Pantoprazole
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Pantoprazole during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Pantoprazole
(pan-toe-prah-zohl)
Description: Pantoprazole for pets
This medicine lowers stomach acid.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Protonix®
- Pantoloc®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Animal-specific versions: none.
- People versions:
- delayed-release tablets in 20 mg and 40 mg
- delayed-release granules that are mixed into a liquid (40 mg) before giving
This handout does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace advice from a medical professional. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, call your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- This medicine is used to help treat stomach sores (ulcers) or to help stop them from happening.
- It usually works best when given before the first meal of the day.
- Tablets should not be split, crushed, or cut.
How is this medication useful?
Pantoprazole may be used to help prevent stomach ulcers and to help treat them. It may also be used as part of treatment for infections caused by Helicobacter pylori.
This medicine is approved for people, but it is not officially approved for animal patients. In some cases, veterinarians may prescribe a medicine like this for different species or for different problems. Your veterinarian can talk with you about why this choice fits your animal’s needs.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well pantoprazole works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can decide together on the safest plan.
Some medicines can affect pantoprazole or be affected by it. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal is taking. This includes:
- prescription medicines
- over-the-counter products
- vitamins
- supplements
- herbal products
Also share how much you give and how often you give each one.
Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
If your animal has had the same problem in the past, explain what was used to treat it and whether it helped or did not help.
If your animal is pregnant, could become pregnant, or is nursing, discuss possible risks of using this medicine.
Also tell your veterinarian and pharmacist if your animal has ever had side effects from medicines before. Examples include:
- allergic reactions
- not wanting to eat
- loose stool
- itching
- hair loss
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
You may notice your animal seems better within 1 to 2 days. After that, the signs you are seeing should start to improve.
This medicine does not last long in the body. Its effect usually ends within 24 hours. However, the helpful effect may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special reasons to be careful with this medicine for your animal.
This medicine MUST NOT be used in animals that:
- Have previously had an allergic reaction to pantoprazole or to similar medicines (for example, esomeprazole or omeprazole).
What are the side effects of this medication?
In dogs and cats, pantoprazole is usually tolerated well. Possible side effects include:
- throwing up
- eating less
- more gas than usual
- diarrhea
If you notice these, you do not need to panic unless the signs are severe, do not go away, or get worse. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Taking too much pantoprazole can be dangerous. If you know or suspect your animal received more than prescribed, contact your veterinarian right away or call an animal poison control service for guidance.
These animal poison control services are available 24 hours a day (a consultation fee applies):
- Pet Poison HELPLINE (855-764-7661)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435)
How should this medication be given?
To get the intended effect, give pantoprazole exactly the way your veterinarian directed. Do not open capsules or break tablets unless your veterinarian or pharmacist specifically tells you to. Always read the prescription label to confirm you are giving it the correct way.
Pantoprazole is usually given about 30 minutes before a meal, most often before the first meal of the day.
- If your animal vomits or seems unwell when it is given on an empty stomach, give it with the meal instead.
- If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
In dogs and cats, pantoprazole is generally not used for more than 4 weeks.
- If your veterinarian decides the expected benefit is greater than the risk, it may be used for a longer time.
If pantoprazole is made into a custom liquid form, measure it with care.
- Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special spoons or oral syringes to help you measure correctly.
If giving the medicine is difficult, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist for ideas to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medicine time.
This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time.
- Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
- You may need refills before the full course is finished.
- Do not stop this medicine without speaking with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, skip it and give the next dose at the normal scheduled time.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give an extra dose.
How should I store this medication?
Keep this medicine in the original labeled container, or in another approved container used to organize doses (such as a pill reminder box).
Store it at room temperature and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Keep it where children and animals cannot reach it.
If you have a liquid form:
- store it exactly the way you were told
- throw it away by the discard date printed on the prescription label
Keep it away from children and other animals.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
No special handling steps are required unless you are allergic to this medicine. After you handle any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
If your area has a medicine take-back program, use that option.
If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is less appealing to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching the trash
- put that mixture into a sealed plastic bag so it cannot leak
- then place it in the household trash
Do not keep extra medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
Some animal competitions may not allow use of this medicine.
- Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving pantoprazole.
If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”