Rabeprazole and Warfarin

Rabeprazole (brand name AcipHex®) is used to treat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), might present a safety risk to patients taking warfarin.

Although the FDA first approved the use of rabeprazole in 2002 as a daily, short-term (up to eight weeks) treatment only for adult GERD patients, it was recently approved for use in adolescents 12 years and older.1

In post-marketing trials of rabeprazole, increased INR values were observed in patients with concomitant warfarin use. Therefore, the rabeprazole product label now includes recommendations for more frequent INR testing in warfarin patients who also require rabeprazole treatment.2

As always, talk to your doctor about what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking.

  1. FDA Approves AcipHex (rabeprazole Sodium) 20 Mg ForShort-Term Treatment of GERDin Adolescents. (2008). Retrieved July 13, 2008, from Health Diseases Blog Web site:http://healthdiseases.org.cn/2008/07/fda-approves-aciphexr-rabeprazole-sodium-20-mg-for-short-term-treatment-of-gerd-in-adolescents.html
  2. Eisai Incorporated. (2008). AcipHex [Package Insert]. Raritan, New Jersey.