Pantoprazole: medicine to lower stomach acid (2023)

1. About pantoprazole

Pantoprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes.

It's used for heartburn, acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – GORD is when you keep getting acid reflux. It's also taken to prevent and treat stomach ulcers.

Sometimes, pantoprazole is taken for a rare condition caused by a tumour in the pancreas or gut called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Pantoprazole comes as tablets.

All types of pantoprazole are available on prescription. You can also buy lower-strength 20mg tablets from pharmacies for heartburn or acid reflux.

2. Key facts

  • You'll usually take pantoprazole once a day in the morning.
  • The most common side effects are headaches and diarrhoea. These tend to be mild and go away when you stop taking the medicine.
  • You should start to feel better in 2 to 3 days, but it may take up to 4 weeks for pantoprazole to fully control your symptoms.
  • If you've bought pantoprazole without a prescription and your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, see a doctor before taking any more.
  • Pantoprazole is not usually recommended during pregnancy.

3. Who can and cannot take pantoprazole

Adults and children aged 12 years and over can take pantoprazole.

Pantoprazole is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

  • have ever had an allergic reaction to pantoprazole or any other medicine
  • have liver problems
  • are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
  • are due to have an endoscopy

If you're going to have an endoscopy, ask your doctor if you should stop taking pantoprazole a few weeks before your procedure. This is because pantoprazole may hide some of the problems that would usually be spotted during an endoscopy.

4. How and when to take pantoprazole

You'll usually take pantoprazole once a day, first thing in the morning.

If you take pantoprazole twice a day, take 1 dose in the morning and 1 dose in the evening.

Dosage and strength

Each tablet contains 20mg or 40mg of pantoprazole.

You can buy pantoprazole 20mg tablets from pharmacies. These are suitable for the short-term treatment of heartburn and acid reflux in adults.

The usual dose to treat:

  • heartburn and acid reflux is 20mg a day
  • gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is 20mg to 40mg a day
  • stomach ulcers is 20mg to 40mg a day
  • Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is 40mg to 80mg a day – this can increase to 160mg a day depending on how well it works for you

Doses are usually lower for people with liver problems.

How to take it

It's best to take pantoprazole an hour before a meal. Swallow tablets whole with a drink of water.

Changes to your dose

Sometimes your doctor will increase your dose of pantoprazole if it's not working well enough.

Depending on the reason you take pantoprazole, you may take a higher dose to begin with, usually for a month or 2. After this, your doctor may recommend that you take a lower dose.

How long to take it for

If you buy pantoprazole from a pharmacy, you can usually take it for up to 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks:

  • if your symptoms have improved, you can take it for another 2 weeks
  • if your symptoms have not improved or they are worse, speak to a doctor before taking any more pantoprazole

Do not take pantoprazole for more than 4 weeks without speaking to your doctor first. If your symptoms have not improved, you may need some tests to find out what's causing them.

If you take pantoprazole on prescription, you may only need to take it for a few weeks or months, depending on your condition. Sometimes your doctor may advise you to take it for longer, even for many years.

Some people do not need to take pantoprazole every day and take it only when they have symptoms. Once you feel better (often after a few days or weeks), you can stop taking it.

Taking pantoprazole just on days when you have symptoms is not suitable for everyone. Speak to your doctor about what's best for you.

If you forget to take it

If you usually take pantoprazole:

(Video) HOW TO TREAT ACID REFLUX WITHOUT MEDICINES

  • once a day – take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is due in less than 12 hours in which case skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time
  • twice a day – take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is due in less than 4 hours in which case skip the missed dose and take the next one at the usual time

Never take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicine.

If you take too much

It is very unlikely that taking extra doses of pantoprazole will cause any problems. But if you're concerned, contact your doctor.

5. Side effects

Most people who take pantoprazole do not have any side effects. If you do get a side effect, it is usually mild and will go away when you stop taking pantoprazole.

These side effects happen in 1 in 100 people. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away:

  • headaches
  • diarrhoea

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1,000 people.

Call a doctor or contact 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, cheeks and nose (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

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to pantoprazole.

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
  • you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
  • you're wheezing
  • you get tightness in the chest or throat
  • you have trouble breathing or talking
  • your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of pantoprazole. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

Information:

You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.

Visit Yellow Card for further information.

6. How to cope with side effects of pantoprazole

What to do about:

  • headaches – make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. It's best not to drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches usually go away after the first week of taking pantoprazole. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
  • diarrhoea – drink plenty of water or squash by having small, frequent sips to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. If diarrhoea does not get better, talk to your doctor.

