Highlights for rabeprazole
- Rabeprazole oral tablet is available as both a generic and brand-name drug. Brand name: Aciphex.
- Rabeprazole comes as an oral tablet and an oral capsule. Both forms are delayed-release. This means the medication is slowly released into your body over time.
- Rabeprazole oral tablet is used to treat several gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. These conditions are caused by high levels of acid produced by the stomach.
Rabeprazole side effects
Rabeprazole oral tablet doesn’t cause drowsiness. However, it can cause other side effects.
More common side effects
The more common side effects of rabeprazole can include:
- headache
- pain in the abdomen (stomach area)
- sore throat
- gas
- infection
- constipation
- diarrhea
If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Serious side effects
Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Low levels of magnesium (a mineral). Symptoms can include:
- seizures
- dizziness
- irregular or fast heartbeat
- jitteriness
- tremors (jerking movements or shaking)
- muscle weakness
- spasms of the hands and feet
- cramps or muscle aches
- spasm of the voice box, with symptoms such as trouble breathing, coughing, wheezing, hoarse voice, or throat tightness
Severe diarrhea (caused by infection with C. difficile). Symptoms can include:
- watery stool
- stomach pain
- fever
Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Symptoms can include:
- rash on the skin and nose
- raised, red, scaly, red or purple rash on your body
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Symptoms can include:
- fever
- tiredness
- weight loss
- blood clots
- heartburn
Fundic gland polyps. These don’t usually cause symptoms.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.
Important warnings
- Severe diarrhea warning: Rabeprazole raises your risk of severe diarrhea. This diarrhea is caused by infection of the intestines by bacteria (Clostridium difficile). Talk to your doctor if you have watery stool, stomach pain, or a fever that doesn’t go away.
- Bone fractures warning: If you take several daily doses of rabeprazole for a long period of time (1 year or longer), your risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine is increased. This drug should be used at the lowest dose possible. It should also be used for the shortest time needed.
- Low magnesium levels warning: Rabeprazole can cause low levels in your body of a mineral called magnesium. This usually happens after 1 year of treatment. However, it can occur after you take rabeprazole for 3 months or longer. Low magnesium levels may not cause any symptoms, but serious side effects can occur. These can include muscle spasms, abnormal heart rhythms, or seizures.
- Cutaneous lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus warning: Rabeprazole can cause cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). CLE and SLE are autoimmune diseases. Symptoms of CLE can range from a rash on the skin and nose, to a raised, scaly, red or purple rash on certain parts of the body. Symptoms of SLE can include fever, tiredness, weight loss, blood clots, heartburn, and stomach pain. If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor.
- Fundic gland polyps warning: Long-term use (especially over one year) of rabeprazole can cause fundic gland polyps. These polyps are growths on the lining of your stomach that can become cancerous. To help prevent these polyps, you should use this drug for as short a time as possible.
