What Is Omeprazole?
But they contain the same active ingredient: omeprazole.
How Does Omeprazole Work?
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This system is known as the proton pump on the stomach lining cells.
Omeprazole and other PPIs work by blocking the final step of stomach acid production.
Omeprazole reduces normal and excessive stomach acid levels, regardless of the cause.
Note that OTC omeprazole is meant to be taken for up to 14 days.
However, healthcare providers may prescribe the drug longer depending on the treated condition.
What Is Pantoprazole?
Unlike omeprazole,pantoprazoleis a prescription-only drug.
The brand name is Protonix.
The FDA approves oral pantoprazole to:
Pantoprazole comes in three forms:
How Does Pantoprazole Work?
Pantoprazole works the same way as omeprazole.
It binds to the proton pumps on thestomach liningand blocks the final step of stomach acid production.
Pantoprazole oral tablets and suspension begin working within two and a half hours of taking the medication.
The FDA approves these medications for treating GERD as a short-term eight-week treatment.
Also, the drug may be prescribed as a long-term treatment for hypersecretory conditions, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Pantoprazole IV, on the other hand, begins working within 15 to 30 minutes of administration.
However, this medication is only approved for very short-term use (seven to 10 days) in adults.
It may be given during a hospital stay.
Dosage Overview
The table below summarizes the typical dosages of omeprazole and pantoprazole oral forms.
The treatment lengths vary with the condition, ranging from four to eight weeks.
Your healthcare provider will give specific instructions and may recommend longer-term use.
Example: A 22-lb child weighs 10 kg.
Administration Instructions
Omeprazole and pantoprazole have slightly different administration instructions.
If you have difficulty swallowing the capsule, you may open it and sprinkle the pellet contents into applesauce.
Swallow the mixture and immediately drink a glass of water.
Be careful not to crush or chew the pellets.
Omeprazole oral suspension should also be taken before the day’s first meal.
The oral suspension comes in packets of dry powder.
Mix the powder in water before taking it.
Stir, let sit for two to three minutes to thicken, then drink.
Swallow the tablet whole.
Mix pantoprazole powder into 1 teaspoonful of applesauce or apple juice.
Do not crush or chew the powder granules, and do not mix them into other foods or drinks.
After swallowing the mixture, drink some water to wash it down.
Omeprazole and pantoprazole can also be administered using a nasogastric (NG) tube.
Consult your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more details.
Which Is More Effective?
Many studies are comparing the efficacy of omeprazole and pantoprazole.
Alternative Treatment Options
Making lifestyle changes helps to reduce the symptoms ofacid reflux.
Some people can manage acid reflux with lifestyle changes alone without medication.
Lifestyle changes are also beneficial with medication like omeprazole or pantoprazole.
Weight loss and smoking cessation are also beneficial for reducing acid reflux.
Smoking can increase the chance of having reflux, and quitting will help prevent acid from coming up.
Similarly,obesityis closely associated with acid reflux.
They may also recommend vitamin B-12 or magnesium supplements.
This ensures omeprazole or pantoprazole will be safe and effective to take with the rest of your medications.
These two drugs share many similarities, including their work, side effects, and effectiveness.
However, there are critical differences between the drugs.
Some omeprazole is available OTC to treat frequent heartburn in adults, while pantoprazole is prescription-only.
Omeprazole also has more drug interactions than pantoprazole.
Some PPIs are sold OTC, and others require a prescription.
DailyMed.Label: Prilosec OTC- omeprazole magnesium tablet, delayed release.
DailyMed.Label: Protonix delayed-release- pantoprazole sodium tablet, delayed release Protonix delayed-release- pantoprazole sodium granule, delayed release.
Label:Basic Care omeprazole- omeprazole tablet, orally disintegrating, delayed release.
DailyMed.Label: Basic Care omeprezole- omeprazole magnesium capsule, delayed release.
DailyMed.Label: 24 HR omeprazole- omeprazole tablet, delayed release.
2018;6(15):892-900. doi:10.12998/wjcc.v6.i15.892
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Food and Drug Administration.Prilosec (omeprazole) for delayed-release oral suspension.
