Hi. I suffer from acidity twice or thrice in week especially when I eat fried food or take tea. Sometimes I can not control myself taking tea or fried food. I am 30 years old. To combat with acidity I take pantoprazole 40 mg once or twice day as and when I get acidity symptoms and it works for me. I want to ask can I continue like this? Is it safe to take pantoprazole 40 mg twice or thrice in week. Any long term side effect.

Dr. Surbhi AgrawalGeneral Physician12yrs exp

89% (17990 ratings)

Ask Free Question

You must not take antacids for a longer period. Here is a good reason for this. When stomach acid is removed either by neutralizing it or by blocking it's production, the body experiences a gradual health decline due to mal-absorption of nutrients. For instance, low stomach acid impairs the body's ability to absorb calcium. Mal-absorption of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has also been linked to impaired nerve and brain function. Other nutrients that are mal-absorbed due to low stomach acid levels include: iron, magnesium, selenium, zinc, folic acid, vitamins A, thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B6), riboflavin (B6), and E. Long-term use often leads the body to compensate by producing more of the hormone "gastrin" This hormone signals the stomach to increase acid production acid. Excessive levels of gastrin have been linked to the growth of esophageal, pancreatic, and gastric cancer cells. Most dangerous of all is the weakening of the natural anti-microbial action of stomach acid. Another risk is that antacid drugs can facilitate a common food borne illness including salmonella infection. 

1 person found this helpful