Long term side effects of taking prevacid or protonix (pantoprazole)?

PPI side effects: Prevacid, protonix, (pantoprazole) Prilosec (& their generic equivalents) are similar, very well tolerated medications called proton pump inhibitors. In the short term they can cause a number of dose-dependent side effects including commonly headache and diarhea. Longer term use carries other consequences (please see my earlier answer on this topic in healthtap)--like bone thinning, low magnesium, c.Difficile.