Generic Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole is an oral drug that is used for the treatment of conditions caused by acid. Generic Rabeprazole belongs to the class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors or PPIs which block the production of acid by the stomach. In short generic Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole is used to treat conditions where the stomach produces too much acid, including ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease i.e. GERD, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Other drugs in the same class include lansoprazole i.e. Prevacid omeprazole i.e. Prilosec, pantoprazole i.e. Protonix and esomeprazole i.e. Nexium. PPIs are used for the treatment of acid-caused conditions such as stomach and duodenal ulcers gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. Rabeprazole like other PPIs blocks the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that makes and secretes acid into the stomach. By blocking the enzyme the secretion of acid into the stomach is decreased and this allows ulcers in the stomach and esophagus to heal.

However, before taking Rabeprazole i.e. Aciphex medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Aciphex medication. However, Aciphex may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

For healing ulcerative or erosive GERD the recommended dose for adults is 20 mg daily for 4-8 weeks. If healing does not occur after 8 weeks, another 8 week course may be considered. The recommended maintenance dose is 20 mg daily. Heartburn due to GERD is treated with 20 mg daily for 4 weeks and an additional 4 weeks if symptoms do not resolve. Ulcers are treated with 20 mg daily for 4 weeks.

Moreover, for the management of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome the starting dose for adults is 60 mg daily and the dose is adjusted based on improvement in symptoms healing of ulcers or the effectiveness of acid suppression. Doses of 100 mg per day and 60 mg twice daily have been used in some patients with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. The regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori is Rabeprazole 20 mg, clarithromycin 500 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg all given twice daily morning and evening for 7 days.

Tablets should be swallowed whole and should not be crushed split or chewed. Rabeprazole can be taken with or without meals since food has little effect on its absorption. However, when taken for ulcers, Rabeprazole should be taken after the morning meal.

If you wish to use the medication for your children, please contact your pediatrician for the dosage.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

Rabeprazole like other PPIs has few side effects. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, rashes, and headaches. Dizziness, nervousness, abnormal heartbeats, muscle pain, weakness, leg cramps and water retention rarely occurs. However, hepatitis has rarely been associated with the use of Rabeprazole.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

There have been reports of an increase in the effect of the blood thinner warfarin by Rabeprazole which theoretically could lead to increased bleeding. Patients taking warfarin should be monitored more frequently if the begin taking Rabeprazole.

Rabeprazole may reduce the elimination of cyclosporine in the liver thereby increasing cyclosporine levels in the blood and potentially lead to cyclosporine toxicity.

The absorption of certain drugs may be affected by changes in stomach acidity. Rabeprazole and other PPIs that reduce stomach acid reduce the absorption and concentration in blood of ketoconazole i.e. Nizoral and increase the absorption and concentration in blood of digoxin i.e. Lanoxin. This may lead to reduced effectiveness of ketoconazole or increased digoxin toxicity respectively.

Moreover, Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Aciphex medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are taking Aciphex medication.

Moreover, if you are consuming the Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole medication for gastric ulcers or reflux disease, your symptoms should improve within 4 to 8 weeks.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Rabeprazole is used for treating ulcers of the stomach and duodenum erosive or ulcerative gastroesophageal reflux disease i.e. GERD and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome in which there is overproduction of acid caused by tumors. It also is used with antibiotics for eradicating Helicobacter pylori infections of the stomach that along with acid are responsible for many ulcers.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole medication may be prescribed for other uses also, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole medication.

Generic Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole tablets should be stored at room temperature 59-86°F and 15-30°C in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Aciphex tablets in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or smoke.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Aciphex medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc. Be sure to mention any of the following: cyclosporine i.e. Neoral, Sandimmune, and digoxin i.e. Lanoxin and ketoconazole i.e. Nizoral. This is because, your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

4. Do not use the Aciphex i.e. Rabeprazole medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated. Also inform if you are allergic to rabeprazole, lansoprazole i.e. Prevacid, omeprazole i.e. Prilosec, pantoprazole i.e. Protonix, or any other medications.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Aciphex medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course as this drug should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Aciphex medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course. Also, avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete.

9. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Aciphex.