An update on the use of pantoprazole as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic, recurrent disease that affects nearly 19 million people in the US. The mainstay of therapy for GERD is acid suppression. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective medication for both initial treatment and maintenance therapy of GERD. Pantoprazole, a first-generation PPI, was approved by the FDA in 2000 for the treatment of erosive esophagitis associated with GERD. It has been used in more than 100 different countries worldwide. It is one of the few PPIs available in multiple forms: a delayed-release oral capsule, oral suspension, and intravenous. Pantoprazole been shown to improve acid reflux-related symptoms, heal esophagitis, and improve health-related quality of life more effectively than histamine-2 receptor antagonists. Evaluated in over 100 clinical trials, pantoprazole has an excellent safety profile, is as efficacious as other PPIs, and has a low incidence of drug interactions. It has also been shown to be safe and effective in special patient populations, such as the elderly and those with renal or moderate liver disease.