Aciphex

Aciphex is used to treat stomach ulcers, peptic ulcers, duodenal ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Five things you should know before buying Aciphex online.

Generic Name: rabeprazole sodium

Aciphex is a medicine called a proton pump inhibitor. Aciphex reduces the amount of acid in the stomach. When taking Aciphex, tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed, crushed, or divided. Aciphex may help, but you may still have severe stomach problems. Talk to your doctor.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions before taking Aciphex, including if you:

• Have any liver problems?
• Have any allergies?
• You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if Aciphex could harm your unborn baby.
• Breastfeed. It is not known if Aciphex passes into breast milk or if it could harm your baby. You must choose to breastfeed or take Aciphex, but not both.
• You have been told that you have low levels of magnesium in your blood

Your doctor may stop your treatment with Aciphex if you develop low levels of magnesium in your body. This problem can be serious. Low magnesium levels can occur in some people who take proton pump inhibitors for at least 3 months. Low magnesium levels usually occur after a year of treatment. You may or may not have symptoms of low magnesium levels.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:
• convulsions
• dizziness
• abnormal or fast heartbeat
• nervousness
• twitching or shaking (tremor)
• muscle weakness
• cramps in the arms and legs
• cramps or muscle pain
• spasm of the vocal apparatus

Aciphex has side effects such as headache, pain, sore throat, gas, infection, and constipation. Acifex can cause serious allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, tightness in the throat, difficulty breathing, and a rash.

Important information about Aciphex
Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, including vitamins, herbal products, or other prescription drugs, if you have suffered from low magnesium levels, and if you have any kidney disease. If you are taking blood thinners, diuretics, or any iron supplements, be sure to indicate this on the order form. The main active ingredient in Aciphex is rabeprazole and you should tell your doctor if you have had any previous allergic reactions to it.

Aciphex tablets should be taken orally with a full glass of water, without crushing or chewing. Doses of Aciphex vary from person to person. Depending on the condition for which Aciphex is used, the number of doses and duration of treatment will vary. The usual dose for the treatment of GERD is 20 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks in adults. For the treatment of duodenal ulcers in adults, the usual dose is 20 mg once daily after breakfast for about 4 weeks. Dosage in children should be agreed with the pediatrician. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible, if it is close to the next dose, take it only once, and never take more than one dose at a time.

Elderly patients taking Aciphex have a higher risk of bone fractures, including the wrists, hips, or spine. During treatment with Aciphex, you should avoid eating chocolate, alcohol, citrus fruits, carbonated drinks, garlic, onions, fatty or fried foods, peppermint, tomatoes or tomato sauces.

Side effects of Aciphex

• Headache
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Sore throat

If you experience any of the following or any other side effects not listed, contact your doctor immediately while taking Aciphex.

• Peeling of the skin
• Rash and hives
• Any signs of an allergic reaction, especially swelling of the eyes, face, mouth, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Arrhythmia
• Dizziness
• Muscle spasms

Aciphex is an antiulcer medication that inhibits a proton pump (PPIs) and blocks the production of acid by the stomach. Biochemically it blocks the (H+, K+)-ATPase enzyme system hereby inhibiting the final stage of hydrochloric acid production. After peroral intake of Aciphex antisecretory effect is reached during one hour and is maximal in 2-4 hours. This medication is used to treat ulcers in the stomach, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, to eradicate Helicobacter pylori in patients with ulcers in the stomach or chronic gastritis.

Dosage and directions

Dosage should be administered by your doctor depending on your condition. Usually in patients with an acute duodenal ulcer and it is recommended to take 1 tab (20 mg) in the morning one time a day during 4-6 weeks. When treating H. pylori infection, Aciphex may be needed for only a week. Follow all recommendations of your doctor and do not take this drug in larger amounts than it was prescribed to you. Tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not crush, split or chew them. Take Aciphex with or without meals with a big glass of water since food has little effect on its absorption.

Precautions

Notify your doctor if you have severe liver disease, or cancer of the stomach before taking this drug. Use of Aciphex in children is not recommended. It is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, though inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Some conditions are treated with a combination of Aciphex and antibiotics, so to achieve maximal effect from treatment, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor.

Contraindications

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, hypersensitivity to Aciphex or substituted benzimidazole: omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium).

Possible side effect

Together with symptoms of allergy (hives, rash, swelling of tongue and face), such side effects may occur: headache, dizziness, dry mouth, upset stomach or diarrhea, constipation, insomnia, nervousness, rash, or itching. Contact your doctor for help if any of the listed side effects is severe or persistent.

Drug Interactions

Co-administration with the medications whose absorption depends on acidity of the stomach causes interaction of medications. Aciphex and other PPIs reduce the absorption and concentration in the blood of ketoconazole (Nizoral) and increase the absorption and concentration in the blood of digoxin (Lanoxin) causing a reduction of effectiveness of the former and an increase in toxicity of the latter.

Missed dose

If you missed a dose take the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time of your next dose just skip its intake and return to your regular schedule.

Overdose

Symptoms of Aciphex overdose are unknown. If you consider that you took too much of the drug seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 59-77 F (15-25 C) away from light and moisture, kids, and pets.