The stomach pain and chest pain that come with gastritis can sometimes be unbearable, right? At such times, you may have been admitted to a hospital and treated. Then you may have heard about a medicine that is given intravenously with saline. One of the main medicines that doctors use in such cases is Pantoprazole. So, today we will be aware of the Pantoprazole injection, which is important for many people.
Simply put, what is Pantoprazole?
Pantoprazole is a medicine that reduces the amount of acid produced in our stomach. It is usually used to treat conditions that cause increased stomach acidity, such as gastritis or inflammation of the stomach lining, and acid reflux disease.
This medicine belongs to a group of drugs called PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors) . Think of it like there are little pumps in our stomachs that produce acid. What this PPI medicine does is temporarily stop the functioning of those pumps. Then the production of stomach acid decreases, and symptoms such as inflammation and pain are controlled. This medicine is often available in hospitals under the brand name Protonix.
Things you need to tell your doctor before using this medicine
Before giving you this Pantoprazole injection, your doctor will ask you some questions. At that time, you should definitely tell them about these things without hiding them.
- Liver disease: Tell us if you have any liver disease.
- Mineral levels: If a doctor has previously told you that your blood levels of calcium, magnesium, or potassium are low, let them know.
- Lupus: Tell us if you have an autoimmune disease like lupus.
- Allergies: If you have any allergies to this medicine, to other PPIs (e.g. Omeprazole, Esomeprazole), or to any other medicine, food, or dye, you must definitely tell us.
- Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please tell us about it.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother: Also inform the doctor if you are a breastfeeding mother.
It is very important for your safety to provide this information accurately to the doctor.
How do I use this medicine? And what to do in an emergency?
This is not a medicine you can take home. Pantoprazole injection is given only in a hospital or clinic . It is given as an injection into a vein (intravenous injection) or as an infusion into a vein (infusion) under the supervision of a doctor or nurse.
If the dose is increased (Overdose)
This is given in a hospital setting so the chances of this happening are very low. However, if you think you have taken too much of this medicine, inform the medical staff immediately. Or call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
Other drugs that may interact with Pantoprazole (Drug Interactions)
Some medications you are taking may interact with Pantoprazole, so it is very important to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
| Type of medicine | Important note |
|---|---|
| Never use this medicine with | |
| Atazanavir, Nelfinavir | These are medications used to treat HIV infection. Taking these medications with Pantoprazole may reduce their effectiveness. |
| Please inform your doctor as there may be interactions with this medication. | |
| Warfarin | A medicine that prevents blood clotting. When taking these two together, you need to be careful about the risk of bleeding. |
| Methotrexate | A medicine used to treat cancer and arthritis. Pantoprazole may increase its side effects. |
| Antifungals (e.g. Ketoconazole) | This may reduce the absorption of the medicine into the body. |
| Ampicillin, Iron salts (iron tablets), Mycophenolate mofetil | Pantoprazole may also affect the effectiveness of these medications. |
This list is not exhaustive, so be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and even herbal products you take.
Things to keep in mind when taking medication
- It may take a few days for symptoms to subside: Stomach pain may not go away completely once you start taking the medicine. It may take a few days. If your symptoms do not subside or worsen, tell your doctor.
- Diarrhea: Some people may experience diarrhea from this medication. However, if you have severe diarrhea that lasts for more than two days and is watery, do not take the medication from the pharmacy and inform your doctor immediately.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: When using this medicine for a long period of time, that is, for months or years, there is a small chance that the level of vitamin B12 in the body may decrease. Talk to your doctor about this and get the necessary advice.
- Blood tests: Sometimes your doctor may recommend blood tests while you are taking this medicine.
Possible side effects
Like any medicine, Pantoprazole can cause side effects in some people. Some of them are serious, while others are mild.
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing. |
| Kidney Injury | Decreased urine output, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet. |
| Low Magnesium | Muscle pain or twitching, unusual weakness, fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors. |
| Low Vitamin B12 | Pain in the limbs, numbness, muscle weakness, dizziness, confusion. |
| Skin changes | Severe sunburn, redness, blistering, and peeling of the skin (even inside the mouth) on the cheeks or hands when exposed to sunlight. |
| Severe diarrhea and fever | Severe diarrhea with fever. |
| Usually not dangerous (but tell your doctor if it persists) | |
| Diarrhea | Mild diarrhea. |
| Headache | Slight headache. |
| Vomiting | Slight vomiting. |
Take-Home Message
- Pantoprazole is an injection given in a hospital for severe gastritis and conditions where stomach acid is too high. It is not a medicine for home use.
- It is very important to give your doctor a complete description of any other illnesses you have and all medications you are taking.
- If you experience severe diarrhea, allergic symptoms (skin rash, swelling), or other unusual symptoms while taking the medicine, inform your doctor immediately.
- This medicine should only be used under medical supervision.
- If you are taking this medication long-term, discuss things like vitamin B12 levels with your doctor and follow the necessary instructions.
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