Posted by John Protonix is a proton pump inhibitor which works by limiting the last step in the production of stomach acid. This drug is metabolized by the CYP450 enzyme group, so this might affect Prograf levels if you stop taking it. I do not really understand it either: ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), and famitidine (Pepcid) are drugs classed as histamine H2-receptor antagonists. These limit acid production, but at a different site, at the level of the histamine receptors in parietal cells. Youll have to ask you doctor exactly what difference this makes to their effectiveness when used with a meal or at night. Apparently these H2 drugs do not affect CYP450 3A enzymes, so should not affect Prograf levels much if at all. If your doctor thinks that the drugs will not be effective substitutes, then he can let the insurance company know and I think that they will keep on with Protonix, at least that is the way most of them work. Trimox (amoxicillin) is a good broad spectrum drug, and 2000 mg does not sound like an unusual dose for a single dose. While lower doses (500-900 mg) are used over a span of 7-10 days, I have seen doses as high as 3000 mg used for a single dose.
on 6/13/2003, 9:00 pm, in reply to "antibioitic"
To me, they are not really equivalent drugs. But ask your doctor.
John
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