Shortage of injectable pantoprazole

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable pantoprazole. This drug, brand name Protonix, is sometimes necessary for the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastroesophageal reflux disease. It is also used off-label in an attempt to gain control of bleeding stomach ulcers. The drug slows down the production of stomach acid, and slows the increase in number of acid-secreting cells in the case of ZES. Both GERD and ZES may result in so much damage to the lining of the esophagus due to excess acid from the stomach that it is impossible to take anything by mouth, thus the importance of this injectable form of the drug.