Rabeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), effectively lowers stomach acid production to alleviate conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, and other issues caused by excessive acid production. It belongs to the benzimidazole derivative family, sharing a structural similarity with omeprazole, another PPI. Rabeprazole hampers the activity of the gastric proton pump responsible for acid production. By binding to the pump, it obstructs the release of hydrogen ions into the stomach, ultimately reducing acid production. Furthermore, rabeprazole exhibits various biochemical and physiological effects. A study conducted on rats revealed that rabeprazole effectively decreases the gastric proton pump′s activity, leading to a decrease in gastric acid secretion.
Rabeprazole is used to treat hyperacidity. It is a proton pump inhibitor that helps heal gastrointestinal ulcers, treats gastroesophageal reflux disease, and also treats hypersecretory disorders.
ChEBI: Rabeprazole is a member of benzimidazoles, a sulfoxide and a member of pyridines. It has a role as an EC 3.6.3.10 (H(+)/K(+)-exchanging ATPase) inhibitor and an anti-ulcer drug. It is a conjugate acid of a rabeprazole(1-).
Aciphex (Eisai Medical Research)
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Rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and as such covalently binds with and inactivates the gastric parietal cell proton pump (H+/K+-ATPase). This inhibits in turn gastric acid production and raises gastric pH[1].
Rabeprazole is marketed as an enterically coated formulation due to the instability of all PPIs in an acid environment. After oral ingestion, it is relatively rapidly absorbed as the maximal plasma concentration reaches between 2.8 and 5.1 postdose. The pharmacokinetics of the molecule is linear in the range 10–80 mg with an overall bioavailability of 52%. Rabeprazole does not have a saturable first-pass metabolism, and it can be absorbed in high doses.
Neither antacids nor food influences the bioavailability of the molecule, even if food intake delayed the absorption of rabeprazole 20 mg of about 1.7 h and reduced the apparent elimination half-life due to a probable delayed gastric emptying. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that rabeprazole’s volume of distribution is 0.34 L/kg in various tissues, including the gastric mucosa, stomach, kidney, bladder, liver, intestine, and thyroid. In healthy volunteers, it was demonstrated to be bound to 94.8%–97.5% of plasma proteins.
The more common side effects of rabeprazole can include: headache. pain in the abdomen (stomach area) sore throat.
The serious side effects of rabeprazole can include: 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.
A product that may interact with this drug is: methotrexate (especially high-dose treatment).
Some products need stomach acid so that the body can absorb them properly. Rabeprazole decreases stomach acid, so it may change how well these products work. Some affected products include ampicillin, atazanavir, erlotinib, levoketoconazole, nelfinavir, pazopanib, rilpivirine, sparsentan, certain azole antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole), among others.
Rabeprazole is usually taken once a day. Follow all directions on the prescription label and read all dosing instructions or instruction sheets. Use the medication exactly as directed.Rabeprazole is only suitable for short-term use, usually 4 to 8 weeks. If you need additional treatment time, your doctor may recommend a second course of treatment.
[1] Fabio Pace. “A review of rabeprazole in the treatment of acid-related diseases.” Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management 3 3 (2007): 363–79.
