Rabeprazole to reduce stomach acid

About rabeprazole

Acid is produced naturally in your stomach to help you digest food and to kill germs (bacteria). This acid is irritant so your body produces a natural mucous barrier which protects the lining of your stomach. In some people, this barrier can break down allowing the acid to damage the stomach, causing inflammation, ulcers and other conditions. Other people can have a problem with the muscular band at the top of the stomach that keeps the stomach tightly closed. This may allow the acid to escape and irritate the oesophagus, causing heartburn. This is often referred to as 'acid reflux'.

Proton pump inhibitors such as rabeprazole stop cells in the lining of the stomach from producing too much acid. This helps to prevent sår from forming, or assists the healing process where damage has already occurred. By decreasing the amount of acid, they can also help to reduce the symptoms of acid reflux disease, such as heartburn.

Rabeprazole is also used as one part of a treatment to get rid of Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium found in the stomach, which can cause ulcers.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking rabeprazole it is important that your doctor knows:

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• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about rabeprazole and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take rabeprazole exactly as your doctor tells you to. Rabeprazole is commonly taken just once a day, in the morning. If you are taking it for either Helicobacter pylori eradication or for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, you could be asked to take two doses a day. Your doctor will tell you which dose is right for you, and the directions will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. Do not chew, crush or break the tablet before you swallow. Rabeprazole tablets have a special coating so you should swallow them whole.

• Rabeprazole can be taken either before or after food, although taking it before food is preferable.

• If you forget to take a dose at your usual time, you can generally take it when you remember. However, if it is nearly time to take your next dose when you remember, leave out the missed dose and take your next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your progress can be checked. If you are taking rabeprazole on a long-term basis your doctor will want to review your treatment at least once a year to make sure it is still right for you.

• A typical course of treatment lasts for one or two weeks if you are taking rabeprazole for Helicobacter pylori eradication. It will last for one or two months if it is to allow an ulcer to heal. For all other reasons for taking rabeprazole, your treatment will last for as long as is necessary to control your symptoms.

• Some foods may make your symptoms worse. Foods and drinks that have been suspected of this include peppermint, tomatoes, chocolate, spicy foods, hot drinks, coffee and alcoholic drinks. If it seems that a food is aggravating your symptoms, try avoiding it for a while to see if your symptoms improve. Also, try avoiding eating large meals, as these can make your symptoms worse too.

• If you are overweight, it puts extra pressure on your stomach and encourages the symptoms of acid reflux. Losing some weight and eating a healthy balanced diet may help you.

• Smoking increases the amount of acid produced by the stomach and may make your symptoms worse. If you are a smoker, speak with your doctor or pharmacist about how to quit.

• Recent studies suggest that there may be a slight increase in the risk of bone fractures when proton pump inhibitors like rabeprazole are taken for longer than a year. If this affects you, your doctor will check that you are taking enough vitamin D and calcium to reduce this risk.

• If you buy any medicines 'over the counter', always check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take alongside your other medicines.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with rabeprazole. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

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