7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pantoprazole and pregnancy

Pantoprazole is not usually recommended if you're pregnant because there is little information about its use during pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend a similar medicine called omeprazole instead as there is more safety information available.

You may wish to try to treat your symptoms without taking medicine. You can try eating smaller meals more often, and avoiding fatty and spicy foods. Sit up straight when you eat, as this will take the pressure off your stomach.

If you get symptoms at night, you could prop your head and shoulders up when you go to bed. This helps to stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep.

Pantoprazole and breastfeeding

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, it's OK to take pantoprazole while you're breastfeeding.

There is a little information available which shows that pantoprazole passes into breast milk in tiny amounts and your baby will not absorb a lot into their body from the breast milk.

(Video) Medical Treatment, Medications for Heartburn and Acid Reflux-Mayo Clinic

It is unlikely that pantoprazole will cause any side effects in your baby.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:

  • trying to get pregnant
  • pregnant
  • breastfeeding

8. Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines and pantoprazole can affect each other and make you more likely to have side effects or stop one of the medicines working as well.

Tell your doctor if you're taking any of these medicines before you start pantoprazole treatment:

  • antifungal medicines such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole
  • fluvoxamine, an antidepressant
  • methotrexate, a medicine used to treat cancer, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis
  • HIV medicines
  • rifampicin, an antibiotic
  • medicines that hep to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin

Mixing pantoprazole with herbal remedies and supplements

Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you're taking pantoprazole. St John's wort may stop pantoprazole working as well as it should.

There's not enough information to say that other complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with pantoprazole. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.

Important: Medicine safety

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

9. Common questions about pantoprazole

How does pantoprazole work?

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.

When will I feel better?

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

If you bought pantoprazole without a prescription, and feel no better after 2 weeks, tell your doctor. They may want to do tests or change you to a different medicine.

Can I take pantoprazole for a long 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. If you get any of these symptoms, tell your doctor.

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.

(Video) Pantoprazole (Protonix) - Uses, Side Effects, Dosage, Safety

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.

Does taking pantoprazole for a long time cause stomach cancer?

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.

How do I stop taking pantoprazole?

Usually, you can stop taking pantoprazole without reducing the dose first.

But if you've taken pantoprazole for a long time, speak to your doctor before you stop taking it. Stopping suddenly could make your stomach produce a lot more acid, and make your symptoms come back.

Reducing the dose gradually before stopping completely will prevent this happening.

Are there similar medicines?

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.

Are there other indigestion medicines?

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 (Pepcid), 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 and nizatidine without a prescription from pharmacies.

(Video) Heartburn, Acid Reflux, GERD-Mayo Clinic

Can I take pantoprazole with an antacid?

You can take pantoprazole with an antacid like Gaviscon.

Can I take painkillers with it?

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.

Will it affect my fertility?

There's no evidence to suggest that taking pantoprazole will reduce fertility in either men or women.

However, speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant as they may want to review your treatment.

Will it affect my contraception?

Pantoprazole does not affect any type of regular contraception, including the combined 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 diarrhoea 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 what to do if you're on the pill and have diarrhoea.

Can I drive or ride a bike?

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.

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?

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 and cola, as well as alcohol.

Can I drink alcohol with it?

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.

Can lifestyle changes help?

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

(Video) GERD Treatment | Acid Reflux Treatment | Heartburn Treatment - All You Need to Know

  • 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 and cola.
  • 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.

FAQs

Does pantoprazole lower stomach acid? ›

Pantoprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes. It's used for heartburn, acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) – GORD is when you keep getting acid reflux. It's also taken to prevent and treat stomach ulcers.

What happens if you take pantoprazole every day? ›

Taking this medicine for a long time may make it harder for your and your child's body to absorb vitamin B12. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about this. Serious stomach conditions may occur while taking this medicine.

How long does it take pantoprazole to heal acid reflux? ›

You should start to feel better within 2 to 3 days. It may take up to 4 weeks for pantoprazole to work properly. You may still have symptoms during this time. Do not take this medicine for more than 4 weeks without consulting a doctor.

How long should you be on pantoprazole for? ›

Adults—40 milligrams (mg) once a day for up to 8 weeks. Your doctor may want you to take pantoprazole for more than 8 weeks for certain conditions. Children 5 years of age and older weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—40 mg once a day for up to 8 weeks.

Can pantoprazole damage your stomach? ›

This medicine may increase your risk for fundic gland polyps (abnormal tissue growth in the upper part of your stomach). This is more likely if you are receiving this medicine for more than 1 year.

