Rabeprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes. It's widely used to treat heartburn, acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). GORD is when you keep getting acid reflux.
Rabeprazole is also taken to prevent and treat stomach ulcers.
Sometimes, it is also prescribed for a rare condition caused by a tumour in the pancreas or gut, called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Rabeprazole is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets.
Key facts
- You’ll usually take rabeprazole once a day in the morning.
- If you are prescribed a higher dose, you can take it twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. It starts to work within 2 to 3 days, but it may take up to 4 weeks for rabeprazole to work fully.
- Common side effects include headaches, diarrhoea, feeling or being sick, constipation, stomach pain. These tend to be mild and go away when you stop taking the medicine.
- Rabeprazole is not usually recommended during pregnancy but you may be able to take while breastfeeding if your doctor says it’s OK. Ask your doctor for advice
- You can drink alcohol with rabeprazole but it may make your symptoms worse.