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Aciphex sprinkle

Generic name: rabeprazole [ra-bep-ra-zole]
brand names: Aciphex, aciphex sprinkle

What is an Aciphex sprinkle?

Aciphex sprinkle is used short-term to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults and children who are at least 1 year old.

Aciphex sprinkle is used only in adults to treat conditions involving excessive stomach acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. This medicine is also used in adults to promote the healing of duodenal ulcers or erosive esophagitis (damage to your esophagus caused by stomach acid).

Aciphex sprinkle may also be given with an antibiotic to prevent duodenal ulcers caused by infection with helicobacter pylori (h. Pylori).Aciphex sprinkle is not intended for immediate relief of heartburn symptoms.Aciphex sprinkle may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

Aciphex sprinkles can cause kidney problems. Tell your doctor if you are urinating less than usual or if you have blood in your urine.Diarrhea may be a sign of a new infection. Call your doctor if you have diarrhea that is

watery or has blood in it.

Aciphex sprinkles may cause new or worsening symptoms of lupus. Tell your doctor if you have joint pain and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight.You may be more likely to break a bone while taking Aciphex sprinkle long-term or more than once per day.

Before You Take This Drug

Heartburn can mimic the early symptoms of a heart attack. Get emergency medical help if you have chest pain that spreads to your jaw or shoulder and you feel anxious or light-headed.

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to aciphex sprinkles or

  • If you also take any medicine that contains rilpivirine (Edurant, Complera, Juluca, Odefsey),

  • If you had breathing problems, kidney problems, or a severe allergic reaction after taking aciphex sprinkles in the past;

  • If you are also allergic to medicines like aciphex sprinkle, such as esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, and others.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • Liver disease

  • Osteoporosis or low bone mineral density (osteopenia)

  • Lupus (an autoimmune disorder)

  • Low levels of magnesium in your blood

Talk with your doctor about ways to keep your bones healthy.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Certain forms and strengths of rabeprazole should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.

How to Take an Aciphex sprinkle?

Aciphex sprinkle is usually taken once per day. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Aciphex sprinkle is for short-term use only, usually 4 to 8 weeks. Your doctor may recommend a second course of treatment if you need additional healing time.

Aciphex sprinkles should not be given to a child younger than 1 year old.

Take Aciphex and sprinkle it with a full glass of water.

If you take Aciphex sprinkles to treat duodenal ulcers, take the medicine after a meal. If you take this medicine to prevent ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori, take it with food. If you take this medicine for any other condition, you may take it with or without food.

Read and carefully follow any instructions for use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

Do not swallow a delayed-release capsule (aciphex sprinkle) whole. Open it and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of soft food such as applesauce, yogurt, or baby food made from fruit or vegetables. You may also mix the medicine with apple juice,

Pedialyte, or infant formula. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing. Do not save it for later use.

This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using an Aciphex sprinkle.

Some conditions are treated with a combination of rabeprazole and antibiotics. Use all medications as directed.

Take your medicines for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse while using aciphex sprinkles.

What Happens If I Miss a Dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at once.

What Happens if I Overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the poison help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What Should be Avoided?

Aciphex sprinkles can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor before using anti-diarrhea medicine

Side effects of Aciphex sprinkles

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction

:

hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Mild side effects

  • Severe stomach pain;

    diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

  • Sudden pain or trouble moving your hip, wrist, or back;

  • Seizure (convulsions);

  • Kidney problems—fever, rash, nausea, loss of appetite, joint pain, urinating less than usual, blood in your urine, swelling, rapid weight gain;

  • New or worsening symptoms of lupus—joint pain and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight;

  • Low magnesium—dizziness, fast or irregular heart rate, tremors (shaking) or jerking muscle movements, feeling jittery, muscle cramps, muscle spasms in your hands and feet, coughing or choking feeling;

  • Signs of bleeding (if you also take warfarin) headaches, dizziness, weakness; pain swelling; bruising; unusual bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums); red or pink urine; heavy menstrual flow; bloody or tarry stools; coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; or any bleeding that will not stop.

Taking aciphex sprinkles long-term may cause you to develop stomach growths called fundic gland polyps. Talk with your doctor about this risk.

If you use Aciphex sprinkle for longer than 3 years, you could develop a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor about how to manage this condition if you develop it.

Adverse side effects

  • Infection;

  • Pain;

  • Sore throat;

  • Headache;

  • Nausea, vomiting;

  • Gas, diarrhea, constipation,

  • Stomach pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-fda-1088.

Interactions With other Drugs

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect aciphex sprinkle, especially:

  • An antibiotic such as clarithromycin or amoxicillin;

  • Digoxin;

  • A diuretic or "water pill";

  • Methotrexate; 

  • Warfarin (coumadin, jantoven).