Aciphex is a medication that is prescribed for people suffering from gastric reflux disease, or GERD. This is a condition in which gastric acid washes back up into the esophagus and irritates its lining. It is also prescribed for patients with duodenal ulcers. Aciphex helps with both conditions by decreasing acid production by the cells lining the stomach. It is called a "proton pump inhibitor" because it prevents these cells from pumping protons, or hydrogen ions, into the stomach contents and as a result the production of gastric acid is diminished.
Approved Uses of Aciphex in Adults
The Food and Drug Administration has tested and approved Aciphex for use in certain medical conditions. These include GERD, to promote the healing of lesions caused by gastric acid and to maintain healing in patients who have already shown some improvement. Aciphex is also approved to promote healing in patients with duodenal ulcers. In addition, Aciphex is prescribed for people who suffer from rare conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. Patients with this disorder have benign abdominal tumours that secrete a hormone which stimulates the stomach to make unusually large amounts of acid.
Use of Aciphex in Children
Aciphex is only approved by the FDA for limited use in children over 12 years of age. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that children should only be given this medication for relief of the symptoms of heartburn that accompany gastric reflux. The usual duration of treatment is four weeks. The medication is not approved for use in younger children.
Safety Studies for Aciphex
Before approving Aciphex, the Food and Drug Administration required clinical trials to determine its safety. In these trials, over 2,900 people were treated worldwide for various disorders, some for as long as eight weeks. For these trials, groups of people receiving Aciphex were compared to other groups who received a placebo. The findings indicated that people taking the drug were slightly more likely to experience abdominal pain, constipation, gas, or throat irritation than those who received the placebo. Overall, Aciphex was judged by the FDA to be a safe drug.
Other Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several minor side effects which Aciphex may cause. These include an unpleasant after taste or a feeling of bloating or fullness. These generally subside with continued use of the medication. Other side effects such as bloating of any part of the body, a cough, dark urine or fever may be more serious and should be checked by a doctor.
Use of Aciphex
Aciphex comes as a long-acting, delayed release tablet that is taken by mouth. It is usually taken once each day, with breakfast, but sometimes a patient is directed to take it twice each day. In that case, the doctor will recommend that it be taken with breakfast and with the evening meal. It is important that Aciphex be swallowed whole and not broken or chewed since the pills have a special coating that should remain intact.
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