pregnant. There is little information about its use during pregnancy.
Ask your GP or pharmacist for advice before taking pantoprazole if:
- you're pregnant
- you think you may be pregnant
- you're trying for a baby
If you're pregnant, it's better to treat your symptoms without taking pantoprazole. Your GP may recommend a different medicine to help with indigestion or too much stomach acid.
Preventing hearburn and acid reflux
Breastfeeding and pantoprazole
Do not use pantoprazole if you're breastfeeding unless your GP tells you to. It is not known if pantoprazole gets into breast milk or if it can harm your baby.
If you are breastfeeding, your GP may recommend a similar medicine instead if there is more safety information available.
Contraception and fertility
Pantoprazole does not affect any type of regular contraception including the combined pill.
It may reduce the effectiveness of 1 type of emergency contraception called ellaOne (ulipristal).
If pantoprazole gives you severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out hat to do.
There's no evidence to suggest that taking pantoprazole will reduce fertility in either men or women.
When you start taking pantoprazole
Always take pantoprazole exactly as your GP or pharmacist has told you. Follow the advice on the label. If you're unsure, ask a GP or pharmacist.
You should start to feel better within 2 to 3 days.
If you buy pantoprazole from a pharmacy without a prescription, you can usually take it for up to 2 weeks. But it may take up to 4 weeks for pantoprazole to work properly. You may still have symptoms during this time.
Do not take pantoprazole you bought without a prescription for more than 4 weeks without talking to your GP. If your symptoms have not improved, you may need some tests to find out what's causing them.
The dose of your medicine depends on your condition. Your GP may increase or decrease your dose.
If you take pantoprazole on prescription, you may only need to take it for a few weeks or months, depending on your condition. Some people need to take it for longer, even for many years.
How and when to take it
You usually take pantoprazole once a day in the morning.
If you take pantoprazole twice a day, take 1 dose in the morning and 1 dose in the evening.
It's best to take it 1 hour before a meal. Swallow tablets whole with water or juice.
If you forget to take it
If you take pantoprazole once a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it's less than 12 hours until your next dose. In that case skip the missed dose.
If you take it twice a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless it's less than 4 hours until your next dose. In that case skip the missed dose.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you take too much
It is very unlikely that taking extra doses of pantoprazole will cause any problems. But if you're concerned, contact your GP or pharmacist.
Bring the pantoprazole packet or leaflet and any remaining medicine with you.
Side effects
Most people who take pantoprazole do not have any side effects.
If you do, they are usually mild and go away when you stop taking it.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist if side effects get worse or do not go away after a few days.
Common side effects
Common side effects may include:
Headaches
Make sure you rest and drink fluids.
Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Contact your GP if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
Diarrhoea
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Do not take any medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. If diarrhoea does not get better, talk to your GP.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Feeling or getting sick
Stick to simple meals if you feel sick (nausea) or you have been getting sick (vomiting). Do not eat rich or spicy food. Try small, frequent sips of water if you're being sick to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.
Contact your GP if you keep getting sick (vomiting).
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or the progestogen-only pill and you're getting sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Constipation
Try to eat more fibre, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise regularly, for example by going for a daily walk or run.
Stomach pain
Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help. If you are in a lot of pain, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
Farting
Avoid foods that cause wind, like lentils, peas, beans and onions. It might also help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. Some pharmacy remedies, such as simeticone, may relieve the symptoms of wind.
Serious side effects
Urgent advice: Contact your GP straight away if you have:
- joint pain and a rash on parts of your body exposed to the sun
- lost a lot of weight without trying
- pale skin and feel unwell
- yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice) - this can be signs of a liver problem
- pain when you pee or you're peeing less than usual
- swollen ankles
- you vomit blood
- blood in your poo or poo that is black
- difficulty swallowing
- severe or constant diarrhoea
Serious allergic reaction
A serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) after taking pantoprazole is rare.
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to an emergency department (ED) if you:
- get a rash that's itchy, red, swollen or blistered
- are wheezing
- get tightness in your chest or throat
- have trouble breathing or talking
- have swelling in your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat
See the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine for a full list of side effects.
Non-urgent advice: Find your patient information leaflet
Your patient information leaflet is the leaflet that comes with your medicine. You can find a digital version of the leaflet online.
Report side effects
You can report any suspected side effects to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA): report an issue - hpra.ie
Similar medicines
If pantoprazole does not work or is causing your problems, your GP may suggest you try another proton pump inhibitor.
Omeprazole and esomeprazole are similar medicines that are also available from pharmacies without a prescription.
Long-term use of pantoprazole
Levels of magnesium in your blood may fall if you take pantoprazole longer than 3 months.
This can make you feel tired, confused, dizzy and cause muscle twitches and an irregular heartbeat. Tell your GP if you get any of these symptoms.
Taking pantoprazole for more than 1 year can increase your chances of:
- bone fractures, especially if you have osteoporosis
- gut infections
- vitamin B12 deficiency
If you take pantoprazole for longer than 1 year your GP will regularly check your health to see if you should carry on taking it.
Stopping pantroprazole
If you've taken pantoprazole for a long time, talk to your GP before you stop.
Stopping suddenly could make your:
- stomach produce a lot more acid
- symptoms come back
Reducing the dose gradually before stopping completely will prevent this happening.
Taking pantoprazole with other medicines
Before you take pantoprazole, tell your GP or pharmacist if you:
- are taking any other medicines
- have recently taken any medicines
- might take any other medicines in the near future
Always tell your GP or pharmacist that you are on pantoprazole before taking new medicines.
Make sure to tell them if you are taking:
- digoxin (a heart medicine)
- antifungal medicine such as itraconazole, ketoconazole or posaconazole
- other proton pump inhibitors or other medicines that limit the amount of acid in your stomach
- methotrexate (for psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis)
- HIV medicines
- rifampicin (an antibiotic)
- blood thinners such as warfarin
- fluvoxamine (an antidepressant)
Herbal remedies and supplements
St John's wort may stop pantoprazole working as well as it should.
Tell your pharmacist or GP if you're taking herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.
Other heartburn medicines
You can take pantoprazole with an antacid, for example Gaviscon. Antacids are medicines that counteract (neutralise) the acid in your stomach.
Take it 2 hours before or after your dose of pantoprazole.
Painkillers
It's safe to take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at the same time as pantoprazole.
Talk to your GP or pharmacist before using ibuprofen as it can upset your stomach.
Food and drink
You can eat and drink normally while taking pantoprazole, but it's best to take it an hour before a meal.
Avoid foods that make your symptoms worse, such as rich, spicy and fatty foods, and acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings and fizzy drinks.
If you have symptoms at night, try not to eat for at least 3 hours before you go to bed.
Try to limit caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee and cola.
Alcohol does not affect the way pantoprazole works. However, it's best not to drink too much alcohol because drinking alcohol makes your stomach produce more acid than normal. This can irritate your stomach lining and make your symptoms worse.
Fact check
This content was fact checked by a pharmacist, a GP, and the National Medication Safety Programme (Safermeds).
