According to a survey by Federfarma, in the course of 2021, pantoprazole sodium sesquihydrate is among the most prescribed active ingredients in Italy.
The latter is a proton pump inhibitor, which would serve to reduce stomach acid. In fact, it is mainly used to soothe the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and to prevent damage to the esophagus.
In addition, it is also used to treat all those ailments in which the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
In the course of 2021, as we said, according to the data collected by 94.3% of pharmacies, the number of punches referring to this drug was 2,989,541. The punches, to be clear, are the pharmaceutical stamps that allow the identification and identification of each package, guaranteeing the authenticity of the medicines. The value generated by the sales of pantoprazole is equal to 21,684,342 euros, with an increase of 2.48% compared to 2020.
It is one of the most prescribed drugs in Italy but it could cause side effects such as farts, headaches and joint pains
The data just seen could immediately make us think that the problems related to the gastroesophageal system are quite widespread in the Italian population. Pantoprazole in these cases therefore appears to be a fairly effective solution in countering some of these disorders, although it too has some side effects.
Among the most common we find, for example, constipation, nausea, vomiting, accumulation of intestinal gas, headache and joint pain.
However, when taken in high doses and for longer than one year, pantoprazole could lead to an increased risk of fractures. The most commonly affected parts could be the wrist, hip or spine. In addition, prolonged intake could also weaken the stomach wall and reduce vitamin B12 levels.
In case of rash, itching, diarrhea, fever, irregular heartbeat, dizziness, convulsions and breathing difficulties, it is important to contact your doctor immediately.
Contraindications and warnings
So, we have just seen that pantoprazole is one of the most prescribed drugs in Italy and could generate several side effects. For this reason, before taking the drug, Humanitas researchers recommend that you notify your doctor in case of:
a) pregnancy or breastfeeding;
b) any allergies to the drug or its active ingredients;
c) taking other medicines or supplements;
d) Helicobacter pylori infections or low levels of magnesium in the blood.
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