Consumer medicine information

RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

contains the active ingredient rabeprazole sodium


Consumer Medicine Information

What is in this leaflet

This leaflet answers some common questions about RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

It does not contain all of the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with your medicine. You may need to read it again.

What RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 is used for

RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 is used to:

  • treat reflux oesophagitis or reflux disease. This can be caused by food and acid from the stomach flowing the wrong way (reflux) back up the food pipe, also known as the oesophagus.
    Reflux can cause a burning sensation in the chest rising up the throat, also known as heartburn.
  • help stop reflux oesophagitis from coming back or relapsing
  • treat peptic ulcers. Depending on the position of the ulcer it is called a gastric or duodenal ulcer occurs in the stomach. A duodenal ulcer occurs in the duodenum which is the tube leading out of the stomach.
    These ulcers can be caused by too much acid being made in the stomach.
    Most people who have a peptic ulcer also have a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori in their stomach. Your doctor may also prescribe a course of antibiotics (clarithromycin and amoxicillin) for you. When RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 is taken with antibiotics, the combination therapy will kill the Helicobacter pylori and let your ulcer heal.
    The presence of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori may cause the stomach to become inflamed, resulting in pain, nausea and vomiting. When RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 is taken with antibiotics, they will help kill Helicobacter pylori and allow the stomach to heal.

RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 works by decreasing the amount of acid the stomach makes, to give relief from the symptoms and allow healing to take place. Your food will still be digested in the normal way.

Your doctor may have prescribed RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 for another reason. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 has been prescribed for you.

RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 is available only with a doctor’s prescription.

Before you take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

When you must not take it

Do not take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 if you are allergic to medicines containing rabeprazole sodium,r any other proton inhibitors (omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole) or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips or tongue which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath.

Do not take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 if the expiry date (Exp.) printed on the pack has passed.

Do not take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 when breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor if you have, or ever have had, liver disease.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may be affected by RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20, or may affect how well it works. These include:

  • digoxin, a medicine used to treat heart problems.
  • ketoconazole, a medicine used to treat fungal infections.
  • atazanavir, a medicine used (with other antiretrovirals) to treat HIV-1 infection.

Your doctor can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

If you are not sure whether you are taking any of these medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

How to take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

How much to take

The usual dose is one tablet at the same time each day. For treating Helicobacter pylori infections in combinations with antibiotics (clarithromycin and amoxicillin), the dose is one tablet twice each day, morning and evening.

Your doctor may advise you to take a different dose. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.

How to take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

Swallow the tablets with a glass of water.

Do not crush or chew the tablets. They have a special coating, which protects them from the acid in your stomach. If you crush or chew RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 tablets, they will not work as well. It does not matter if you take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 with food or on an empty stomach.

If you forget to take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take the missed dose as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your tablets as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

How long to take RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 for

Keep taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 for as long as your doctor recommends.

If you take too much RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 (overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor, or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

While you are taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

Things you must do

Before starting any new medicine, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

Always swallow RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 tablets whole.

Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

If you plan to have surgery, including dental surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20.

Things you must not do

Do not use RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 to treat any other conditions unless your doctor tells you to.

Do not give RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not crush or chew the tablets.

Do not give RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 to children.

Things that may help your condition

Some self help measures suggested below may help your condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for more information about these measures.

  • alcohol – your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake.
  • aspirin and many other medicines used to treat arthritis/period pain/headaches – these medicines may irritate the stomach and may make your condition worse. Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest other medicines you can take.
  • caffeine – your doctor may advise you to limit the number of drinks which contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cocoa and cola drinks, because they contain ingredients that may irritate your stomach.
  • eating habits – eat smaller, more frequent meals. Eat slowly and chew your food carefully. Try not to rush at meal times.
  • smoking – your doctor may advise you to stop smoking or at least cut down.
  • weight – your doctor may suggest losing some weight to help your condition.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20. Like all other medicines, RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 may have unwanted side effects in some people. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • diarrhoea
  • constipation
  • stomach pain
  • muscle weakness
  • flatulence
  • dry mouth
  • breast enlargement in men
  • itchy rash accompanied by skin eruption.

Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
  • signs of frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers.

Tell your doctor immediately and do not take your next dose of RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 if you notice any of the following:

  • signs of allergy such as skin rash, reddening, blister or itching, swelling of the face, lips or other parts of the body, shortness of breath or wheezing.

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.

Other problems are more likely to arise from the ulcer itself rather than the treatment.

For these reasons contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • pain or indigestion
  • you begin to vomit blood or food
  • you pass black (blood-stained) motions.

After using RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20

Storage

Keep RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Keep the tablets in their pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the pack they may not keep well.

Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.

Do not leave RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 in the car or on window sills. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20, or your tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.

Product description

What it looks like

RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 – elliptical yellow tablet with no markings.

RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 contain 30 enteric coated tablets.

Ingredients

The active ingredient in RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 is rabeprazole sodium:
Each RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 enteric coated tablet contains 20 mg of rabeprazole sodium.

The tablets also contain:

  • povidone
  • hydroxypropyl cellulose
  • magnesium oxide
  • mannitol
  • magnesium stearate
  • ethylcellulose
  • methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1)
  • polysorbate 80
  • sodium lauryl sulphate
  • propylene glycol
  • purified talc
  • iron oxide yellow (E172)
  • titanium dioxide (E171).

The tablets do not contain gluten, lactose, sucrose, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Supplier

Actavis Pty Ltd
Level 5, 117 Harrington St,
The Rocks, NSW 2000
Phone: 1800 554 414

Australian registration numbers:
RABEPRAZOLE ACTAVIS 20 – AUST R 191860

Date of preparation: May 2014.

Published by MIMS August 2014