Medications
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Aciphex
Aciphex is a medication that is licensed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, duodenal ulcers, and other conditions. This medication works by blocking the acid production sites, thus reducing the amount of acid in your stomach. Common side effects of Aciphex include headache, diarrhea, and nausea.
Aciphex® (rabeprazole sodium) is a medication that is used to treat a number of conditions within the esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
Aciphex medicine is manufactured by Eisai Co. and marketed by Janssen Pharmaceutical, Inc.
The medication is licensed to treat a number of conditions, including:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Erosive esophagitis
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections
- Pathological hypersecretory conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
- Duodenal ulcers.
Aciphex is part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which decrease the amount of acid in your stomach by blocking the acid production sites.
Aciphex reduces the amount of acid in your stomach, which can:
- Make heartburn and other GERD symptoms go away
- Allow damage to the esophagus to heal
- Give the stomach or intestines time to heal.
Some general considerations for when and how to take the medication include:
- Aciphex comes in tablet form. It can be taken with or without food.
- The tablets should not be split, chewed, or crushed.
- It should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the medication in your system.
- For it to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. It will not work if you stop taking it.
The dosage your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- Other medical conditions you may have
- Other medications you may be currently taking.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
(Click Aciphex Dosing for more information.)
As with any medicine, there are possible side effects. Not everyone who takes Aciphex will experience side effects, however. When people do develop side effects, they are usually minor, meaning that they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider.
Common side effects include, but are not limited to:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Flatulence
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Dry mouth.
(Click Aciphex Side Effects to learn about the specific side effects of this drug.)
There are a number of medicines Aciphex can potentially interact with.
(Click Aciphex Drug Interactions for more information on this topic.)
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this drug if you:
- Have liver disease or liver failure
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have any allergies.
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
(Click Aciphex Precautions and Warnings for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take Aciphex.)
There have been a limited number of cases of people overdosing on Aciphex. Therefore, the overdose symptoms are not well known. If you happen to overdose, seek medical attention immediately.
Aciphex should be stored at room temperature and kept in an airtight container, away from moisture. It is important to keep Aciphex and all medications out of the reach of children.
If you do not take your Aciphex as scheduled, take your next scheduled dose at its normal time. Never take a double dose!
Aciphex is available in one strength -- Aciphex 20 mg.
There is currently no generic Aciphex available for sale.
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
