Protonix

What is Protonix?

Protonix is a tablet you take every day to help relieve acid reflux or heartburn and manage gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). These are conditions where stomach acid flows up into your esophagus, causing pain and discomfort. Protonix helps to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, to stop any travelling up into your throat.

How does Protonix work?

Protonix contains the active ingredient pantoprazole. Pantoprazole is what we call a selective “proton pump inhibitor”. These block an enzyme in your stomach called gastric H,K-ATPase, which is responsible for producing stomach acid. This means there’ll be less acid in your stomach, so it’s less likely to travel back up your throat and cause problems.^[1]

What doses does Protonix come in?

There are two Protonix doses for managing acid reflux and heartburn. The lower dose (containing 20 mg pantoprazole) is usually used to treat symptoms like heartburn, whereas the higher dose (containing 40 mg) is usually prescribed for recurring, long-term cases of reflux.

How to take Protonix

If you’re using Protonix to treat reflux symptoms, you’ll usually take one tablet a day for two to four weeks (up to a maximum of eight weeks if needed). Your physician will advise you on how long you should keep taking Protonix. After you’ve stopped using Protonix daily, you can take one tablet a day to help manage any recurring symptoms when you need to.

If you’re taking Protonix to manage long-term GERD, you’ll take a 20 mg or 40mg tablet every day. If you’re taking a daily dose of 20 mg and your condition flares up, your physician may temporarily double your dose. You can either take two 20 mg tablets, or one 40 mg tablet. Once your GERD is back under control and you’ve recovered, your clinician can lower your dose back to 20 mg per day.

How long does it take for Protonix to work?

Pantoprazole, the active ingredient in Protonix, can help you start to feel better in just a couple of days. But it usually takes two to four weeks of Protonix before your symptoms are fully under control – and sometimes it can take up to eight weeks before you feel one-hundred percent yourself again. Speak to your doctor if you’ve taken Protonix for two weeks and don’t feel any better – they might be able to recommend an alternative that’s more suitable for you.^[1]

What should I do if I make a mistake taking Protonix?

You should always follow your physician’s instructions when taking Protonix. If you forget to take your Protonix tablet one day, don’t take two tablets the next to make up for it. Just take your next dose at the same time you normally would.

If you accidentally take too much Protonix, let your doctor or pharmacist know. But try to rest easy – there aren’t any known symptoms of pantoprazole overdose.