Aciphex

Aciphex, Its Uses and Doses

Aciphex is often taken to treat stomach ulcers, GERD and other similar health conditions. Sometimes, doctors prescribe this medication together with certain antibiotics to eradicate infections associated with Helicobacter pylori, because they cause ulcers.

Its Drug Class and Action

Basically, Aciphex is among oral meds taken to treat different health conditions caused by acids, so it belongs to PPIs that work by blocking the production of acid in patients’ stomachs. Its intake blocks the pump on a stomach wall responsible for secreting acid into this body organ, thus, allowing ulcers to heal.

Possible Mild and Serious Side Effects

• Just like other PPIs, Aciphex may cause only a few adverse effects, and the most common ones include the following:
• Nausea and diarrhea;
• Constipation and vomiting;
• Headaches and rash;
• Nervousness and dizziness;
• Weakness and muscle pain;
• Irregular heartbeats;
• Allergic reactions;
• Water retention and leg cramps.

In very rare cases this medication may lead to such serious side effects as increased risk of having osteoporosis-related fractures, so it’s advisable to take Aciphex in lower doses and avoid its long-term use. Besides, its long-term intake is associated with such unwanted and serious symptoms as tetany, seizures, unusual heartbeats and low magnesium levels.

Dangerous Drug Combinations

There are certain medications that should be combined with Aciphex because of possible dangerous drug interactions. For instance, this medicine shouldn’t be combined with blood thinners because of an increased risk of bleeding. It may decrease the elimination of cyclosporin from the liver, so this drug combination may result in toxicity.

Like other PPIs, Aciphex decreases the blood concentration and absorption of such meds as Nizoral, Lanoxin and others. That’s why all patients who need to undergo this treatment are required to show the list of other meds that they’re using.

Recommended Doses

Aciphex is allowed to be taken with and without food because meals have no or only little effect of the right absorption of this medicine. For patients who need to treat GERD, it’s necessary to take 20 mg on a daily basis for 1-2 months, and this course can be prolonged for 8 more weeks.

When it comes to heartburn caused by GERD, this condition is treated by taking 20 mg of Aciphex for one month and an extra month if basic symptoms don’t go away.
If you need to get rid of stomach ulcers, take the same dosage each day for 4 weeks.

To manage Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, an initial dosage of adult patients is 60 mg taken every day, but it can be adjusted according to their symptoms and other important factors. That’s why some patients are prescribed by doctors to take 60 mg and 100 mg on a daily basis. In conclusion, to treat and eradicate different Helicobacter pylori infections, people need to take 20 mg of Aciphex for 1 week in the right combination with other medications, such as Amoxicillin.