Two medicines, side by side
Pantoprazole vs rabeprazole
Pantoprazole and rabeprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of pantoprazole since 2000 and of rabeprazole since 1999. Pharmacies paid $0.0358 per pantoprazole sod DR 40 mg tablet and $0.224 per rabeprazole sod DR 20 mg tablet (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.”; Rabeprazole, “Rabeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds (substituted benzimidazole proton-pump inhibitors) that do not exhibit anticholinergic or histamine H 2 -receptor antagonist properties, but …”
Check it at the source: the pantoprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 18, 2026); the rabeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 2026).
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 rabeprazole record
Rabeprazole (Aciphex) · label of January 27, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsACIPHEX delayed-release tablets is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated in adults for: Healing of Erosive or Ulcerative Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) ( 1.1 ). Maintenance of Healing of Erosive or Ulcerative GERD ( 1.2 ). Treatment of Symptomatic GERD ( 1.3 ). Healing of Duodenal Ulcers ( 1.4 ). Helicobacter pylori Eradication to Reduce Risk of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence ( 1.5 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1999
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.224 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Pantoprazole label of May 18, 2026, Rabeprazole label of January 27, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do pantoprazole and rabeprazole 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.”; Rabeprazole, “Rabeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds (substituted benzimidazole proton-pump inhibitors) that do not exhibit anticholinergic or histamine H 2 -receptor antagonist properties, but …”
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 …”; Rabeprazole, “This relatively prolonged pharmacodynamic action compared to the short pharmacokinetic half-life (1 to 2 hours) …”
Generics: pantoprazole since 2007; rabeprazole since 2013 (Drugs@FDA).
| Pantoprazole | Rabeprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rabeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds (substituted benzimidazole proton-pump inhibitors) that do not exhibit anticholinergic or histamine H 2 -receptor antagonist properties, but suppress gastric acid secretion by … |
| 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. | This relatively prolonged pharmacodynamic action compared to the short pharmacokinetic half-life (1 to 2 hours) reflects the sustained inactivation of the H + , K + ATPase. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 2, 2000 | August 19, 1999 |
| First generic approved | August 2, 2007 | November 8, 2013 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 66 labelers | 20 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0358 per tablet (Pantoprazole sod DR 40 mg tablet) | $0.224 per tablet (Rabeprazole sod DR 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -4% | -0.4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 25 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 330,183 | 38,147 |
| 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