Ulcers and other stomach conditions are common in the US. As per a few secondary sources, one in ten people living in the US are known to have some type of stomach problem; the most common among them include pains caused by ulcers or a burning feeling inside your tummy, and acid reflux. The upper part of your intestine – known as the duodenum – is more vulnerable to the attack of harsh acids. Owing to this, this layer may encounter rupture or holes in the inner walls. Drugs like pantoprazole as well as famotidine are used for the treatment of gastric problems. But, are these two drugs one and the same?
Pantoprazole
Stomach / gastric problems may occur when you are not eating healthy foods, leading to a stressful and/or sedentary lifestyle. Linings on the walls of your tummy and food pipe (esophagus) may undergo damage when acid levels rise. A few medical studies attribute an imbalance in bacteria living in your gut as another reason for ulcers to show up. Excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – such as naproxen, aspirin, or ibuprofen, is also likely to trigger gastric discomforts. Regular drinking or smoking habits are likely to trigger ulcers as well as a few other gastric conditions.
What is famotidine?
This drug is administered for the treatment of intestinal problems such as ulcers, for the case management of inflammation of food pipe (esophagitis), and for gastroesophageal reflux disease (in short, GERD). Famotidine helps reduce the level of acid build-up inside your tummy, and it belongs to a genre of meds known as H2 blocking drugs. It may also be used for treating heartburn, a burning feeling inside your food pipe, and the resultant sourness. This med can be procured without a prescription – i.e., as an over-the-counter drug. However, it is always safe to take it under the clinical supervision/guidance of a qualified caregiver.
Famotidine may cause a few undesired side effects; salient among them include difficulties passing stools, indigestion, and spells of headache/migraines. In some one-off instances, this drug may cause a few acute reactions/side effects – such as symptoms of an infection and a few mental health conditions (depression, mood shifts, or being overly anxious). Also, if you have had any prior hypersensitivity or allergies to H2 blocking meds (such as ranitidine, cimetidine, etc.), your doctor must be made aware of such conditions.
Moreover, if you are living with conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD – such as bronchitis, asthma, or other respiratory conditions), renal dysfunction / kidney-related problems, and cancers – especially, in the stomach, your caregiving team must be updated of the severity of such ailments. You are advised to seek clinical support as quickly as possible, if you encounter side effects like excessive sweating, feeling dizzy or a sudden loss of body weight. Those who have taken famotidine as an OTC drug must stay watchful of signs like gasping for breath, wheezing, and discharge of blackened stool or traces of blood in the stool. Upon noticing one or more of these signs, rush to a local healthcare setting for needful medical care.
What is pantoprazole?
This drug belongs to a class of meds known as proton pump inhibiting drugs. It works by reducing acids in your gastric system. Consumption of pantoprazole can prevent stomach ulcers, and in some rare cases has also helped avoid the incidence of stomach cancers. This med is administered orally; doses vary based on the severity of your condition, body weight as well as prior ailments if any.
It is safe to consume the pill by taking 7 to 8 ounces of water. Dosage plan is continued till discomforts such as heartburn, burning sensation, and regurgitation stop occurring. The drug is expected to bring about needful improvement within a few days; but, if there are no perceptible changes, consult with your treating physician/pharmacist immediately.
Are famotidine and pantoprazole the same?
These drugs vary in the way they work. Famotidine acts as an acid-suppressing med; taken for ulcers, acid reflux as well as heartburn. On the other hand, pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibiting drug; it decreases the extent of acid your tummy makes. While famotidine is sold both as an OTC drug as well as a prescription med, pantoprazole is available only with prescriptions. Famotidine is used for treating ulcers, inflammation of food pipe, gastritis as well as prevention of ulcers caused by stress. Pantoprazole is used to bring down an excessive accumulation of stomach acids, gastroesophageal reflux disease, infections caused by H. pylori, and to avoid internal bleeding, especially on the linings of your gastric system.
Pantoprazole may reduce the level of magnesium in your blood. So, people living with such imbalances are advised to talk to their treating doctor prior to taking this med. Famotidine can cause serious kidney problems; hence, if you have renal dysfunction, it is not considered a safe drug to take. Other possible side effects of famotidine are indigestion, diarrhea, and headache. Pantoprazole (and other meds that come under the proton pump inhibiting a class of drugs) can cause severe spells of migraines, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and loose stools/diarrhea; this drug can also trigger bloating, flatulence, or gas formation. It may also make you feel dizzy and in some rare cases, may cause pain in joints.
Pantoprazole is available as a pill; on the other hand, famotidine is sold in multiple forms – liquid, chewable pills, and tablets. As famotidine is available as an OTC drug, its price is more affordable than pantoprazole. Those with low bone density or weaker bones are advised to avoid taking pantoprazole as it can lead to loss of bones or fractures. Famotidine runs the risk of concealing the early signs of cancers/tumors. You are advised to talk to your treating physician and pharmacist prior to starting your dosage plan.
In sum, pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibiting med; it reduces acids in your tummy; famotidine is an acid-suppressing drug. Famotidine is available as an OTC med (and as a prescription drug) while pantoprazole is only available based on prescriptions from qualified medical practitioners. Famotidine is administered for managing inflammation of food pipe, ulcers, gastritis, etc. Pantoprazole is mainly used for GERD, heartburn, and infections caused by select strands of microbes. In order to know all the salient differences between these two drugs, you are advised to talk to a qualified clinical practitioner.
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.
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