Rabeprazole (By mouth)

ra-BEP-ra-zole

Treats heartburn, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagus damage, and conditions that cause your stomach to make too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. This medicine may be used with antibiotics to treat H pylori stomach infections and ulcers.

Drug classes

Antiulcer, Gastric Acid Secretion Inhibitor (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Rabeprazole is used to treat certain conditions where there is too much acid in the stomach. It is used to treat duodenal ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition where the acid in the stomach washes back up into the esophagus. Sometimes rabeprazole is used along with antibiotics (eg, amoxicillin, clarithromycin) to treat ulcers associated with infections caused by the H. pylori bacteria.

Rabeprazole is also used to treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition in which the stomach produces too much acid.

Rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by decreasing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Delayed Release Capsule, Delayed Release Tablet

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

Delayed-release capsule:

Take the medicine 30 minutes before a meal. Open 1 capsule and pour the contents into a small amount of soft food (such as applesauce, fruit or vegetable baby food, yogurt) or a small amount of liquid (such as infant formula, apple juice, or pediatric electrolyte solution [Pedialyte®]). Swallow the mixture without chewing. Take the entire mixture within 15 minutes to make sure that you get the full dose. Do not save it for later use.

Delayed-release tablet:

Swallow the tablet whole with water. Do not chew, crush, or break it. You may take it with or without food.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Do not take atazanavir with this medicine, unless your doctor says it is okay.

If you are using this medicine with clarithromycin, do not use these medicines together with cisapride or pimozide.

Some medicines can affect how rabeprazole works. Tell your doctor if you also use a diuretic (water pill), cyclosporine, digoxin, ketoconazole, methotrexate, an iron supplement, or a blood thinner (such as warfarin).

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to rabeprazole.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver problems or osteoporosis.

This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels).

This medicine can cause diarrhea. Call your doctor if the diarrhea becomes severe, does not stop, or is bloody. Do not take any medicine to stop diarrhea until you have talked to your doctor. Diarrhea can occur 2 months or more after you stop taking this medicine.

This medicine may increase your risk of broken bones in the hip, wrist, or spine. This is more likely if you take this medicine more than once a day, or if you use it for 1 year or longer.

Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Blistering, peeling, red skin rash

Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat

Seizures, dizziness, muscle spasms or cramps

Severe diarrhea that does not go away, stomach pain, fever

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Headache

Mild diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea, vomiting

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Aciphex, Aciphex Sprinkle

There may be other brand names for this medicine.