Aciphex Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Aciphex Tablet contains rabeprazole sodium, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes. It is used to treat conditions caused by too much stomach acid, such as heartburn, GERD, and duodenal ulcers. Aciphex is available as a 20 mg delayed-release tablet, usually taken once a day.

What is Aciphex Tablet

Aciphex is a prescription medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It lowers the amount of acid your stomach makes, which helps treat conditions caused by too much stomach acid, such as heartburn and ulcers.

Aciphex Tablet uses

• Healing erosive or ulcerative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults for 4 to 8 weeks
• Maintaining healing of erosive or ulcerative GERD in adults
• Treating daytime and nighttime heartburn and other GERD symptoms in adults for up to 4 weeks
• Healing duodenal ulcers in adults for up to 4 weeks
• Treating H. pylori infection together with antibiotics to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcers coming back
• Long-term treatment of conditions where the stomach makes too much acid, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
• Treating symptomatic GERD in adolescents 12 years of age and older for up to 8 weeks

Benefits of Aciphex Tablet

• Relieves heartburn and other GERD symptoms
• Helps heal damage to the esophagus caused by stomach acid
• Helps heal duodenal ulcers
• Helps clear H. pylori infection when combined with antibiotics
• Controls excess stomach acid in conditions like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

How Aciphex Tablet works

Aciphex blocks the stomach's acid pump, which is the final step in acid production, so your stomach makes much less acid. This can reduce symptoms and allow damaged tissue in the esophagus or intestine to heal.

Aciphex Tablet dosage

Aciphex is usually taken once a day; your doctor will tell you what time of day to take it based on your condition. It can be taken with or without food for most uses, but your doctor will give you specific instructions. For duodenal ulcers, take it after a meal. For H. pylori treatment, take it with food.

Swallow the tablet whole; do not chew, crush, or split it. Take it with a full glass of water.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, but if it's almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and go back to your regular schedule; do not take two doses at the same time. Antibiotics may be prescribed along with this medicine for certain infections; follow the instructions for those medicines as well. Take it for the full length of time your doctor prescribes, even if you feel better.

Available forms and strengths

• Delayed-release tablet (20 mg)

Side effects of Aciphex Tablet

Common

• Pain
• Sore throat
• Gas
• Infection
• Constipation
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach-area (abdomen) pain
• Rash or itching
• Insomnia
• Nervousness

Serious

• Severe stomach pain
• Bloody or watery diarrhea
• Sudden pain or difficulty moving hip, wrist, or back (possible bone fracture)
• Seizures (convulsions)
• Urinating less than usual or blood in urine (kidney problem)
• Swelling and rapid weight gain
• Joint pain and skin rash on cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight (lupus symptoms)
• Dizziness, fast or irregular heart rate, tremors, jitteriness, muscle cramps or spasms in hands or feet, cough, or choking feeling (low magnesium)
• Signs of bleeding if taking warfarin: headaches, dizziness, weakness, bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, pink or red urine, heavy menstrual flow, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction: hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing
• Severe skin reactions with blistering, peeling, or bleeding of the skin, possibly with fever, chills, body aches, or swollen lymph nodes
• Low vitamin B-12 levels after long-term use (more than 3 years): shortness of breath, lightheadedness, irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, pale skin, tiredness, mood changes, tingling or numbness in arms and legs
• Stomach growths called fundic gland polyps with long-term use

Warnings and precautions

Take Aciphex exactly as prescribed, at the lowest dose and for the shortest time needed, since serious side effects are possible. Do not take Aciphex if you are allergic to rabeprazole or other proton pump inhibitors, or if you take medicines containing rilpivirine for HIV.

Taking Aciphex with warfarin can increase the risk of bleeding and even death, so your doctor may need to monitor your blood. Long-term use (a year or longer) and multiple daily doses may increase the risk of bone fractures in the hip, wrist, or spine. Aciphex may cause new or worsening lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune condition. Relief of symptoms does not rule out the possibility of a more serious stomach condition, including stomach cancer.

It is not known if Aciphex can harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

It is not known if Aciphex passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine.

Aciphex can cause a kidney problem called acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, which can happen at any time during treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you urinate less than usual or have blood in your urine.

Tell your doctor if you have liver problems before taking Aciphex, as this may affect how the drug is processed by your body.

Storage

• Store in a dry place at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C)
• Protect from moisture
• Keep out of the reach of children

When to see a doctor

• Call your doctor right away if you urinate less than usual or notice blood in your urine.
• Call your doctor right away if you have watery or bloody diarrhea, or stomach pain that does not go away.
• Tell your doctor if you have a bone fracture, especially in the hip, wrist, or spine.
• Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsening joint pain or a rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun.
• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or difficulty breathing.
• Stop taking Aciphex and call your doctor right away if you notice a skin rash, especially with blistering, peeling, fever, or swollen lymph nodes, as this could be a serious skin reaction.

Alternatives

• Pantoprazole
• Esomeprazole
• Omeprazole