Aciphex Side Effects

Generic name: rabeprazole

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 5, 2024.

Note: This document contains side effect information about rabeprazole. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Aciphex.

Applies to rabeprazole: oral capsule delayed release, oral tablet enteric coated.

Serious side effects of Aciphex

Along with its needed effects, rabeprazole (the active ingredient contained in Aciphex) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking rabeprazole:

Less common

Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
chills
cough
dark urine
dry mouth
fever
general feeling of tiredness and weakness
hoarseness
light-colored stools
lower back or side pain
nausea
painful or difficult urination
rapid weight gain
tingling of the hands or feet
unusual weight gain or loss
vomiting
yellow eyes and skin

Rare

Bloody urine
continuing ulcers or sores in the mouth
difficulty with breathing
seizures
sore throat
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness

Incidence not known

Back, leg, or stomach pains
bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
blood in the urine or stools
bloody, black, or tarry stools
change in consciousness
chest tightness
clay-colored stools
cloudy urine
confusion about identity, place, person, and time
continuing nausea or vomiting
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
drowsiness
fast heartbeat
general body swelling
greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
headache
high fever
hives, itching, or skin rash
holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
increase in the frequency of seizures
joint pain
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals
loss of appetite
loss of consciousness
mood or mental changes
muscle cramps, pain, spasms, stiffness, or twitching
muscle cramps in the hands, arms, feet, legs, or face
no blood pressure
no breathing
no pulse
nosebleeds
numbness and tingling around the mouth, fingertips, or feet
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
red, irritated eyes
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
seizures
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stomach cramps
swollen glands
trembling
trouble breathing
unpleasant breath odor
unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
vomiting of blood

Other side effects of Aciphex

Some side effects of rabeprazole may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste
change in taste

Less common

Body aches or pain
congestion
constipation
diarrhea
excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
full feeling
heartburn
numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
passing gas
runny nose
sleepiness
swollen joints
tender, swollen glands in the neck
voice changes

Incidence not known

Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
inability to have or keep an erection
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to rabeprazole: oral delayed release capsule, oral delayed release tablet, oral tablet extended release.

General

The most commonly reported side effects are headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (up to 21%), abdominal pain (up to 16%), vomiting (up to 14%)

Common (1% to 10%): Benign fundic gland polyps, constipation, flatulence, nausea

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dry mouth, dyspepsia, eructation

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Gastritis, stomatitis

Frequency not reported: Microscopic colitis

Postmarketing reports: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Asthenia, non-specific pain, pain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Chills, pyrexia/fever

Postmarketing reports: Sudden death^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Cough, pharyngitis, rhinitis

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Bronchitis, sinusitis

Postmarketing reports: Dyspnea, interstitial pneumonia^[Ref]

Nervous system

Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in patients with underlying cirrhosis.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, headache, taste disturbance/perversion

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Somnolence

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hepatic encephalopathy

Postmarketing reports: Coma, vertigo^[Ref]

Immunologic

Common (1% to 10%): Flu-like syndrome/ influenza-like illness, infection^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, myalgia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Arthralgia, fracture of hip/wrist/spine, leg cramps

Postmarketing reports: Bone fractures, rhabdomyolysis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Erythema and bullous reactions usually resolved after discontinuation.^[Ref]

Common (1% to 10%): Rash

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Erythema

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Bullous reactions, pruritus, sweating

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)

Frequency not reported: Facial swelling, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Postmarketing reports: fatal TEN, other drug eruptions, severe dermatological reactions, systemic lupus erythematosus, urticarial skin eruptions^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Insomnia

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Nervousness

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Depression

Frequency not reported: Confusion

Postmarketing reports: Delirium, disorientation^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Peripheral edema

Postmarketing reports: Hypotension^[Ref]

Hepatic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased hepatic enzymes

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hepatitis, jaundice, serious hepatic dysfunction^[Ref]

Increased hepatic enzymes occurred in patients with underlying cirrhosis.^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Urinary tract infection^[Ref]

Hematologic

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Leukocytosis, leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia

Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis, bicytopenia, blood dyscrasias, hemolytic anemia, increase in prothrombin time/INR, pancytopenia^[Ref]

Increased prothrombin time/INR occurred in patients taking warfarin concomitantly.^[Ref]

Metabolic

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anorexia, weight gain

Frequency not reported: Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B-12) deficiency, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia

Postmarketing reports: Hyperammonemia^[Ref]

Renal

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Interstitial nephritis^[Ref]

Ocular

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Visual disturbance

Postmarketing reports: Blurred vision^[Ref]

Endocrine

Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia

Postmarketing reports: Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) elevations^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity reactions included facial swelling, hypotension, dyspnea, erythema, and bullous reactions; these reactions typically resolved after discontinuation.^[Ref]

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypersensitivity

Postmarketing reports: Acute systemic allergic reactions, anaphylaxis/anaphylactic reactions, angioedema, potential allergic reactions^[Ref]