Pharmacology
Pantoprazole is metabolized in the liver by the
cytochrome P450 system.Metabolism mainly consists of
demethylation by
CYP2C19 followed by
sulfation. Another metabolic pathway is oxidation by
CYP3A4. Pantoprazole metabolites are not thought to have any pharmacological significance. Pantoprazole is relatively free of drug interactions;
[7] however, it may alter the absorption of other medications that depend on the amount of acid in the stomach, such as
ketoconazole or
digoxin. Generally inactive at the acidic pH of stomach, thus it is usually given with a prokinetic drug. Pantoprazole binds irreversibly to H+K+ATPase (proton pumps) and suppresses the secretion of acid. As it binds irreversibly to the pumps, new pumps have to be made before acid production can be resumed. The drug's plasma half-life is about 2 hours.