Two medicines, side by side
Pantoprazole vs dexlansoprazole
Pantoprazole and dexlansoprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of pantoprazole since 2000 and of dexlansoprazole since 2009. Pharmacies paid $0.0358 per pantoprazole sod DR 40 mg tablet and $3.71 per dexlansoprazole DR 60 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Pantoprazole, “Pantoprazole is a PPI that suppresses the final step in gastric acid production by covalently binding to the (H + , K + )-ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cell.”; Dexlansoprazole, “Dexlansoprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the (H + , K + )-ATPase at the secretory …”
Check it at the source: the pantoprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 18, 2026); the dexlansoprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 17, 2025).
Highlights of the pantoprazole record
Pantoprazole (Protonix) · label of May 18, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPROTONIX For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension and PROTONIX Delayed-Release Tablets are indicated for: PROTONIX is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated for the following: • Short-Term Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis Associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) ( 1.1 ) • Maintenance of Healing of Erosive Esophagitis ( 1.2 ) • Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions Including Zollinger-Ellison (ZE) Syndrome […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 2, 2000
- Generic labelers
- 66 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0358 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 25
Highlights of the dexlansoprazole record
Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) · label of February 17, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsDEXILANT is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated in patients 12 years of age and older for: Healing of all grades of erosive esophagitis (EE). ( 1.1 ) Maintenance of healed EE and relief of heartburn. ( 1.2 ) Treatment of symptomatic non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- January 30, 2009
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $3.71 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Pantoprazole label of May 18, 2026, Dexlansoprazole label of February 17, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do pantoprazole and dexlansoprazole differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Pantoprazole, “Pantoprazole is a PPI that suppresses the final step in gastric acid production by covalently binding to the (H + , K + )-ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cell.”; Dexlansoprazole, “Dexlansoprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the (H + , K + )-ATPase at the secretory …”
Both are in FDA's class proton pump inhibitors.
Half-life, in each label's words: Pantoprazole, “Although these subpopulations of pantoprazole poor metabolizers have elimination half-life values of 3.5 to 10 hours in …”; Dexlansoprazole, “NT Once Daily for 7 Days Dose C max (ng/mL) AUC tau (ng∙h/mL) CL/F (L/h) 30 mg (N=17) 691 (53) 2,886 (47) 12.8 (48) 60 …”
Generics: pantoprazole since 2007; dexlansoprazole since 2017 (Drugs@FDA).
| Pantoprazole | Dexlansoprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Proton Pump Inhibitor | Proton Pump Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | Pantoprazole is a PPI that suppresses the final step in gastric acid production by covalently binding to the (H + , K + )-ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cell. | Dexlansoprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the (H + , K + )-ATPase at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cell. |
| Half-life (label) | Although these subpopulations of pantoprazole poor metabolizers have elimination half-life values of 3.5 to 10 hours in adults, they still have minimal accumulation (23% or less) with once-daily dosing. | NT Once Daily for 7 Days Dose C max (ng/mL) AUC tau (ng∙h/mL) CL/F (L/h) 30 mg (N=17) 691 (53) 2,886 (47) 12.8 (48) 60 mg (N=18) 1,136 (51) 5,120 (58) 15.3 (49) Age: Geriatric Population The terminal elimination … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 2, 2000 | January 30, 2009 |
| First generic approved | August 2, 2007 | April 19, 2017 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 66 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0358 per tablet (Pantoprazole sod DR 40 mg tablet) | $3.71 per capsule (Dexlansoprazole DR 60 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -18% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 0 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 330,183 | 41,466 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to pantoprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions