Two medicines, side by side
Esomeprazole vs pantoprazole
Esomeprazole and pantoprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of esomeprazole since 2001 and of pantoprazole since 2000. Pharmacies paid $0.145 per esomeprazole mag DR 20 mg capsule and $0.0358 per pantoprazole sod DR 40 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the esomeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 19, 2024); the pantoprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 18, 2026).
Highlights of the esomeprazole record
Esomeprazole (Nexium) · label of March 19, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstreats frequent heartburn (occurs 2 or more days a week) not intended for immediate relief of heartburn; this drug may take 1 to 4 days for full effect
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 20, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 116 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.145 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 12
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Esomeprazole label of March 19, 2024, Pantoprazole label of May 18, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do esomeprazole and pantoprazole differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class proton pump inhibitors.
Generics: esomeprazole since 2013; pantoprazole since 2007 (Drugs@FDA).
| Esomeprazole | Pantoprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Proton Pump Inhibitor | Proton Pump Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | 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. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | 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. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 20, 2001 | February 2, 2000 |
| First generic approved | March 18, 2013 | August 2, 2007 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 116 labelers | 66 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.145 per capsule (Esomeprazole mag DR 20 mg capsule) | $0.0358 per tablet (Pantoprazole sod DR 40 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 12 | 25 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 235,202 | 330,183 |
| 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 esomeprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions