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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.

What Is Aciphex?

Aciphex® (rabeprazole sodium) is a medication that is used to treat a number of conditions within the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, including:
 
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Erosive esophagitis
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections
  • Pathological hypersecretory conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
  • Duodenal ulcers.
 
(Click What Is Aciphex Used For? for more information about what this medication is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
  

Who Makes Aciphex?

Aciphex medicine is manufactured by Eisai Co. and marketed by Eisai and PRICARA, a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 

How Does It Work?

Aciphex is part of a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).The stomach contains tiny pumps (called proton pumps) that produce acid. Aciphex works by binding to the proton pumps, stopping them from producing acid. PPIs are very effective at decreasing acid production.
 

Effectiveness

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.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
 
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