What is Protonix?

Protonix is a medication that will help to decrease the amount of acid produced in your stomach. Belonging to a group of medications called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs), Protonix is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is also known as GERD. You may also be prescribed Protonix as a treatment for erosive esophagitis, which is when your esophagus becomes damaged from excess stomach acid, or for other conditions involving excess stomach acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Key Facts About Protonix

Protonix should not be used for an immediate relief of your heartburn symptoms. Sometimes heartburn may be confused with initial symptoms of a heart attack. You should seek emergency medical assistance if you experience chest pain or a heavy feeling, nausea, sweating, pain spreading to your arm or shoulder, or a general feeling of being ill.

Protonix should not be taken together with atazanavir (Reyataz) or nelfinavir (Viracept). It is important for you to tell your doctor if you are taking either of these medications to treat HIV or AIDS.

Protonix is in FDA pregnancy category B. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are being treated with Protonix. It is not known whether Protonix passes into breast milk or if it may harm a nursing baby. You should not use Protonix without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

If you take Protonix long-term it may make it more difficult for your body to absorb vitamin B-12. This could lead to a deficiency in vitamin B-12, which may develop slowly. Signs of this deficiency can include weakness, exhaustion, pale skin, a fast heart rate or shortness of breath. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned about your vitamin B-12 levels or if you are taking Protonix long term and have any of these symptoms.

The chronic use of Protonix has been shown to cause stomach cancer in animal studies, but it is not yet known if this medication would have the same effects in humans. Discuss any concerns you may have regarding your specific risks of developing stomach cancer with your doctor.

 

Before You Take Protonix

You should not take Protonix if you are allergic to pantoprazole or to any other benzimidazole medication such as albendazole (Albenza), or mebendazole (Vermox).

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have low levels of magnesium in your blood before taking Protonix.

If you take a proton pump inhibitor like Protonix you may have an increased risk of bone fractures in your hips, wrists, or spine. This effect has occurred in people who have either taken this medication for a long time and at high doses, or who are older than age 50. It is not known if Protonix is the cause of this increased risk of fractures. You should tell your doctor before you take Protonix if you have osteopenia, which is low bone mineral density, or osteoporosis.

Protonix may cause you to have a false positive drug-screening test. If you need to provide a urine sample for a drug-screening let the laboratory staff know that you are taking Protonix.

Protonix is a medication that can cause diarrhea, which may also be a sign of an infection that is new. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, immediately stop taking Protonix and call your doctor. Do not take any anti-diarrhea medications unless your doctor tells you to.

Protonix Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen)
• atazanavir (Reyataz)
• blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• diuretics (water pills)
• iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron)
• ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• nelfinavir (Viracept)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Protonix. You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Protonix

Take Protonix exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take Protonix in larger or smaller amounts, or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

You can take Protonix tablets with or without food. Protonix oral granules should be taken about 30 minutes before a meal.

Do not chew, crush or break the Protonix tablet. It is deisgned for you to swallow whole. There is an enteric coating on the tablet that helps to protect your stomach. If you break the tablet you will damage the protective coating.

You should take Protonix for the entire length of time your doctor has prescribed you to take it, even if your symptoms improve before you have finished your prescription. Sometimes your symptoms may improve but your condition has not yet been fully treated. You should call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if you experience a worsening of your symptoms while taking this medicine.

You may also take the Protonix delayed-release granules. First open the packet of granules and sprinkle the medication into a spoonful of applesauce or apple juice. Do not use any other foods to mix with Protonix, other than applesauce or apple juice. If you add Protonix granules to apple juice pour the granules into a cup with 1 teaspoon of apple juice and stir it for 5 seconds and swallow immediately. To be certain that you have received the entire dose add a few tablespoons more of apple juice to the same glass, and swirl it gently before drinking. You should not save the granule mixture to use later.

You may also take Protonix by using a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube. To do this you must open the granule packet and sprinkle the Protonix into a 60 mL syringe, which will be provided by your doctor or pharmacy. Sprinkle the Protonix granules into the syringe barrel and mix 2 teaspoons of apple juice in. Next, carefully shake the syringe as it empties into the tube. Then add another 2 teaspoons of apple juice to the syringe, which will help to rinse the granules through and make sure you take your entire Protonix dose. Tap the syringe lightly as the juice empties into the tube. Repeat the rinse with 2 teaspoons of apple juice, and then complete this process at least two more times. Be sure there are no granules which remain in the NG tube.

Protonix should be stored at room temperature, and away from both moisture and heat.

If you miss a dose of Protonix you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose do not take the missed dose in addition to your regular dose.

Protonix Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Protonix and seek emergency medical help immediately:

• appetite loss
• choking feeling or cough
• confusion
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody
• fainting
• fast heartbeat
• hallucinations
• headache
• jerking muscle movements
• jittery feeling
• memory problems
• muscle cramps and weakness
• seizures
• shallow breathing

Less serious side effects of Protonix may include:

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• gas
• insomnia
• joint pain
• mild diarrhea
• nausea
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• weight changes

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Protonix. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

 

Protonix Description and Dosing

Protonix is available in 20 mg and 40 mg delayed-release tablets. The 20 mg tablet is yellow, biconvex, and imprinted with P20 on one side in brown ink. The 40 mg tablet is also yellow and oval biconvex, and is imprinted with Protonix on one side in brown ink.

The Delayed-Release Oral Suspension of Protonix is a unit dose packet consisting of 40 mg of enteric-coated granules, all pale yellow to dark brown in color.

All people taking Protonix should consult their doctor for specific dosing pertaining to them. Do not attempt to alter or change your dose without your physician’s consent.

If you are being treated for the Short-Term Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis associated with GERD your doctor may have prescribed Protonix as a once daily dose of 40 mg, to be taken for up to 8 weeks.

Children who take Protonix to treat Erosive Esophagitis associated with GERD usually receive a dose based on their weight, between 20 mg and 40mg, to be taken once a day for up to 8 weeks.

You may be prescribed one 40 mg dose of Protonix, to be taken daily, for the maintenance of healing for erosive esophagitis.

If you have Zollinger-Ellison syndrome your doctor may have prescribed 40 mg of Protonix for you, to be taken twice daily.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with Protonix you should seek emergency help immediately.

 

Ingredients in Protonix

Protonix has the active ingredient pantoprazole sodium.The Delayed-Release Tablet also contains calcium stearate, crospovidone, hypromellose, iron oxide, mannitol, methacrylic acid copolymer, polysorbate 80, povidone, propylene glycol, sodium carbonate, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and triethylcitrate.

The Delayed-Release Oral Suspension contains the active ingredient pantoprazole sodium sesquihydrate in the form of enteric-coated granules, in unit dose packets. Each unit dose packetalso contains crospovidone, hypromellose, methacrylic acid copolymer,microcrystalline cellulose, polysorbate 80, povidone, sodium carbonate, sodium lauryl sulfate,talc, titanium dioxide, triethyl citrate, and yellow ferric oxide.

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