Pantoprazole sodium (Protonix) is a drug used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. This eMedTV article discusses how this medication works, what conditions it is used to treat, and side effects that may occur when using it.
What is pantoprazole used for? As explained in this portion of the eMedTV archives, pantoprazole is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, and pathological hypersecretory diseases.
Pantoprazole side effects commonly include such things as headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. This eMedTV resource identifies other side effects of pantoprazole, many of which are rare, meaning they occur in less than 1 percent of cases.
This eMedTV article looks at the recommended pantoprazole dosage for conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. For people with pathological hypersecretory conditions, pantoprazole dosing often begins with a dose of 40 mg twice a day.
For people taking pantoprazole, drug interactions may occur with warfarin and ampicillin esters. This eMedTV Web page discusses these and other potential drug interactions associated with pantoprazole, such as those involving ketoconazole.
As this eMedTV article explains, for people taking pantoprazole, precautions and warnings to be aware of include the risk of developing a vitamin B-12 deficiency. This Web page looks at other precautions and warnings associated with pantoprazole.