Aciphex Side Effects

Generic name: rabeprazole

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 5, 2025.

Note: This document provides detailed information about Aciphex Side Effects associated with rabeprazole. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Aciphex.

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

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if this medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood, urine, and other laboratory tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Do not use rabeprazole (the active ingredient contained in Aciphex) together with medicines containing rilpivirine (eg, Complera®, Edurant®, Odefsey®). Using these medicines together may cause unwanted side effects.

Rabeprazole may cause a serious type of allergic reaction when used in patients with conditions treated with antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you or your child has itching, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth.

Check with your doctor right away if you have a change in frequency of urination or amount of urine, blood in the urine, fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, skin rash, swelling of the body or feet and ankles, unusual tiredness or weakness, or unusual weight gain. These may be symptoms of a serious kidney problem called acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Taking this medicine for a long time may make it harder for your body to absorb vitamin B12. Tell your doctor if you have concerns about vitamin B12 deficiency.

Serious stomach conditions may occur while taking this medicine alone or together with antibiotics. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child has stomach cramps, bloated feeling, watery and severe diarrhea which may also be bloody sometimes, fever, nausea or vomiting, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may increase your risk of having fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine. This is more likely if you are 50 years of age and older, if you receive high doses of this medicine, or use it for one year or more.

Cutaneous or systemic lupus erythematosus may occur or gets worse in lupus patients and are taking PPI. Call your doctor right away if you have a joint pain or skin rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse when exposed in the sun.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chest pain, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, painful or difficult urination, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may cause hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood). Your doctor may check your blood levels if you are taking this medicine for more than 1 year or if you are taking certain medicines together with rabeprazole. Check with your doctor right away if you have drowsiness, a loss of appetite, mood or mental changes, muscle spasms or twitching, seizures, nausea, vomiting, trembling, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

This medicine may increase your risk for fundic gland polyps (abnormal tissue growth in the upper part of your stomach). This is more likely if you are receiving this medicine for more than 1 year. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Do not Stop taking rabeprazole without first checking with your doctor, or unless told to do so by your doctor.

Make sure any doctor or dentist who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before you have medical tests.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription (eg, atazanavir, nelfinavir, Reyataz®, Viracept®) or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Common 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:

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

Serious side effects of Aciphex

Along with its needed effects, rabeprazole 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:

For healthcare professionals

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

General adverse events

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

• 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]

Hepatic encephalopathy occurred in patients with underlying cirrhosis.^[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

• 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]

Erythema and bullous reactions usually resolved after discontinuation.^[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

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Hypersensitivity
• Postmarketing reports: Acute systemic allergic reactions, anaphylaxis/anaphylactic reactions, angioedema, potential allergic reactions^[Ref]

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

See also:

Further information

Aciphex side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer