Rabeprazole 20 Mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets
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RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM 10 mg GASTRO-RESISTANT TABLETS RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM 20 mg GASTRO-RESISTANT TABLETS
(rabeprazole sodium)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using
this medicine because it contains important information
for you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any of the side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Rabeprazole is and what it is used for.
2. What you need to know before you take Rabeprazole.
3. How to take Rabeprazole.
4. Possible side effects.
5. How to store Rabeprazole.
6. Contents of the pack and other information.
The name of your medicine is Rabeprazole Sodium 10 mg or 20 mg Gastro-resistant Tablets (referred to as Rabeprazole throughout this leaflet).
1. WHAT RABEPRAZOLE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
Rabeprazole belongs to a group of medicines called 'Proton Pump Inhibitors' (PPIs). They work by lowering the amount of acid that your stomach produces.
Rabeprazole tablets can be used to treat the following conditions:
• 'Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease' (GORD), which can include heartburn. GORD is caused when acid and food from your stomach escapes into your food pipe (oesophagus).
• Ulcers in your stomach or the upper part of your gut (intestine).
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome where your stomach produces too much acid.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE RABEPRAZOLE
Do not take Rabeprazole if:
• You are allergic to rabeprazole sodium,other proton pump inhibitors or 'substituted benzimidazoles' or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6).
• You are pregnant or think that you are pregnant.
• You are breast-feeding.
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using rabeprazole.
Also see 'Pregnancy and breast-feeding' section.
Children
Rabeprazole should not be used in children because there is no experience of its use in this group.
Warnings and precautions
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking
Rabeprazole:
• If you are allergic to other proton pump inhibitor medicines or 'substituted benzimidazoles'.
• If you have a tumour in the stomach or food pipe.
• If you have ever had liver problems.
• If you are taking atazanavir - for HIV infection.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Rabeprazole.
Blood and liver problems have been seen in some patients but often get better when Rabeprazole is stopped.
If you experience severe (watery or bloody) diarrhoea with symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain or tenderness, stop taking Rabeprazole and see a doctor straight away.
Taking a proton pump inhibitor like Rabeprazole, especially over a period of more than one year, may slightly increase your risk of fracture in the hip, wrist or spine. Tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis).
Other medicines and Rabeprazole
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This include medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• Ketoconazole or itraconazole - used to treat infections caused by a fungus. Rabeprazole may lower the amount of this type of medicine in your blood. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose.
• Atazanavir - used to treat HIV infection. Rabeprazole may lower the amount of this type of medicine in your blood and they should not be used together.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Rabeprazole.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding:
• Do not use Rabeprazole if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
• Do not use Rabeprazole if you are breast-feeding or planning to breast-feed.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
You may feel sleepy while taking Rabeprazole. If this happens, do not drive or use any tools or machines.
3. HOW TO TAKE RABEPRAZOLE
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Taking this medicine:
• Only remove a tablet from the blister strip or bottle when it is time to take your medicine.
• Swallow your tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew or crush the tablets.
• Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take and how long to take them for. This will depend on your condition.
• If you are taking this medicine for a long time, your doctor will want to monitor you.
Adults and the Elderly
For 'Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease' (GORD)'
Treatment of moderate to severe symptoms (symptomatic GORD):
• The recommended dose is one Rabeprazole 10 mg tablet once a day for up to 4 weeks.
• Take the tablet in the morning before eating.
• If your condition returns after 4 weeks treatment, your doctor may tell you to take one Rabeprazole 10 mg tablet as and when you require it.
Treatment of more severe symptoms (erosive or ulcerative GORD):
• The recommended dose is one Rabeprazole 20 mg tablet once a day for 4 to 8 weeks.
• Take the tablet in the morning before eating.
Long-term treatment of symptoms (GORD maintenance):
• The recommended dose is one Rabeprazole 10 mg or
20 mg tablet once a day for as long as your doctor has told you.
• Take the tablet in the morning before eating.
• Your doctor will want to see you at regular intervals to check your symptoms and dosage.
For ulcers of the stomach (peptic ulcers):
• The recommended dose is one Rabeprazole 20 mg tablet once a day for 6 weeks.
• Take the tablet in the morning before eating.
• Your doctor may tell you to take Rabeprazole for another 6 weeks if your condition does not improve.
For ulcers of the intestine (duodenal ulcers):
• The recommended dose is one Rabeprazole 20 mg tablet once a day for 4 weeks.
• Take the tablet in the morning before eating.
• Your doctor may tell you to take Rabeprazole for another 4 weeks if your condition does not improve.
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome where excess acid is produced in the stomach:
• The recommended dose is three Rabeprazole 20 mg tablets once a day to start with.
• The dose may then be adjusted by your doctor depending on how you respond to the treatment.
If you are on long-term treatment you will need to see your doctor at regular intervals for review of your tablets and symptoms.
Use in children
The product should not to be used in children because there is no experience of its use in this group.
Patients with liver problems
You should consult your doctor who will take special care when beginning treatment with Rabeprazole and while you continue to be treated with Rabeprazole.
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
If you take more Rabeprazole than you should
If you take more Rabeprazole than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you.
If you forget to take Rabeprazole:
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue as usual.
• If you forget to take your medicine for more than 5 days, talk to your doctor before taking any more medicine.
• Do not take a double dose (two doses at the same time) to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Rabeprazole
Relief of symptoms will normally occur before the ulcer has completely healed. It is important that you do not stop taking the tablets until told to do so by your doctor.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The side effects are usually mild or moderate and improve without you having to stop taking this medicine.
Stop taking Rabeprazole and see a doctor straight away if you notice any of the following serious side effects - you may need urgent medical treatment:
Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• Allergic reactions - the signs may include: sudden swelling of your face, difficulty breathing or low blood pressure which may cause fainting or collapse.
• Frequent infections, such as a sore throat or high temperature (fever), or ulcers in your mouth or throat.
• Bruising or bleeding easily.
Very rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
• Blistering of the skin, and/or mucous membranes of the lips, eyes, mouth, nasal passages or genitals (Steven-Johnson syndrome) or peeling off the skin (toxic epidermal necrolysis).
Other possible side effects:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
• Infections.
• Difficulty sleeping.
• Headache or feeling dizzy.
• Cough, sore throat (pharyngitis), runny nose.
• Effects on your stomach or gut such as stomach pain, diarrhoea, wind (flatulence), feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) or constipation.
• Aches or back pain.
• Weakness or flu-like symptoms.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
• Feeling nervous or drowsy.
• Chest infection (bronchitis).
• Painful and blocked sinuses (sinusitis).
• Dry mouth.
• Indigestion or belching.
• Skin rash or redness.
• Muscle, leg pain or cramps, or joint pain.
• Fracture of the hip, wrist or spine.
• Bladder infection (urinary tract infection).
• Chest pain.
• Chills or fever.
• Changes in how your liver is working (shown in blood tests).
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
• Loss of appetite (Anorexia).
• Depression.
• Hypersensitivity (includes allergic reactions).
• Visual disturbance.
• Sore mouth (stomatitis) or taste disturbance.
• Upset stomach or stomach pain.
• Liver problems including yellowing of your skin and whites of your eyes (jaundice).
• Patients who have previously had liver problems may rarely get encephalopathy (a brain disease).
• Itchy rash or blistering skin.
• Sweating.
• Kidney problems.
• Weight gain.
• Changes in white blood cells (shown in blood tests) which may result in frequent infection.
• Reduction in blood platelets resulting in bleeding or bruising more easily than normal.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
• Confusion.
• Breast swelling in men.
• Fluid retention.
• Low blood levels of sodium, which can cause tiredness and confusion, muscle twitching, fits and coma.
• If you are on Rabeprazole for more than three months it is possible that the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall. Low levels of magnesium can be seen as fatigue, involuntary muscle contractions, disorientation, convulsions, dizziness, increased heart rate. If you get any of these symptoms, please tell your doctor promptly. Low levels of magnesium can also lead to a reduction in potassium or calcium levels in the blood. Your doctor may decide to perform regular blood tests to monitor your levels of magnesium.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
5. HOW TO STORE RABEPRAZOLE
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date 'EXP' which is stated on the blister strips, bottle label or carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Your medicine should be used within 60 days after the bottle is first opened. Therefore, you must throw away the bottle 60 days after you first opened it, even if some tablets are left. To help you remember, write down the date that you opened it in the space on the bottle label.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container in order to protect from moisture.
Do not use this medicine if you notice a change in colour of the tablet during its use.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Rabeprazole tablets contain
Each Rabeprazole Sodium 10 mg Gastro-resistant Tablet contains 9.42 mg rabeprazole.
Each Rabeprazole Sodium 20 mg Gastro-resistant Tablet contains 18.85 mg rabeprazole.
The other ingredients are:
Core: Mannitol, magnesium oxide, heavy, hydroxypropyl cellulose, low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, ethylcellulose, iron oxide red (E172), iron oxide yellow (E172), hypromellose phthalate, acetylated mono and diglycerides, talc, titanium dioxide (E171).
Film-coating - 10 mg tablets: HPMC 2910/Hypromellose 6cP, titanium dioxide (E171), acetylated monoglycerides and iron oxide red (E172).
Film-coating - 20 mg tablets: HPMC 2910/Hypromellose 6cP, titanium dioxide (E171), acetylated monoglycerides and iron oxide yellow (E172).
Printing ink - Shellac~45% (20% Esterified), iron oxide black (E172), propylene glycol and ammonium hydroxide (28%).
What Rabeprazole tablets look like and contents of the pack
Rabeprazole Sodium 10 mg Gastro-resistant Tablet is a pink, film-coated, round, biconvex tablet imprinted with 'R3' in black ink on one side of the tablet and blank on the other side.
Rabeprazole Sodium 20 mg Gastro-resistant Tablet is a yellow, film-coated, round, biconvex tablet imprinted with 'R4' in black ink on one side of the tablet and blank on the other side.
The tablets are packed in blister strips or bottles and come in pack sizes containing:
Blisters: 7, 14, 28, 30, 50, 56, 98, 100 tablets.
Bottles: 30, 100 tablets.
Perforated unit dose blister strips: 14 x 1,28 x 1 and 50 x 1 tablets.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Mylan, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 1TL, United Kingdom. Manufacturer
Mylan Hungary Kft. H-2900 Komarom, Mylan utca 1, Hungary.
Code No.: MH/DRUGS/25/NKD/89 This leaflet was last revised in: 09/2012 10004323