Generic name: rabeprazole [ ra-BEP-ra-zole ]
Known brands: AcipHex, AcipHex Sprinkle
Dosage forms: oral delayed release capsule (10 mg; 5 mg), oral delayed release tablet (20 mg)
Type of drug: Proton pump inhibitors
What exactly is rabeprazole?
Rabeprazole is used for a short time to treat the symptoms of GERD in adults and children who are at least 1 year old.
Rabeprazole is only given to adults to treat conditions like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome that are caused by too much acid in the stomach. Rabeprazole is also given to adults with duodenal ulcers or erosive esophagitis to help them heal (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).
Rabeprazole can also be given with an antibiotic to stop Helicobacter pylori infections from causing duodenal ulcers (H. pylori).
Rabeprazole is not used to treat heartburn right away.
Rabeprazole can also be used for other things that aren’t in this guide.
Warnings
Rabeprazole can cause kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you’re not going to the bathroom as much as usual or if there’s blood in your urine.
If you have diarrhea, you might have a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, you should call your doctor.
Rabeprazole may cause or make lupus symptoms worse or bring on new ones. Tell your doctor if you have joint pain and a rash that gets worse in the sun on your cheeks or arms.
If you take rabeprazole for a long time or more than once a day, you may be more likely to break a bone.
Related/similar drugs
amoxicillin, omeprazole, famotidine, pantoprazole, metronidazole, Protonix, Nexium
Before you take this medicine
Early signs of a heart attack can be like those of heartburn. Get help from a doctor right away if you have chest pain that moves to your jaw or shoulder and makes you feel anxious or dizzy.
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to rabeprazole or if you have the following conditions:
- If you are also taking a drug that has rilpivirine in it (Edurant, Complera, Juluca, or Odefsey);
- If you had trouble breathing, kidney problems, or a severe allergic reaction the last time you took rabeprazole; or
- If you are also allergic to medicines like rabeprazole, like esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, and others.
You should tell your doctor if you have ever:
- The liver is sick;
- Osteoporosis or osteopenia, which is a low bone mineral density;
- Lupus (an autoimmune disorder); or
- Your blood does not have enough magnesium.
If you take a proton pump inhibitor for a long time or more than once a day, you may be more likely to break a bone in your hip, wrist, or spine. Talk to your doctor about how to take care of your bones.
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or pregnant.
Don’t give this medicine to a child unless a doctor tells you to. Certain kinds and doses of rabeprazole shouldn’t be given to kids under the age of 12.
How do I take the medicine rabeprazole?
Most people take Rabeprazole once a day. Follow all of the directions on the label of your prescription, and read any guides or instruction sheets that come with it. Follow the directions to the letter.
Rabeprazole should only be taken for a short time, usually between 4 and 8 weeks. If you need more time to heal, your doctor may suggest a second course of treatment.
You shouldn’t give AcipHex Sprinkle to a child younger than 1 year old.
Rabeprazole should be taken with a full glass of water.
To treat duodenal ulcers with rabeprazole, take the medicine after a meal. Take Rabeprazole with food if you are taking it to prevent ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori. If you need to take rabeprazole for something else, you can do so with or without food.
Instructions for Use that come with your medicine should be carefully read and followed. If you don’t understand what to do, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet. Instead, swallow it whole.
Do not take an AcipHex Sprinkle delayed-release capsule all at once. Open it and sprinkle the medicine on a spoonful of soft food, like applesauce, yogurt, or fruit- or vegetable-based baby food. You can also add apple juice, Pedialyte, or infant formula to the medicine. Don’t chew the mixture; just swallow it right away. Don’t keep it to use later.
Some medical tests may not be accurate if you take this medicine. Tell any doctor you see that you take rabeprazole.
Rabeprazole and antibiotics are used together to treat some conditions. Follow the directions for all medicines.
Take your medicine for the full amount of time it says to, even if your symptoms get better quickly.
If your symptoms don’t get better or get worse while you are taking rabeprazole, you should call your doctor.
Keep at room temperature and away from heat and moisture.
What will happen if I don’t take a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the dose you missed if your next dose is almost due. Take only one dose at a time.
What happens if I overdose?
Get help from a doctor right away or call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the Poison Help line.
What should I stay away from while I’m on rabeprazole?
Rabeprazole can make you have diarrhea, which could mean you have a new infection. Before taking medicine to stop diarrhea, call your doctor if you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody.
Rabeprazole side effects
If you have hives, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face, lips, tongue, or throat, you may be having an allergic reaction.
Rabeprazole could have some very bad side effects. Call your doctor right away if:
- a lot of pain in your stomach, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
- sudden hip, wrist, or back pain or trouble moving;
- seizure (convulsions);
- Symptoms of kidney problems include fever, rash, nausea, loss of appetite, joint pain, urinating less than usual, blood in your urine, swelling, and gaining weight quickly.
- Joint pain and a rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun are new or getting worse signs of lupus.
- Low magnesium can cause dizziness, a fast or irregular heartbeat, tremors (shaking) or jerking movements in your muscles, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms in your hands and feet, a cough or a feeling like you’re going to choke, or a feeling of choking.
- Signs of blood loss (if you also take warfarin)—headaches, dizziness, weakness, pain, or swelling, unusual bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums), bruising, red or pink urine, heavy menstrual flow, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds, or any bleeding that won’t stop.
If you take rabeprazole for a long time, you may get growths in your stomach called polyps in the fundic glands. Talk to your doctor about this possible danger.
If you take rabeprazole for more than three years, you might not get enough vitamin B-12. Talk to your doctor about what to do if you get this condition.
Some of the most common side effects of rabeprazole are:
- infection;
- pain;
- sore throat;
- headache;
- nausea, vomiting;
- gas, diarrhea, constipation; or
- stomach pain.
This isn’t a full list of all possible side effects, and there may be others. You should talk to your doctor about any side effects. You can call 1-800-FDA-1088 to tell the FDA about side effects.
What other medications might interact with rabeprazole?
Tell your doctor what medicines you’re taking. Rabeprazole can interact with a lot of drugs, especially:
- An antibiotic such as clarithromycin or amoxicillin;
- Digoxin;
- A diuretic or “water pill”;
- Methotrexate; or
- Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
This is not a full list of all the drugs that can interact with rabeprazole. This includes medicines you get from a doctor or buy over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Not every drug interaction that could happen is on this list.
More about rabeprazole
- Check interactions
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (82)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: proton pump inhibitors
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
- Patient Information
- Rabeprazole Sprinkle Capsules
Other brands
Aciphex, Aciphex Sprinkle
Professional resources
- Prescribing Information
Related treatment guides
- Barrett’s Esophagus
- Duodenal Ulcer
- Erosive Esophagitis
- Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis
For more details
Remember to keep this and all other medicines out of reach of children, to never give your medicines to other people, and to only use this medicine for what it was prescribed for.
Talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider to make sure that the information on this page applies to your situation.
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