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What Is Protonix Used For?

Some people may ask, "What is Protonix used for?" Protonix is used to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including heartburn. It has also been licensed for treating erosive esophagitis. Once the esophagus has healed, Protonix may also be used prevent the return of erosive esophagitis. Protonix has also been approved for long-term treatment in people who produce too much stomach acid.

 

What Is Protonix Used For? -- An Overview

 Protonix® (pantoprazole sodium) has been licensed to treat a number of conditions, which include:
 
  • Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Treatment of erosive esophagitis
  • Pathological hypersecretory diseases (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
 
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Erosive Esophagitis
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acids and other contents of the stomach go back into the esophagus (acid reflux). This can result in GERD symptoms, including the most common symptom of GERD -- heartburn. One of the complications of GERD is erosive esophagitis, which occurs when the lining of the esophagus becomes damaged by stomach acid.
 
Protonix has been licensed to treat symptoms of GERD, including heartburn. It has also been licensed to treat erosive esophagitis. Once the esophagus has healed, Protonix may also be used prevent the return of erosive esophagitis.
 
Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions
Protonix has been approved for long-term treatment in people with pathological hypersecretory conditions (which result in the production of too much stomach acid). The most common of these conditions is Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
 
(What Is Protonix Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;