How to lower stomach acid? ›

How to Treat Acid Reflux Naturally
  1. Drink diluted baking soda. Also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda, baking can help alleviate symptoms of acid reflux. ...
  2. Drink diluted lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. ...
  3. Drink a glass of milk. ...
  4. Chew some gum. ...
  5. Enjoy ginger root in soups, smoothies or tea. ...
  6. Take Iberogast®
Feb 18, 2022

What are the major side effects of pantoprazole? ›

What side effects can this medication cause?
  • headache.
  • nausea.
  • vomiting.
  • gas.
  • joint pain.
  • diarrhea.
  • dizziness.
Apr 15, 2022

Can pantoprazole cause kidney damage? ›

There have been few reports of pantoprazole-induced acute kidney disease (20,21). Pantoprazole-induced acute kidney injury was first reported in 2004 and there have been no more than 100 publicly reported cases (22).

What vitamins should not be taken with pantoprazole? ›

If you are iron-deficient or have anemia, you should talk to your doctor before using multivitamin, prenatal together with pantoprazole. By reducing stomach acid, pantoprazole may reduce the absorption of iron and make multivitamin, prenatal less effective in treating your condition.

What is the best time of day to take pantoprazole? ›

If you have bought pantoprazole for symptoms such as heartburn, take one tablet in the morning. You may need to take pantoprazole for a day or so to control your symptoms. If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, you should talk with your doctor about this. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.

What happens when you stop taking pantoprazole? ›

Most patients have difficulty discontinuing their PPI's because the amount of acid in their digestive system surges when they stop taking the drug, and they're often left with symptoms like excruciating stomach pain and increased heartburn.

Can pantoprazole cause permanent damage? ›

Taking pantoprazole long-term may cause you to develop stomach growths called fundic gland polyps. Talk with your doctor about this risk. If you use pantoprazole for longer than 3 years, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor about how to manage this condition if you develop it.

Can pantoprazole make you gain weight? ›

You may have weight gain while you're taking pantoprazole oral tablets. Both weight gain and weight loss were reported after the drug's initial studies were done. Additionally, you may gain weight if you have edema (swelling) or bloating, which are possible side effects of pantoprazole.

What is a natural substitute for pantoprazole? ›

Natural PPI alternatives include:
  • Probiotics: Some case studies show specific probiotics help with GERD and acid reflux. ...
  • Herbal Remedies: Some people find herbal remedies such as ginger root, chamomile, slippery elm, marshmallow and licorice effective in treating heartburn.
Jul 6, 2017

What is the safest antacid to take long term? ›

According to Dr. Ghouri, Prilosec OTC “is usually sufficient in controlling symptoms in a majority of [heartburn] cases” and has been the #1 Doctor Recommended frequent heartburn relief medicine for 14 years.

Can pantoprazole damage your liver? ›

Clinically apparent liver injury due to pantoprazole is rare, but calls for prompt withdrawal of the agent. Cases of acute liver failure due to proton pump inhibitors have been described, but are exceedingly rare.

Why is my stomach acid so high? ›

Ulcers or cancers: Either of these can lead to an increase in the production of the hormone gastrin, which increases acid production. Stress: Research shows people who are severely stressed produce more acid in their stomachs. Infection: Bacterial infection by the bacterium H. pylori can also increase acid production.

Why does my stomach produce so much acid? ›

Increased gastrin causes the stomach to make far too much acid. The excess acid then leads to peptic ulcers and sometimes to diarrhea. Besides causing excess acid production, the tumors are often cancerous.

What medicine reduces stomach acid? ›

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) — medications like esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid, and others) and pantoprazole (Prontonix) — are the most commonly used medications to treat stomach-acid issues.

Does pantoprazole affect your heart? ›

“The present work shows that PPI use is an independent predictor of [heart failure] or death. Although there are no previous studies reporting this association, it is known that pantoprazole may exert negative inotropic effects on isolated myocardium from humans and rabbits,” the researchers wrote.

Is pantoprazole a strong medicine? ›

Protonix (pantoprazole sodium) is a drug in a class of powerful acid-suppressing medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medicines can cause rare but life-threatening side effects. Protonix is one of several PPIs named in lawsuits over serious kidney conditions.

Does pantoprazole affect the brain? ›

Some PPIs, such as lansoprazole, esomeprazole, and pantoprazole, are reported to cause adverse neurological effects, mainly headaches [30, 31] and dizziness/vertigo [32].

Is there a lawsuit for pantoprazole? ›

As of January 2023, there were 13,553 proton pump inhibitor lawsuits pending in federal court — out of a total of 18,517 that had been filed in a PPI litigation MDL.
...
Brands and Their Manufacturers Named in PPI Lawsuits.
Drug Name (Generic Name)Manufacturer
Protonix (pantoprazole)Pfizer
5 more rows

Can I take vitamin D with pantoprazole? ›

No interactions were found between pantoprazole and Vitamin D3.

