Rabeprazole

Rabeprazole 20 mg is a prescription-only gastro-resistant medication that suppresses gastric acid secretion. Each tablet contains 20 mg rabeprazole sodium, which is equivalent to 18.85 mg rabeprazole.

Rabeprazole 20 mg is a prescription-only gastro-resistant medication that suppresses gastric acid secretion. Each tablet contains 20 mg rabeprazole sodium, which is equivalent to 18.85 mg rabeprazole.

Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg is used to treat various gastrointestinal disorders such as active duodenal ulcer, active benign gastric ulcer, symptomatic erosive or ulcerative gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease long-term management (GORD maintenance), symptomatic treatment of moderate to very severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (symptomatic GORD), Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or eradication of H. pylori bacteria in patients with peptic ulcer disease (as combination therapy).

Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg should be taken orally, once daily, in the morning, before eating food. Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg should not be stored above 30C.

Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg should be taken as advised by a healthcare professional, depending on which condition is being treated:

• Erosive or ulcerative GORD: 20 mg to be taken once daily for four to eight weeks;
• GORD maintenance: 10 mg or 20 mg once daily;
• Symptomatic GORD: 10 mg once daily in patients without oesophagitis;
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: 60 mg once daily with potential titration up to 60 mg twice daily;
• Eradication of H. pylori: rabeprazole sodium 20 mg twice daily in combination with clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1 g twice daily, for 7 days.

Side effects

Some people may experience the following common side effects while taking rabeprazole sodium 20 mg:

• Headache;
• Diarrhoea;
• Abdominal pain;
• Asthenia;
• Flatulence;
• Rash;
• Dry mouth;
• Infection;
• Insomnia;
• Dizziness;
• Cough;
• Pharyngitis;
• Rhinitis;
• Vomiting;
• Nausea;
• Constipation;
• Non-specific pain
• Back pain;
• Influenza-like illness.

Less common side effects include:

• Nervousness;
• Somnolence;
• Bronchitis;
• Sinusitis;
• Dyspepsia;
• Dry mouth;
• Eructation;
• Rash;
• Erythema;
• Myalgia;
• Leg cramps;
• Arthralgia;
• Fracture of the hip, wrist or spine;
• Urinary tract infection;
• Chest pain;
• Chills;
• Pyrexia;
• Increased hepatic enzymes.

See the package leaflet for more information on side effects. Those patients on long-term rabeprazole therapy should be monitored carefully.

Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg is not suitable for anyone hypersensitive to the ingredients. Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg should not be administered to children. Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg should not be co-administered with certain other medications, such as atazanavir.

Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg is not suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg does not affect driving ability or machinery use itself, however, the side effect somnolence can impair alertness, in which case driving and operating machinery should be avoided.
Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg is not thought to interact with alcohol.