Pantoprazole suspension

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Specializes in ICU.

Has anyone used the Pantoprazole granules (extended release suspension)? The packet says to mix with apple juice or applesauce only. I've asked a couple other nurses I work with, and the pharmacist, and none of them know. I tried doing a quick google search and the only thing I can find says to mix with one of those items & do NOT mix with water or other liquids. But I can't find out why. What's the reason? Thanks!

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I googled. It has to do with the low pH of the apple sauce/juice.

The particles are activated at neutral pHs, like water, so the low pH of applesauce/juice allows them to safely make it into the stomach.

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Specializes in ICU.

Thank You! Can you by chance provide me with the link where you found that?

I've been thinking about this...if the granules are activated by a neutral pH, how does it ever become activated once reaching the gut where the pH is even lower than that of the apple juice? And if it does indeed still break down in the gut (which we presume it does, otherwise what's the point), wouldn't adding it to the apple juice initiate that process, rather than delay it? Forgive me if I'm just being dense, but I'm not getting it.

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Good point! That's a great question.

I found this: https://www.pharmqd.com/forum/topic/protonix-why-apple-sauce-or-apple-juice

But that poster didn't mention where he got that information so I searched some more. The quote is (basically) from the patent application, which you can read here:

http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pdfs/US20070042033.pdf

Happy reading!

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