Common questions about pantoprazole - Brand name: Pantoloc Control

Pantoprazole is a type of medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

Proton pumps are enzymes in the lining of your stomach that help it make acid to digest your food.

Pantoprazole prevents proton pumps from working properly. This reduces the amount of acid the stomach makes.

You should start to feel better within 2 to 3 days. It may take up to 4 weeks for pantoprazole to have its full effect so you may still have some symptoms during this time.

If you bought pantoprazole without a prescription and you feel no better after 2 weeks, tell your doctor. If your symptoms have improved, you can take it for another 2 weeks.

Do not take it for more than 4 weeks without talking to your doctor. They may want to do tests or change you to a different medicine.

If you have been prescribed pantoprazole to treat heartburn or acid reflux, your symptoms will usually improve within 4 weeks. Your doctor may want to do more tests if you still have symptoms after this time.

If you've bought pantoprazole from a pharmacy without a prescription, do not take it for more than 4 weeks without speaking to your doctor.

If you take pantoprazole for more than 3 months, the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall.

Low magnesium can make you feel tired, confused and dizzy and cause muscle twitches, shakiness and an irregular heartbeat. Call your doctor or call 111 if you get any of these symptoms.

Taking pantoprazole for more than a year may increase your chances of certain side effects, including:

• bone fractures
• gut infections
• vitamin B12 deficiency – symptoms include feeling very tired, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers and pins and needles

If you take pantoprazole for longer than 1 year your doctor will regularly check your health to see if you should carry on taking it.

It's not known if pantoprazole works less well the longer you take it. If you feel that it's not working any more, talk to your doctor.

There is some information to suggest people taking medicines that reduce stomach acid, like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as pantoprazole and H2 blockers, might have a very small increased chance of developing stomach cancer. It could be more likely in people taking them for longer than 3 years.

But studies involving more people need to be done to be sure that PPIs and H2 blockers cause stomach cancer, rather than something else causing it.

PPIs, like most medicines, can have side effects so it's best to take them for the shortest time possible.

And it's important to speak to your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms which can be signs of stomach cancer:

• having problems swallowing (dysphagia)
• feeling or being sick
• feeling full very quickly when eating
• losing weight without trying to

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you're concerned.

There are 4 other medicines that are similar to pantoprazole:

• lansoprazole
• omeprazole
• esomeprazole
• rabeprazole

Like pantoprazole, these medicines are proton pump inhibitors. They work in the same way to reduce acid in your stomach. They generally work as well as pantoprazole and have similar side effects. However, they may be given in different doses to pantoprazole.

Sometimes, if pantoprazole is not working for you or you get side effects, your doctor may suggest that you try taking another proton pump inhibitor.

There are other prescription medicines and ones you can buy that treat indigestion and heartburn.

Antacids

Antacids, like calcium carbonate (Tums), sodium bicarbonate, Maalox and Milk of Magnesia, relieve indigestion and heartburn by reducing the damage of acid in your stomach. They give quick relief that lasts for a few hours. They're ideal for occasional stomach acid symptoms.

Some antacids, such as Gaviscon, have an extra ingredient called alginic acid. They work by lining your stomach so that juices from it do not splash up into your food pipe. They're especially good for relieving acid reflux.

Antacids are available from pharmacies and supermarkets.

H2 blockers

Histamine antagonists (commonly called H2 blockers) reduce the amount of acid made in your stomach, but they do this in a different way to proton pump inhibitors.

They include famotidine, cimetidine (Tagamet) and nizatidine.

In general, proton pump inhibitors like pantoprazole are used first because they are better than H2 blockers at reducing stomach acid.

However, if a proton pump inhibitor does not suit you (for example, because of side effects), your doctor may prescribe an H2 blocker.

You can buy famotidine, cimetidine and nizatidine without a prescription from pharmacies for short-term treatment.

You can take pantoprazole with an antacid like Gaviscon.

Yes, it's safe to take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen at the same time as pantoprazole.

It's best to take ibuprofen with, or just after, a meal so it does not upset your stomach.

Pantoprazole does not affect any type of regular contraception, including the combined pill and the progestogen-only pill. But it may reduce the effectiveness of one type of emergency contraception called ellaOne (ulipristal), so a different form of emergency contraceptive may be recommended instead.

If pantoprazole gives you severe watery diarrhoea, or any diarrhoea that lasts for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Pantoprazole can make you feel dizzy or sleepy, or affect your vision. If this happens to you, do not drive, cycle or use machinery or tools until you feel better.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking pantoprazole. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

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.

You can eat and drink normally while taking pantoprazole, but it's best to take it an hour before a meal.

It's best to avoid foods that seem to make your symptoms worse, such as rich, spicy and fatty foods. It also helps to cut down on caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks, as well as alcohol.

It may be possible to ease symptoms caused by too much stomach acid by making a few changes to your diet and lifestyle.

• Maintain a healthy weight by eating healthily.
• Avoid foods that can make your symptoms worse, such as rich, spicy and fatty foods, and acidic foods like tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad dressings and fizzy drinks.
• Cut down on caffeinated drinks, such as tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks.
• Cut down on alcohol.
• Quit smoking if you can.
• Sit up straight when you eat. This will take the pressure off your stomach.
• If you have symptoms at night, try not to eat for at least 3 hours before you go to bed.
• Prop your head and shoulders up when you go to bed. This can stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep.