What side effects are possible with this medication?
A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. It can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent, but does not occur in everyone. The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. If you develop any of these side effects (or any other side effects not listed here) or they change in intensity, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice on managing them and on the risks and benefits of the medication.
- constipation
- gas
- headache
- infection
- nausea
- pain
- runny nose
- sore throat
Click here to learn about serious side effects that can potentially occur with any medication. These examples are provided for information purposes only and are not meant to be exhaustive. Always consult your doctor for sound medical advice specific to your particular medication and treatment.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone at 1-800-332-1088.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take this medication.
Allergic reactions: Tell your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms with rabeprazole: rash, face swelling, throat tightness, or difficulty breathing.
Bone fractures: People who are taking multiple daily doses of rabeprazole for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine.
Low magnesium levels: This problem can be serious. Low magnesium can happen in some people who take a proton pump inhibitor medication for at least 3 months. If low magnesium levels happen, it is usually after a year of treatment. You may or may not have symptoms of low magnesium. Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- abnormal or fast heartbeat
- cramps or muscle aches
- dizziness
- jerking movements or shaking (tremors)
- jitteriness
- muscle weakness
- seizures
- spasms of the hands and feet
- spasms of the voice box
Your doctor may check the level of magnesium in your body before you start taking rabeprazole, during treatment, or if you will be taking rabeprazole for a long period of time.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if rabeprazole passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should stop breast-feeding or stop taking this medication.
Children and adolescents: The safety and effectiveness of rabeprazole have not been established for children under 12 years of age.
What other drugs could interact with this medication?
There may an interaction between rabeprazole and any of the following:
- antibiotics
- atazanavir
- clopidogrel
- cyclosporine
- diazepam
- digoxin
- erlotinib
- iron supplements
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- nelfinavir
- phenytoin
- posaconazole
- tacrolimus
- theophylline
- warfarin
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.