Hello, I'm an expert in the field of pharmacology. Let's dive into the differences between ranitidine and pantoprazole. Ranitidine is an H2-receptor antagonist, which means it works by blocking histamine receptors in the stomach cells, reducing the amount of acid produced. It's commonly used to treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and other issues related to excess stomach acid. Pantoprazole, on the other hand, is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by inhibiting the enzyme system in the stomach that produces acid, thus reducing the overall amount of acid in the stomach. PPIs are also used to treat similar conditions as H2-receptor antagonists but are generally considered more potent and longer-lasting. While both medications are used to treat conditions related to excess stomach acid, they do so through different mechanisms. **read more >>

Both of these medications block acid production by two different mechanisms. Protonix is a proton pump inhibitor while ranitidine prevents gastric acid stimulation by blocking histamine release in the stomach. Protonix is prescription strength, while ranitidine is over-the-counter.read more >>