by Lauren Beyenhof

Created on: June 04, 2009

Protonix, a formula of pantoprazole sodium manufactured and distributed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, is a highly effective medication used for the treatment of erosive esophogael reflux disease (i.e. GERD.) Erosive esophagitis, which causes severe inflammation of the esophagus, is caused by persistent backflow of the stomach's acids. As time goes by, these acids essentially eat away at the esophagus causing damage to its lining.

How It Works

Protonix not only works to control the amount of acid reflux, it can also heal the eroded portions of the esophagus. This medication is a proton pump inhibitor which is a type of acid blocker. Other similar acid blockers in this category of drugs include ulcer medications such as Prilosec and Prevacid. The stomach lining is comprised of a specific type of cells called parietal cells. These are responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is a compound with a negative charge. Once the acid is produced, a positively charged protein called a proton pump attracts the negatively charged hydrochloric acid and pulls it out of the gastric cells into the rest of the body.

All proton pump inhibitors (PPI) work basically the same way. They neutralize the function of the proton pump, making it unable to pull the hydrochloric acid out of the cells. Protonix does just that. It has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing 85-95% of acid secretion in merely a week. This gives the esophageal lining the chance to heal.

Dosage

The standard dose of Protonix is 40 mg a day. Its safety and efficacy has been demonstrated for treatment periods lasting up to 16 weeks. It has not been tested for long-term use and is not recommended for such. The effects of Protonix may interact with certain medications thereby altering their effectiveness. This includes Ampcillin (a penicillin-like antibiotic), iron or Nizoral (a broad-spectrum antifungal.)

Side Effects

The most minor side effects of Protonix include diarrhea and nausea. In extremely rare cases Protonix can cause a number of very serious side effects including severe allergic reaction resulting in swelling of the face and throat, inflammation of the pancreas, and difficulty breathing and swallowing. Protonix can also have an adverse effect on the liver, so careful monitoring by the prescribing doctor is important. Blisters and peeling skin have also been reported but their likelihood of occurring is rare. Other rare side effects include abdominal pain, gas, insomnia and rash.

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