Is it OK to take probiotics with pantoprazole? ›

Interactions between your drugs

No interactions were found between Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotic and pantoprazole.

Can I take Tums while taking pantoprazole? ›

If needed, antacids may be taken along with this medication. If you are also taking sucralfate, take pantoprazole at least 30 minutes before sucralfate.

How long can you wait to eat after taking pantoprazole? ›

Take this medicine at least 30 minutes before a meal.

Can you take pantoprazole long term? ›

Pantoprazole is significantly effective both for acute and long-term treatment with excellent control of relapse and symptoms. It is well tolerated even for long-term therapy and its tolerability is optimal.

Does pantoprazole make you bloated? ›

Bloating has been reported as a side effect of regular pantoprazole use. One study reported bloating in 43% of patients taking a similar proton pump inhibitor to pantoprazole (called esomeprazole) after 8 weeks. By 6 months, over 50% reporting bloating.

How long does it take for stomach acid to return to normal? ›

An antacid or alginate can help until your acid levels return to normal. For most people acid levels return to normal within one to two weeks.

Is it hard to get off pantoprazole? ›

Tapering off these medicines can be challenging as people can have symptoms for up to 10 to 14 days after discontinuation due to rebound hyperacidity.

Do PPIs permanently reduce stomach acid? ›

Furthermore, their acid inhibitory effect does not decrease even after long-term continuous administration, which is different from H2RAs. Therefore, PPIs are effective for long-term acid inhibition, especially during the daytime period, because of their lack of tolerance phenomenon.

Can proton pump inhibitors cause low stomach acid? ›

Acid-reducing medications.

Chronic use of antacids, H2 receptor blockers, and especially proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can cause low stomach acid.

Does proton pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid? ›

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medicines that work by reducing the amount of stomach acid made by glands in the lining of your stomach.

Can pantoprazole heal gastritis? ›

Does pantoprazole treat gastritis or ulcers? Pantoprazole isn't approved to treat gastritis or ulcers. But the drug is sometimes used off-label for these purposes. (With off-label use, a drug is given for a condition it hasn't been approved to treat.)

Is it OK to take pantoprazole long-term? ›

A popular drug used to treat stomach and esophagus problems, such as acid reflux, has been found to be safe to use, even long term. A clinical trial involving more than 17,500 people worldwide found that pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), was safe to use throughout a three-year study.

Can stomach acid return to normal? ›

An antacid or alginate can help until your acid levels return to normal. For most people acid levels return to normal within one to two weeks.

What causes excess stomach acid? ›

Eating a heavy meal and lying on your back or bending over at the waist. Snacking close to bedtime. Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods. Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea.

What does low stomach acid feel like? ›

Heartburn

As I mentioned earlier, food is not broken down properly when stomach acid levels are low. This, in turn, increases gas production, which may feel like heartburn. It's important to know what's triggering your heartburn feeling before taking antacids.

How do you test for high stomach acid? ›

An esophageal pH test measures how often stomach acid enters the esophagus, the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. It also measures how long the acid stays there. The test involves placing a catheter (a thin tube), or a special device called a pH probe, into your esophagus.

What medication reduces stomach acid? ›

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) — medications like esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid, and others) and pantoprazole (Prontonix) — are the most commonly used medications to treat stomach-acid issues.

Why take pantoprazole first thing in the morning? ›

Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, which decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Doctors often recommend taking Pantoprazole once a day, first thing in the morning, for conditions such as heartburn and GERD.

What are the dangers of taking proton pump inhibitors? ›

Although PPIs have had an encouraging safety profile, recent studies regarding the long-term use of PPI medications have noted potential adverse effects, including risk of fractures, pneumonia, Clostridium difficile diarrhea, hypomagnesemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.

Does pantoprazole heal stomach lining? ›

Proton pump inhibitors such as pantoprazole stop cells in the lining of the stomach from producing too much acid. This helps to prevent ulcers from forming, or assists the healing process where damage has already occurred.

What are the warning signs of gastritis? ›

Symptoms
  • Gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen that may become either worse or better with eating.
  • Nausea.
  • Vomiting.
  • A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating.
Mar 15, 2022

Can I stop taking pantoprazole suddenly? ›

When you have been taking a PPI for over 8 weeks and then suddenly stop, you might experience increased or “rebound” acid production. This can make your GERD symptoms flare up again and lead to increased symptoms for weeks to even months.

Videos

1. Most Common Sign of Low Stomach Acid is...
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