Rabeprazole

What is Rabeprazole?

Rabeprazole is a generic treatment for several gastro-related conditions like GORD and stomach ulcers. It’s part of a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Rabeprazole works by reducing the amount of acid made by the stomach, alleviating symptoms such as heartburn and acid reflux. It can also reverse damage to the oesophagus and prevent stomach ulcers.

It’s also used to treat a condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, which is where the stomach produces an excessive amount of acid caused by a growth in the pancreas, as well as H. pylori infections in people with peptic ulcer disease.

How does Rabeprazole work?

Rabeprazole works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes. GORD is a recurring condition where you experience acid reflux, heartburn, stomach ulcers, and inflammation around your oesophagus and gullet.

Rabeprazole, similar to other PPIs, stops the ‘proton pump’ (a chemical system in the cells of your stomach lining that produces acid) from working properly. This then reduces the amount of acid in the stomach, relieving symptoms of GORD, healing the stomach lining from ulcers, and preventing damage to the oesophagus.

It also comes as a delayed-release tablet, which means the medication will be released in the intestine where it’s needed (rather than being broken down by stomach acids). This allows Rabeprazole to be more effective for longer, because it binds better to the proton pump.

What doses are available for Rabeprazole?

Rabeprazole is available in either 10 mg or 20 mg of rabeprazole tablets. To treat symptoms of GORD (heartburn and acid reflux), the usual dose is 10 to 20 mg a day. For stomach ulcers, the dose is 20 mg a day.

How to take Rabeprazole

There are several ways to take Rabeprazole, depending on the severity and type of your condition. Your prescriber will tell you how to take it safely. We’ll outline the guidelines for taking Rabeprazole for GORD below.

To take Rabeprazole:

• swallow the tablet whole. Don’t crush or chew it.

For GORD ulcers:

• the usual dose is one 10 mg or 20 mg tablet a day
• your treatment course will typically be for four weeks, which can be extended for an additional four weeks if your clinician has decided so

For GORD maintenance:

• the usual dose is one 10 mg or 20 mg a day
• your prescriber will instruct you on how long to take it for
• you’ll have regular reviews of your treatment

For symptomatic GORD:

• the usual dose is one 10 mg tablet a day
• your treatment course will typically be for four weeks
• if your symptoms don’t resolve after four weeks, inform your clinician
• if your symptoms come back, your clinician may tell you to take one 10 mg as and when you need (limit to one a day)

How long does it take for Rabeprazole to work?

You should be able to feel the effects of Rabeprazole within a few days, but it can take up to four weeks for it to work fully. It can take four to eight weeks to treat stomach ulcers, and longer still for the maintenance of GORD. For symptomatic GORD you usually take it only when you need it, and then you can stop once your symptoms have stopped.

Studies have shown that rabeprazole, compared with other PPIs, is very close behind esomeprazole to have the most rapid action.

What happens if I make a mistake whilst taking Rabeprazole?

If you’ve forgotten to take Rabeprazole, take a tablet as soon as you remember. Don’t take a double dose to make up for the forgotten dose. If you take more than you should, seek urgent medical attention as soon as possible.