Pantoprazole oral tablet may be prescribed for either short-term or long-term use. How long you take it will depend on the type and severity of your condition. It comes with serious risks if you. I am 33 weeks pregnant with horrible acid reflux. It has gotten so bad that only water & applesauce will not hurt my stomach. My OB/GYN put me on 20 mg of Protonix, since it was the only medication that had helped my reflux in the past. It may take up to 4 weeks for pantoprazole to work properly so you may still have some symptoms during this time. If you bought pantoprazole without a prescription, and feel no better after 2 weeks, tell your doctor. They may want to do tests or change you to a different medicine. Is it safe to take pantoprazole for a long time? If you take pantoprazole for more than 3 months, the levels of. Protonix (pantoprazole): I have had GERD as long as I can remember. It wasn't quite so bad before pregnancy that I decided against medication. Since becoming pregnant, it was to the point of throwing up stomach acid a few times a day & I could barely move. We tried a few other medications that just did not work. I have been on protonix for 1 month & I have not had a single bit of heartburn. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our cookie policy unless you have disabled them. Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, side-effects, and cautions: Dr. Kuglitsch on how long does it take for pantoprazole to work: A review in Journal of the American Pharmacists Association(Eval of Omeprazole,Lansoprazole,Pantoprazole,&Rabeprazole in Treatment of Acid-Related Diseases,J Am Pharm Assoc. 2000;40(1)),there is no. Doctors give trusted answers on uses, effects, side-effects, and cautions: Dr. Seibert on pantoprazole how long to work: It takes a delayed-release proton pump inhibitor like Nexium (esomeprazole) that long to reduce acid enough in your stomach to be noticeable. Pantoprazole reduces the amount of acid produced in your stomach. Swallow the tablet whole - do not chew or crush it before you swallow. The most common side-effects are stomach upset and headache. These effects are generally mild and do not last long. Acid is produced naturally in your stomach to.