Rabeprazole decreases the amount of acid produced in your stomach.

Rabeprazole is used to treat ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD or heartburn), and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid production.

Rabeprazole may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Take rabeprazole exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Do not break, chew, or split the tablets. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release slowly in your body.

Do not stop taking rabeprazole even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may improve before your condition is fully treated.

Store rabeprazole at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Before taking rabeprazole, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• ketoconazole (Nizoral),

• ampicillin (Omnipen, Principen),

• iron (Feosol, Mol-Iron, Fergon, Femiron, others),

• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps), or

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral).

You may not be able to take rabeprazole, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with rabeprazole. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking rabeprazole, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a rabeprazole overdose are not known.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless your doctor directs otherwise.

Do not stop taking rabeprazole even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may improve before your condition is fully treated.

Do not break, chew, or split the tablets. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to release slowly in your body.

Talk to your doctor before taking rabeprazole if you have liver disease. You may not be able to take rabeprazole, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have liver disease.

Rabeprazole is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not take rabeprazole without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether rabeprazole passes into breast milk. Do not take rabeprazole without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Your pharmacist has additional information about rabeprazole written for health professionals that you may read.

Rabeprazole is available with a prescription under the brand name Aciphex. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Aciphex 20 mg–light yellow, enteric-coated tablets