Common side effects of pantoprazole
Most people who take pantoprazole do not have any side effects.
There are no common side effects with this medicine. Uncommon side effects that happen in less than 1 in 100 people include headaches, diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, constipation, a dry mouth or feeling tired.
If you do get a side effect, it's usually mild and will go away when you stop taking pantoprazole.
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if a side effect bothers you or does not go away.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.
Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if you have:
- joint pain along with a red skin rash, especially on parts of your body exposed to the sun, such as your arms (this may be less noticeable on brown or black skin) – these can be signs of a rare condition called subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (this can happen even if you've been taking pantoprazole for a long time)
- stomach pain that gets worse, the whites of your eyes turn yellow or your skin turns yellow (this may be less obvious on brown or black skin), or dark pee – these can be signs of liver problems
- pain when you pee, peeing less than usual, lower back pain, swollen ankles, and rash or a high temperature – these can be signs of a kidney problem
- severe or persistent diarrhoea – this can be a sign of an inflamed bowel
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to pantoprazole.
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Long-term side effects
If you take pantoprazole for more than 3 months, the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall.
This 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.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of pantoprazole. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
Reporting side effects
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.
Visit the Yellow Card website for more information about reporting side effects.