Generic Name: rabeprazole (ra BEP ra zole)
Brand Names: AcipHex
What is rabeprazole?
Rabeprazole is in a group of drugs called proton pump inhibitors. Rabeprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach.
Rabeprazole is used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Rabeprazole is also used to promote healing of erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).
Rabeprazole may also be given with an antibiotic to prevent gastric ulcer caused by infection with helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
Rabeprazole is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.
Rabeprazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about rabeprazole?
Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to rabeprazole or to similar medicines such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), or pantoprazole (Protonix). Rabeprazole is not for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.
Some conditions are treated with a combination of rabeprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.
Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking rabeprazole?
Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack. Seek emergency medical attention if you have chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a general ill feeling.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to rabeprazole or to similar medicines such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), or pantoprazole (Protonix).
To make sure you can safely take rabeprazole, tell your doctor if you have severe liver disease or low magnesium levels in your blood.
Some conditions are treated with a combination of rabeprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.
Taking a proton pump inhibitor such as rabeprazole may increase your risk of bone fracture in the hip, wrist, or spine. This effect has occurred mostly in people who have taken the medication long term or at high doses, and in those who are age 50 and older. It is not clear whether rabeprazole is the actual cause of an increased risk of fracture. Before you take this medication, tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone mineral density). FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether rabeprazole passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take rabeprazole?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Rabeprazole is usually given for 4 to 8 weeks only. Your doctor may recommend a second course of treatment if you need additional healing time.
When treating H. pylori infection, rabeprazole may be needed for only 7 days. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Take this medicine with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Rabeprazole may be taken with or without food.
Do not crush, break, or chew a rabeprazole tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse while you are taking this medicine. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
See also: Rabeprazole dosage (in more detail)
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking rabeprazole?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Rabeprazole side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using rabeprazole and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of low magnesium such as:
dizziness, confusion;
fast or uneven heart rate;
jerking muscle movements;
feeling jittery;
muscle cramps, muscle weakness or limp feeling;
cough or choking feeling; or
seizure (convulsions).
Less serious side effects may include:
headache;
upset stomach or diarrhea;
insomnia or nervousness; or
a rash or itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Rabeprazole Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Duodenal Ulcer:
20 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal. The usual duration of therapy is four weeks in most patients, however, some patients may require additional therapy to achieve ulcer healing.
Usual Adult Dose for Erosive Esophagitis:
20 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal. Therapy should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks.
Usual Adult Dose for Gastric Ulcer:
20 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal. Therapy should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks.
Usual Adult Dose for Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis:
20 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal. Studies evaluating maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcers have not extended beyond 12 months.
Usual Adult Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:
20 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal. Therapy should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks.
Maintenance therapy may be required in some patients as part of relapse of erosive esophagitis or ulcerative gastroesophageal reflux disease is not uncommon. Studies have shown rabeprazole 20 mg orally once a day for 52 weeks to provide 86% to 90% maintenance of healing.
Usual Adult Dose for Helicobacter pylori Infection:
Three drug regimen: rabeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg orally two times daily with morning and evening meals for 7 days.
In triple therapy studies, rabeprazole 20 mg was combined with either clarithromycin 500 mg and metronidazole 400 mg, or amoxicillin 1000 mg and clarithromycin 500 mg, or amoxicillin 1000 mg and metronidazole 400 mg each given orally twice a day for 7 days. These combinations provided eradication rates of 100%, 95%, and 90% respectively.
In dual therapy studies, rabeprazole 20 mg was combined with clarithromycin 500 mg orally twice a day for 7 days which provided an eradication rate of 63%.
Usual Adult Dose for Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome:
Initial: 60 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal.
Maintenance: Doses up to 100 mg orally once a day or 60 mg orally twice a day have been administered. Patients have been treated continuously for up to one year.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:
12 years or above: 20 mg orally once a day, after the morning meal. Therapy should be continued for 8 weeks.
What other drugs will affect rabeprazole?
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
atazanavir (Reyataz);
a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);
digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);
a diuretic (water pill);
ketoconazole (Nizoral); or
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with rabeprazole. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More rabeprazole resources
- Rabeprazole Side Effects (in more detail)
- Rabeprazole Dosage
- Rabeprazole Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Rabeprazole Drug Interactions
- Rabeprazole Support Group
- 31 Reviews for Rabeprazole - Add your own review/rating
- rabeprazole Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- AcipHex Monograph (AHFS DI)
- Aciphex Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Aciphex Consumer Overview
- Rabeprazole MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare rabeprazole with other medications
- Barrett's Esophagus
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis
- Erosive Esophagitis
- GERD
- Helicobacter Pylori Infection
- Stomach Ulcer
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about rabeprazole.
See also: rabeprazole side effects (in more detail)
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