Aciphex

Pronunciation: ra-BEP-ra-zole
Generic Name: Rabeprazole
Brand Name: Aciphex

Aciphex is used for:

Treating heartburn or irritation of the esophagus caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It may be used for short-term treatment of ulcers of the small intestine. It may be used with certain antibiotics to treat ulcers of the small intestine and to help prevent them from coming back. It may be used to treat conditions that cause your body to make too much stomach acid (eg, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Aciphex is a proton pump inhibitor. It works by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach.

Do NOT use Aciphex if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Aciphex or to similar medicines (eg, omeprazole)


• you are taking dasatinib or certain HIV protease inhibitors (eg, atazanavir)

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Aciphex:

Some medical conditions may interact with Aciphex. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding


• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement


• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances


• if you have low blood potassium or magnesium levels, liver problems, or stomach or bowel cancer


• if you have osteoporosis (weak bones), a family history of osteoporosis, or other risk factors of osteoporosis (eg, smoking, poor nutrition)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Aciphex. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Diuretics (eg, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) because the risk of low blood magnesium levels may be increased


• Clarithromycin or voriconazole because they may increase the risk of Aciphex's side effects


• Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), cyclosporine, or digoxin because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Aciphex


• Azole antifungals (eg, ketoconazole), clopidogrel, dasatinib, HIV protease inhibitors (eg, atazanavir, indinavir), iron, mycophenolate, or nilotinib because their effectiveness may be decreased by Aciphex

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Aciphex may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Aciphex:

Use Aciphex as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Aciphex by mouth with or without food.


• Swallow Aciphex whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.


• You may take antacids while you are taking Aciphex if you are directed to do so by your doctor.


• If you also take an imidazole antifungal (eg, ketoconazole), take it at least 2 hours before taking Aciphex.


• If you also take sucralfate, take Aciphex at least 30 minutes before taking sucralfate.


• Continue to take Aciphex even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.


• If you miss a dose of Aciphex, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Aciphex.

Important safety information:

• Aciphex may cause drowsiness or dizziness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Aciphex with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.


• Contact your doctor if you have any symptoms of a bleeding ulcer, such as black, tarry stools or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or if you experience throat pain, chest pain, severe stomach pain, or trouble swallowing.


• Aciphex may increase the risk of hip, wrist, and spine fractures in patients with weak bones (osteoporosis). The risk may be greater if you use Aciphex in high doses, for longer than a year, or if you are over 50 years old. Do NOT take more than the recommended dose or use for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Contact your doctor if you have any questions about this information.


• Low blood magnesium levels have been reported rarely in patients taking PPIs for at least 3 months. In most cases, this effect was seen after a year of treatment. If you will be taking Aciphex for a long time, or if you take certain other medicines (eg, digoxin, diuretics), your doctor may perform lab tests to check for low blood magnesium levels. Seek medical attention right away if you experience symptoms of low blood magnesium levels (eg, dizziness; fast or irregular heartbeat; involuntary muscle movements; jitteriness or tremors; muscle aches, cramps, pain, spasms, or weakness; seizures).


• Check with your doctor to see whether you should take a calcium and vitamin D supplement while you use Aciphex.


• Aciphex may interfere with certain lab tests. Be sure your doctor and lab personnel know you are taking Aciphex.


• Aciphex should be used with extreme caution in Asian patients; the risk of side effects may be increased in these patients.


• Use Aciphex with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially hip, wrist, and spine fractures.


• Aciphex should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 12 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.


• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Aciphex while you are pregnant. It is not known if Aciphex is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Aciphex.

Possible side effects of Aciphex:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; headache.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bone pain; chest pain; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent stomach pain; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

See also: Aciphex side effects (in more detail)

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately.

Proper storage of Aciphex:

Store Aciphex at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Aciphex out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Aciphex, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.


• Aciphex is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.


• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.


• Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Aciphex. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: February 1, 2012

Database Edition 12.1.1.002

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

More Aciphex resources

• Aciphex Side Effects (in more detail)
• Aciphex Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Aciphex Drug Interactions
• Aciphex Support Group
• 29 Reviews for Aciphex - Add your own review/rating

• Aciphex Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Aciphex Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Aciphex Consumer Overview


• AcipHex Monograph (AHFS DI)

Compare Aciphex with other medications

• Barrett's Esophagus
• Duodenal Ulcer
• Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis
• Erosive Esophagitis
• GERD
• Helicobacter Pylori Infection
• Stomach Ulcer
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome