PANTOPRAZOLE - PROTONIX ® COMMON USES: Pantoprazole is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the food pipe (esophagus). It is also used to treat conditions where the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Pantoprazole is in a class of medications called proton-pump inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach. Pantoprazole comes as a delayed-release (long-acting) tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day with or without food. To help you remember to take pantoprazole, take it around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take pantoprazole exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. Continue to take pantoprazole even if you feel well. Do not stop taking pantoprazole without talking to your doctor. This medicine may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Dietary Instructions: Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet. Storage Conditions: Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.