Get Informed: Protonix
Active Ingredient(s)
Pantoprazole
What does it do?
This product is commonly used in the treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). It works by reducing production of acid in the stomach.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-21 12:03 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:52 PM
Other Names
- Protonix
- Pantoprazole
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 02 Feb 2000
- Est US Patients*
- 2,678,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Protonix or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Protonix
There have been no alerts regarding Protonix during the past year.
Protonix Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Protonix used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 15,700 patients that use Protonix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Heartburn / GERD | 87% | 
|
| Gastritis | 15% | 
|
| Stomach Ulcers | 2% |
|
| Other | 4% |
|
How well does Protonix work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 15,700 users taking Protonix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 86%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Protonix outweigh the bad things.
- 20%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Protonix.
Common Side Effects of Protonix
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 15,700 users taking Protonix (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
14% of patients experience side-effects on Protonix
2% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Protonix
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain, Bloating/Gas, Bone Loss, Constipation, Dizziness, Headache, Nausea/Vomiting, Weakness
Global Patient Feedback for Protonix (Pantoprazole) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
i have been taken protonix for ten months so far it works better then the purple pill nexium that i was once taken
50 year old Female
Posted: 2009-10-26 15:40:32
Question/Comment:
I have been on Protonix now for about 6 years now. I have tried to get off the medication many times but found the reflux just came back. I have heard many different opinions on how PPI meds work against your body. The first being that with lower levels of acid your stomach you are not able to break down certain foods to retain the natural vitamins you need (B12) CoQ10 etc. I would strongly advise anyone who is going to be on these meds for extended periods of time to do your research!!
33 year old Male
Posted: 2009-10-05 16:25:32
Question/Comment:
I have not suffered any bad side effects from Protonix which I've been taking for maybe a year and a half to treat Barrett's Esophagus. It's made a major turnaround and I am quite happy with it. Able to drink OJ in the morning now for first time in many years.
73 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-17 14:45:18
Answer/Reply:
I've been suffering from acid reflux for nearly ten years and have easily consumed my weight in Tums. About three years ago, I thought I was having a heart attack only to find out it was severe acid and gas. I started a regimen of protonix and began to enjoy my life again. I have found that if I take one tablet , two days consecutively, I can skip the third day and have little or no acid reflux symptoms. I can enjoy jalapeno peppers and my favorite spicy foods again without worrying if I will have a horrible night of acid reflux. I have occasional lower back aches which I understand can be the result of taking protonix, otherwise, no problems. I am a 55 year old male.
55 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-29 16:54:37
Question/Comment:
I have not suffered any bad side effects from Protonix which I've been taking for maybe a year and a half to treat Barrett's Esophagus. It's made a major turnaround and I am quite happy with it. Able to drink OJ in the morning now for first time in many years.
73 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-17 14:44:46
Question/Comment:
I have been on Protonix for 2 months to treat Erosive Stage II Esophagitis, GERD, gastric reflux, hiatal hernia, nausea, vomitting and stomach bleeding. I have seen absolutely no improvement since taking it, and have very little confidence that I will ever get better using this prescription.
47 year old Female
Posted: 2009-07-21 12:32:30
Answer/Reply:
I take Protonix 40 2x day and although it sometimes upsets my stomach it has helped my GERD. I had been losing my voice due to the acid coming up and I haven't lost my voice for the past few years while I have been taking it so it must be working. Wish you luck and it may take more than 2 months to help.
81 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-17 18:00:25
Answer/Reply:
I am very sorry to hear this. Protonix is working best of any medication I have taken in 9 years for GERD or Acid Reflux. I am almost sure that you should be on a healing medication for your problem then by Protonix.
I Pray that you do get completely better from this. It is a very painful and terrible way of life.
God Bless
45 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-18 14:50:31
Answer/Reply:
I Was on Nexium for over three years and I thought that it washelping mt GERD, Then I started having some pretty rough stomach pains and my Dr took me off Nexium and onto Protonix 40 mg twice and I AM not sure that it is doing any good, I have a good day and then a bad one it seems. I was told by a friend to take a Pepdic AC if I was having any troubles inbetweern each Protonix as it will give almost insyant relief. I hope this is a help to you
82 year old Male
Posted: 2009-08-18 15:02:17
Answer/Reply:
Please tell your doctor and ask to be put on another medication. I take Protonix and it works for me. I was on Prilosec and that didn't work for me at all. There are other meds you can take. Ask your doctor for asample of another med. They get lots of samples so that should not be a problem.
71 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-18 23:32:00
Answer/Reply:
I was on Aciphex up until 2007 when my insurance changed and they wanted me to try over the counter prilosec first which I was sick for 2 weeks because it did nothing. So then they had me go to protonix and it was a little better, but still doesn't take care of all my nausea and gastric reflux, but Aciphex and Nexium I believe are much stronger and Aciphex worked wonderfully for me. If I were you I would have your Doctor give you some samples of Aciphex or Nexium and see if that helps before you get a prescription for it.
47 year old female
48 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-20 13:28:25
Answer/Reply:
I understand the problem as over many years I tried many ddrugs for GERD. My advice is to keep trying and see if you can find one that works. Consult your doctor. We are all different.
I had tried Zantac, Nexium, and several other drugs that did nothing much. Then perscription Prevacid worked but I got headaches every other day. Next I tried Protonix, and in two days it worked wonders. I have been on it for 5 years and cannot live without it! The first batch of the generic Pantoprazole did not work as well, though a later batch was fine.
I just now went to Real Age and they mention
Proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (PRILOSEC), lansoprazole (PREVACID), pantoprazole (PROTONIX), rabeprazole (ACIPHEX), and esomeprazole (NEXIUM), maybe one of these might work better for you.
55 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-03 15:47:14
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47
Patient Comments about
Protonix