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:
- 2010-Mar-14 3:45 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-13 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Protonix
- Pantoprazole
- Protium
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*
- 2,539,000
- 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 iGuard.org 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 is currently tracking more than 16,800 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 | 97% | 
|
| Stomach Ulcers | 14% |
|
| Other | 2% | 
|
How well does Protonix work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 16,800 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)
- 89%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Protonix outweigh the bad things.
- 7%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Protonix.
Common Side Effects of Protonix
iGuard regularly polls our more than 16,800 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.
4% of patients experience side-effects on Protonix
1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Protonix
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Headache
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Anxiety, Bloating/Gas, Chest Pain/Tightness, Diarrhea
Global Patient Feedback for Protonix (Pantoprazole) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
I have esophagus ulcers and have been taking pantoprazole for over a year. I noticed as the year went, my knees started to really hurt, not just the joints, the muscles behind my knee. Can hardly take stairs. I read somewhere that the pantoprazole was causing that type of pain in the knees. Is this true?
I tried going off of it and use omeprazole. My knees started getting better but not my stomach/esophagus. Can this medicine cause my knee pain. I am back on med but knees are getting bad. 52 female
51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-11 20:27:44
Question/Comment:
I have been taking protonix since June of 2009, and I also started taking paxil around the same time. Daily, I have gas and bloating and don't think it is what I'm eating. I don't know if it could be the medications. I am a chronic constipation since birth and have trouble digesting my food always. I do have acid reflux and chest pain. I don
t have any heart issues, I've had 2 nuclear stress tests. I just wonder if my chest pain could be contributed to the medicines.
42 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-25 20:58:54
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Gas, chest pain, and constipation are all reported side effects of Protonix and Paxil. Because you are on both, it is probably intensifying these effects. Speak with your doctor, and if the side effects are too troublesome, perhaps your doctor can adjust the doses of your medications.
Posted: 2010-02-26 12:39:15
Question/Comment:
I am 69 yr. female. I have been told that I have Lichen Planus, caused by pantoprazole. Have you heard anything about this?
69 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-15 18:07:46
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The exact cause(s) of oral lichen planus is not known. There is some evidence that it is an allergic or immune reaction that results in an itchy, swollen rash in the mouth or on the skin. In some cases it seems to be triggered by medications or chemicals or dyes. Another possible cause is having hepatitis C. Lichen planus is usually mild but can last for weeks and may reoccur for years. Seeing as one possible cause is thought to be a reaction to medication, the pantoprazole may have caused your body to react. You should talk to your physician about pantoprazole's role in your condition and whether you should continue to take the medication.
Posted: 2010-02-16 20:51:27
Question/Comment:
I have been taking pantoprazole for about 8 weeks for GERD. Within the last 2 weeks i have started to get significant joint pain in my fingers, which I never had before. Is there any correlation between the meds and the joint pain??
60 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-07 06:46:15
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The joint pain you are experiencing could be a side effect of the pantoprazole. In the clinical trials done by the manufacturer, patients reported muscle ache and arthritic type pain as a result of taking the medication. If the symptoms persist or worsen, you should discuss them with your physician.
Posted: 2010-02-09 21:34:47
Question/Comment:
I've taken one med or another for GERD for the last several years. I preferred Nexium, but my insurance doesn't cover it. Paroxetine does a pretty good job of controlling GERD discomfort.
65 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-23 17:59:22
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
103
Patient Comments about
Protonix