health care advice

Protonix is a proton pump inhibitor that stops gastric acid secretion. Protonix is used for the treatment of ulcers that eat away the lining of the esophagus. Diseases that may eat up the esophagus include a disease known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. You can buy Protonix from Canada Drug Pharmacy. Protonix is available to buy with a valid doctors prescription.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

GERD is the damage of the mucosal lining of the esophagus caused by acid which comes up from the stomach. A common symptom of this disease is heartburn. GERD can cause damage to the esophagus causing ulcers at the junction of the stomach and esophagus. If the ulceration persists it can result in inflammation of the esophagus which results in a narrowed esophagus. If the condition goes untreated for a long time it can lead to the development of a rare form of cancer known as esophageal adenocarcinoma. GERD in children can be characterized by continuous burping, vomiting and belching.

Protonix is amongst some of the approved drugs to treat GERD. Protonix can help cure GERD by stopping the source of acid secretion which is the proton pump. Protonix has been proven to be effective in helping eliminate symptoms such as heartburn, burping and belching in patients that suffer from GERD.

Other diseases that can be treated by Protonix

There are a wide number of other diseases that can be treated using Protonix. Diseases that can be treated using Protonix include Peptic ulcers, Dyspepsia, Barret’s esophagus, Laryngopharyngeal reflux, Gastrinomas, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and any other conditions that cause over secretion of acids in the stomach.

Pharmacology of Protonix

Protonix metabolites are not known to have any significant pharmacological effects on the body. Protonix metabolites do not interact with any drugs. Although the metabolites of Protonix do not interact with any drugs they do however affect the absorption of drugs that depend on stomach acidity. Pantoprazole the active ingredient in Protonix binds irreversibly to H+K+ATPase thus suppressing the secretion of acid. The drug has a half life of 24 hours after which it disintegrates and is secreted through the renal system.

Protonix can reduce gastric secretion by up to 99%. Since the drug binds irreversibly with the enzymes involved in acid secretion totally digestive functionality is retained when all affected enzymes have been naturally destroyed and replaced with new copies.

Protonix is given to patients in its inactive form. When it is in its inactive form it is neutrally charged thus it readily crosses cell membranes right into intracellular compartments where the environment is acidic. When the drug gets in an acid environment it is protonated thus making it active allowing it to bind to the proton pump thus stopping acid secretion.

Negative effects of Protonix

There are not many known negative effects of Protonix however the drug can decrease the absorption of vitamin B₁₂. The drug is only known to affect vitamin B₁₂ absorption if it is continuously used over a long period of time. The FDA advises that drugs like Protonix be used for not more than 3 (14 day treatments) per year.

Continuous use of Protonix may cause bone fragility and increase the risk of developing acquired pneumonia. The elimination of acid secretion has been associated with the body’s failure to eliminate pathogens. Therefore patients at high risk of developing pneumonia should not be prescribed drugs like Protonix unless it is really necessary.

Now that you know the diseases that can be treated using Protonix it is also important that you strictly follow your doctors advice for prescription drugs can have adverse effects if administered incorrectly. So make sure that whenever you suspect any side effects when using Protonix, always consult your doctor.