Stomach acids may sometimes cause damages to sensitive linings of the food pipe and the tummy. These damages are more likely when acid levels reach a new high. Such conditions may cause discomforts such as heartburn or acid reflux, ulcers, internal bleeding, bruises and associated pains in your abdomen. Timely treatment of this condition (along with its signs) is required to prevent further complications. Pantoprazole is a commonly prescribed drug, taken to lessen the impact of harsh stomach acids. But, does this drug cause heart palpitations? It is a wise thing to know more on this possible side effect of pantoprazole.
Your stomach and its walls are safeguarded by an inner layer; this layer offers needful protection from gastric acids and digestive juices. Without such protection, your stomach is likely to witness ulcers and internal bleeding. However, such protection is not present on the inner linings of your food pipe (i.e., esophagus). Absence of such cover makes the food pipe more vulnerable to possible acid attacks. When your tummy makes more acids (due to a few risk factors like obesity, alcohol intake, etc.), your food pipe may be under siege by such acids. Drugs belonging to a genre called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed to reduce acid levels and to enable faster healing.
Pantoprazole is one such proton pump inhibiting med. This drug blocks a few enzymes in your tummy; once blocked, level of acids soon comes down to a sizably lower level. With a marked drop in acid production, the repair work starts and your ulcers may start healing in due course of time. Apart from heartburns / acid reflux and a few other such conditions, pantoprazole is also used for treating Zollinger-Ellison condition or syndrome; a condition caused by extra accumulation of acids in your small intestine as well as stomach.
Pantoprazole is available in multiple forms – most common among them include a pill version and an infection form. The pill is taken when the attacks are mild (i.e., when acid levels have risen to a moderate level); on the other hand, the injectable version is administered when you encounter severe spells of ulcers or internal bruising / bleeding.
Does pantoprazole cause heart palpitations?
Similar to many other drugs, pantoprazole also causes a few unintended side effects as well as undesired reactions. Commonly witnessed discomforts are excessive levels of dizziness, episodes of drowsiness, cramped muscles, sharp pains in abdominal region, vomiting, nausea, etc. Elderly patients of heartburns or acid reflux tend to be more vulnerable to side effects caused by this PPI med. Also, long term intake is known to bring down filtering efficiency of the renal system. Those who are living with nephritis (i.e., swelling of kidneys because of retention of extra liquids within them) or painful spells of urination must keep their caregiving team as well as their pharmacist informed of such ailments.
Heart palpitations and pantoprazole
A prolonged intake of pantoprazole may trigger reduction in vitamin levels; among the various types of vitamins, this drug is more likely to deplete vitamin B12 level. Low levels of this essential vitamin are mainly due to the inability of your system to absorb needful vitamins (i.e., B12 type of vitamins). Depletion or an insufficiency of this vitamin can be detected through a few signs. Common among them are – excessive levels of weariness, lethargy, fatigue, respiratory problems (such as wheezing, painful breathing, etc.), erratic heartbeats (or tachycardia) as well as discoloration / paleness of face.
Heart palpitations may also lead to changes in your blood pressure level; in a few people, the drug has caused a significant drop in pressure level. At times, its active ingredients may also lead to a sudden spike in pressure levels – i.e., hypertension. It hence becomes important to check your pressure levels on a periodic basis. Moderate palpitations have been noticed in many users; but, severe levels of palpitations are witnessed quite rarely. Racial factors may also serve as triggers; white and non-Hispanic population is seen to be at added risk of such palpitations. Also, women are more likely to encounter tachycardia or accelerated beating of the heart. Last but not the least, those aged above 30 years are more vulnerable to this side effect than other age groups.
You may also need to remember that this drug can alter the test results of a few lab tests – primarily due to its ability to interact with lab reagents. You are hence advised to keep the clinical staff informed of your intake of pantoprazole (or any other proton pump inhibiting meds), strength of dosages along with duration of such treatment.
Other side effects of pantoprazole you need to be aware of
Persistent use of pantoprazole may damage your bones. Elders as well as women are more likely to develop a few bone problems. Those who already have conditions like osteoporosis are at significant risk of a bones loss. You need to be more careful while exercising; an accidental fall may cause breakage of bones.
Bacterial strand called C. difficile is likely to go on an imbalanced mode – when you are using this med for a longer duration and also in larger doses. The typical dose is in between 20 mg to 40 mg. Those who took this drug in excess of 60 mg – on a daily basis and for a longer span of time may report bacterial imbalances in their gut. As a result, you may experience diarrhea and indigestion. Intake of antibiotics (bactericidal meds) or antidiarrheal medications has little effect on such conditions. You are advised to talk to your doctor or rush to consult with a gastroenterologist for needful treatment.
Special care is needed when breastfeeding women experience an acid build-up. Essential ingredients of pantoprazole may get into mother’s milk. Babies who fed on such milk can witness sleeping disorders and feeding problems.
In sum, use of pantoprazole for a longer duration can reduce vitamin B12 level. This is mainly due to the inability to absorb this vitamin. Erratic heartbeats (or tachycardia / faster beats) is a common side effect encountered among those living with vitamin deficiencies. Palpitations may alter your blood pressure level. So, check blood pressure levels daily. Also, remember that women are more vulnerable to accelerated heart beats. Consult with your treating physician if palpitations occur more frequently. If you are experiencing breathing difficulties, you are advised to take needful medical help on an emergency mode.
Education: Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Michigan. Experience: Over 8 years of experience writing for health and wellness websites, including WebMD and Healthline, specializing in women’s health and nutrition.