Aciphex: Mild to Serious Side Effects of Heartburn, Acid Reflux Medication

Aciphex Oral (rabeprazole) is a drug used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition where digestive juices of the stomach rise into the esophagus due to an incompletely closed esophageal sphincter valve. The acid reacts with the lining of the esophagus and causes a burning sensation in the chest and throat. The acid reflux may also cause ulcers or bleeding in the esophagus.

Aciphex treats GERD by inhibiting acid pumps in the stomach that produce the enzymes. This controls the amount of acid that spills over into the esophagus. Aciphex is also used to treat problems relating to duodenal ulcers.

My cousin who is now 30 years old has been suffering from GERD for about a year. She used to experience severe heartburn and acid regurgitation despite cutting back on caffeine and spicy food. She did not get relief from over-the-counter drugs like Prilosec OTC and antacids. Her doctor advised her to try Aciphex 20mg once daily. Since taking Aciphex, she has found significant relief from GERD. With a controlled diet, her symptoms flare up less than once in a couple of weeks.

However, there are Aciphex side effects she has had to cope up with. An annoying side effect is more than normal gas and bowel movement. She takes some over-the-counter medications like Immodium when she experiences excessive bowel movements. Usually this keeps things in control. More painful of Aciphex side effects is occasional nausea and headaches. She takes ginger tea with honey to mellow down the discomfort. Another side effect she experiences is dry mouth - frequent sips of water help with this problem. She also experiences occasional stomach ache and indigestion for which the doctor has advised her an antacid along with Aciphex. On the whole, she is happy with her medication's benefits despite the side effects. She thinks it is well tolerated by her body - so she intends to continue with the drug.

But patients should be aware that Aciphex side effects are not limited to these problems. Patients taking this drug may experience side effects including indigestion, itching, drowsiness, stomach cramps, tingling, weakness, glaucoma, etc. Some serious Aciphex side effects include fits, hepatitis, anemia, bloody urine, decreased white blood cells, tachycardia, etc. A comprehensive list of Aciphex side effects is available at http://gerd.emedtv.com/aciphex/aciphex-side-effects.html. On signs of any of these symptoms, patients are advised to consult their doctor.

Aciphex is a pregnancy category B drug. So pregnant and lactating mothers should tell their doctors about their condition before taking this medication.

Aciphex is a slow-release tablet - it should be swallowed and not crushed or chewed. Breaking the tablet can release excess amounts of the drug - this can be too strong and harmful to the body.

SOURCES:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gerd.html
http://www.drugs.com/aciphex.html
http://gerd.emedtv.com/aciphex/aciphex-side-effects.html