Name: Pan 20 mg
SKU: 21038
Availability: InStock

🧬 Active Ingredient	Pantoprazole Sodium Sesquihydrate
🎯 Indication	Mild‑moderate GERD, heartburn, gastric & duodenal ulcers, NSAID‑prophylaxis
🇺🇸 US Brand Equivalent	Protonix® 20 mg (OTC & Rx)
🏭 Manufacturer	Alkem Laboratories Ltd (India, founded 1973)
💊 Packaging	15 gastro‑resistant tablets per strip
💪 Strength	20 mg per tablet
🚚 Delivery Time	6 – 15 days worldwide

🔍 What is Pan 20 mg?

Pan 20 mg contains the proton‑pump‑inhibitor Pantoprazole in an enteric‑coated tablet that passes intact through the stomach and dissolves in the duodenum, where systemic absorption shuts down the H⁺/K⁺‑ATPase “acid pump.” Manufactured under cGMP by Alkem Laboratories (an Indian top‑10 pharma exporting to 50+ countries), Pan 20 mg offers an affordable, WHO‑listed alternative to branded Protonix® for daily symptom control of frequent heartburn, GERD, and prevention of NSAID‑induced ulcers.

Because pantoprazole is acid‑labile, Pan 20 mg tablets must never be split, crushed, or chewed; instead, patients take one whole tablet 30 minutes before breakfast for optimal suppression of daytime acid output. Within 3–5 days of continuous therapy, maximal acid inhibition (~90 %) is achieved, translating to healing rates > 90 % for duodenal ulcers in eight weeks. Long‑term maintenance at 20 mg nightly is common in erosive esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus, under physician supervision.

🩺 Evidence‑Based Uses

Condition	Role of Pan 20 mg
🔥 Frequent Heartburn	OTC‑equivalent once‑daily course (14 days) every 4 months
🩻 Non‑erosive GERD	Symptom relief & esophageal pH normalization
🧫 Peptic Ulcer Healing	20 mg BID × 4–8 weeks; part of H. pylori triple therapy
💊 NSAID Protection	Co‑prescribed to reduce gastric bleeding risk
🩸 Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis (Ward)	Oral alternative when IV unavailable

📊 Dosing & Administration

Scenario	Dose	Duration
OTC Heartburn course	20 mg once daily	14 days max
Rx GERD / Ulcer	20 mg twice daily	4‑8 weeks
Maintenance	20 mg at bedtime	Individualized
H. pylori regimen	20 mg BID + Amoxicillin 1 g BID + Clarithromycin 500 mg BID	14 days

Tip : Swallow with water 30 min before the first meal; avoid alcohol & large late‑night meals during therapy.

⚠️ Side‑Effect Profile & Precautions

System	Common	Rare‑Serious
GI	Bloating, diarrhea	C. difficile colitis
CNS	Headache, dizziness	Visual disturbances
Hematologic	–	Cytopenias (very rare)
Metabolic (≥ 1 yr)	↓ Mg²⁺, ↓ B₁₂	Fracture risk, CKD association

Proton‑pump inhibitors may diminish clopidogrel activation—pantoprazole has the lowest CYP2C19 inhibition among PPIs but caution is still advised.

🌍 Availability & Personal‑Import Rules

Country	Legal Status	Import Note
🇺🇸 USA	OTC (14‑count) & Rx	Pan 20 mg import allowed for ≤ 90‑day personal supply with script
🇬🇧 UK	Prescription only	Up to 3‑month personal supply with documentation
🇦🇺 AU	Rx only	TGA Personal‑Import Scheme applies

💰 Price Matrix (April 2025)

Market	Local Brand Price*	Pan 20 mg Ex‑India
🇮🇳 India	₹90 / 15 tabs	₹58 via buyallmd.com
🇺🇸 USA	$12 – $16 (OTC)	$4 incl. airmail
🇬🇧 UK	£8 – £11 (Rx)	~£5 delivered

Local prices from Walgreen’s, Boots, and Chemist Warehouse surveys (Q1‑2025).

👩‍⚕️ Expert Commentary – Dr. Megha Rao, MD (Digestive Diseases)

“Pantoprazole remains the least drug‑interaction‑prone PPI, and Pan 20 mg offers global patients an inexpensive source with proven bioequivalence. For uncomplicated reflux, once‑daily 20 mg is usually adequate; higher doses or BID therapy are reserved for documented erosive disease or resistant ulcers.”