Description
Panflo-IV is a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach.
Panflo-IV is used to treat erosive esophagitis (damage to the esophagus from stomach acid caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD) in adults and children who are at least 5 years old. Pantoprazole is usually given for up to 8 weeks at a time while your esophagus heals.
Panflo-IV is also used to treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other conditions involving excess stomach acid.
Indication
Long-term use warning: Long-term use of pantoprazole can lead to an increased risk of certain side effects and complications. These include:
- Increased risk of bone fracture in people taking higher, multiple daily doses for more than one year.
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency, which can lead to serious nerve damage and deteriorating brain functions. This has been seen in some people taking pantoprazole for longer than three years.
- Chronic inflammation of the stomach’s lining (atrophic gastritis) when taking pantoprazole long term. People with H. pylori are particularly at risk.
- Low blood magnesium (hypomagnesemia), this has been seen in some people taking pantoprazole for as few as three months. More often, it occurs after a year or more of treatment.