AcipHex.com—Acid Reflux Disease Causes

Print this page |

E-mail a friend

What causes acid reflux?

Why acid reflux occurs

Stomach acid, which helps you digest food, is usually not a problem when it stays where it belongs—in your stomach. Unfortunately, this is not the case with acid reflux disease.

Acid reflux is a physical condition where the contents of the stomach—including acid—back up (or reflux) into the esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach). That can lead to heartburn and other acid reflux disease symptoms like a bad taste in your throat and belching.

The role of the LES

Between your esophagus and your stomach there is a natural barrier, or valve, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). For most people, the LES works just fine. But for some people with acid reflux disease, this valve does not always work the way it should for 2 reasons:

			It relaxes too frequently
			It's too weak

Damages to the esophagus

The lining of your stomach is built to handle stomach acid. The lining of your esophagus is not. It can protect itself for a while, but when acid comes in contact with this lining for an extended period of time, it can lead to damage. This is what you may experience as heartburn and other painful or uncomfortable symptoms.

If left untreated, acid reflux disease may even cause damage (erosions) to the lining of the esophagus, a condition known as erosive esophagitis. If you have any concerns about your symptoms, please be sure to discuss them with your doctor.

Next: What happens?

In adults (≥18 years of age), one ACIPHEX 20 mg tablet daily is used for the treatment of persistent, frequent (2 or more days a week) heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid reflux disease. ACIPHEX is also used for the short-term (4 to 8 weeks) treatment in the healing and symptom relief of damaging (erosive) acid reflux disease (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and to maintain healing of damage (erosion) and relief of heartburn symptoms that happen with acid reflux disease. ACIPHEX has not been studied for treatment lasting longer than 12 months (1 year).

In adolescents (≥12 years of age), one ACIPHEX 20 mg tablet daily is used for the treatment of persistent, frequent (2 or more days a week) heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid reflux disease.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
ACIPHEX has a well-established safety profile.

In adolescents, the most common side effects with ACIPHEX include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

In adults, the most common side effects with ACIPHEX include pain, sore throat, gas, infection, and constipation.

Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.

Before taking ACIPHEX, tell your doctor if you are taking atazanavir, digoxin, iron salts, ketoconazole, or warfarin.

To learn more, talk to your doctor and see the Full Product Information.

ACIPHEX is a registered trademark of Eisai Company, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.
©2009 Eisai Inc. and PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
This site originates in the United States.

This information is intended for use by our customers, patients, healthcare professionals and interested parties in the United States only. Eisai Inc. and PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., recognize that the Internet is a global communications medium; however, laws, regulatory requirements and medical practices for pharmaceutical products vary from country to country. The Prescribing Information included here is not appropriate for use outside the United States.
This site contains information about products that may have different product labeling in different countries.
This site is published by Eisai Inc. and PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which are solely responsible for its contents.

This site was last modified on: July 13, 2009 at 5:30:00 EST