Uses of Rabeprazole Sodium
Rabeprazole sodium is a drug prescribed to treat disorders caused by excess stomach acid. Available as the brand AcipHex, rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) similar to Prevacid and Prilosec. PPIs block an enzyme in the stomach from producing acid, significantly reducing gastric acid levels and allowing acid-related disorders to heal, as well as alleviating symptoms of chronic conditions.
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Heartburn and GERD
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A primary use for rabeprazole sodium is to treat heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn occurs when a muscle at the end of the esophagus does not properly close, allowing stomach acid to wash up into the throat. Although occasional heartburn is common, chronic heartburn occurring three or more times a week is the main symptom of GERD. Continual acid reflux can cause erosive esophagitis, or irritation and damage to the throat lining. Rabeprazole can be prescribed as short-term therapy or longer-term maintenance therapy for GERD, and reducing stomach acid allows the throat to heal.
Ulcers
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Doctors also prescribe rabeprazole sodium to patients with a stomach ulcer or an ulcer located in the beginning of the small intestine (duodenum). Ulcers occur when the normal preventive and repair mechanisms of the stomach or intestinal lining are weakened. Reducing stomach acid allows the ulcer to heal, and meanwhile, the patient and physician can work to eliminate the underlying cause. Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for instance, is a common cause of ulcers.
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Bacterial Infection
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Another frequent cause of stomach ulcers is an infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. People diagnosed with a stomach ulcer often are tested for this bacteria. Treatment may include a PPI, such as rabeprazole sodium, to allow the ulcer to heal, along with antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
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Doctors also prescribe rabeprazole sodium to treat symptoms of a rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. In this disorder, tumors develop in the pancreas or duodenum and cause the stomach to produce excessive acid. The tumors, called gastrinomas, sometimes are malignant and sometimes are not. A cure is possible by surgically removing the gastrinomas, and sometimes through chemotherapy. Treating the disorder with rabeprazole or other proton pump inhibitors can allow the ulcers to heal.
Dyspepsia
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Doctors are allowed to prescribe medications for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), called off-label use. Rabeprazole sodium is sometimes prescribed to treat functional dyspepsia, a disorder with symptoms of chronic indigestion, bloating and abdominal pain.
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