Rabeprazole (By mouth)

Introduction

Rabeprazole (ra-BEP-ra-zole)

Treats heartburn, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and conditions that cause your stomach to make too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Also helps heal a damaged esophagus, and helps prevent stomach bleeding in patients who have a serious illness. This medicine may be used in combination with antibiotics to treat ulcers. This medicine is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

Brand Name(s)

Aciphex

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

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

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using atazanavir (Reyataz®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®), digoxin (Lanoxin®), a blood thinner (such as warfarin or Coumadin®), or medicine to treat a fungus infection (such as ketoconazole or Nizoral®).
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using a diuretic (water pill, such as bumetanide, chlorothiazide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), indapamide, metolazone, torsemide, Bumex®, Demadex®, Diuril®, Edecrin®, Lasix®, Lozol®, or Zaroxolyn®) or certain medicines to treat high blood pressure (such as atenolol, enalapril, lisinopril, losartan, metoprolol, olmesartan, valsartan, Accupril®, Cozaar®, Diovan®, Lotrel®, Toprol®, or Zestril®).

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

How to Use This Medicine

Delayed Release Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, crush, or break it.
• Take this medicine after your morning meal if you are treating a stomach ulcer.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, osteoporosis, or a history of low magnesium levels in your blood.
• This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). This is more likely to occur if you take this medicine longer than 1 year, or if you take it with digoxin or certain diuretics (water pills). Stop using this medicine and tell your doctor right away if you have seizures, dizziness, a fast or pounding heartbeat, or muscle spasms.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have diarrhea that does not go away, stomach pain, and fever while taking this medicine.
• You may be at risk for Clostridium difficile colitis (also called C diff) if you take this medicine. C diff is an inflammation of your large intestine that causes diarrhea. You have a higher risk of this condition if you are also using antibiotics, are elderly, or have other health conditions.If you have severe diarrhea, ask your doctor before taking any medicine to stop the diarrhea.
• This medicine may increase your risk of broken bones in the hip, wrist, and spine. This is more likely if you are older than 50, if you receive high doses of this medicine, or you use it for longer than 1 year.
• This medicine is sometimes given together with other medicines to treat ulcers. Make sure you understand how to use the combination of medicines.
• Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. This medicine may affect the results of certain medical tests.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.You may need blood or other lab tests to check for unwanted effects.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

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, or red skin rash
• Fast or uneven heartbeat
• Severe diarrhea that does not go away, stomach pain, and fever
• Seizures, muscle spasms, or tremors

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

• Constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea or vomiting, or stomach pain
• Headache

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