AcipHex.com — When to See Your Doctor for Acid Reflux Disease

When to See Your Doctor

Taking an active role in managing your acid reflux disease is important. Make a commitment to your health by tracking your symptoms and noting how often you use over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

Reasons to see your doctor
If you answer “yes” to at least 1 of these questions below, you should talk to your doctor and get an evaluation:

Do you get heartburn 2 or more days a week?
Do you experience nighttime heartburn?
Do you find OTC acid blockers or antacids provide only temporary relief from your symptoms?
Does your heartburn become more severe or occur more frequently over time?
Are you experiencing other symptoms besides frequent heartburn, such as a bad taste in your throat or belching?

This is not a substitute for medical advice. Only your doctor can determine if you have acid reflux disease and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Before you take ACIPHEX, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

Have been told that you have low magnesium levels in your blood
Have any liver problems
Have any allergies
Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if ACIPHEX can harm your unborn baby
Are breastfeeding. It is not known if ACIPHEX passes into your breast milk or if it can harm your baby. You should choose to breastfeed or take ACIPHEX, but not both. Talk to your doctor about other ways to feed your baby while taking ACIPHEX

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

ACIPHEX and certain medicines can affect each other. This can cause serious side effects. Know the medicines that you take. Keep a list of them with you and show it to your doctor when you get a new medicine. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking:

Atazanavir (Reyataz^®)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune^®, Neoral^®)
Digoxin (Lanoxin^®)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral^®)
Warfarin (Coumadin^®)
Theophylline (THEO-24 Thelair)
Diazepam (Valium)
Antibiotics
Methotrexate

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if your medicine is listed above.

All brand names are registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Print out the doctor discussion guide and answer a few questions to help you and your doctor get a better idea of the acid reflux disease symptoms you’re experiencing. When you’re finished, take the guide to your appointment and discuss it with your doctor.

Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tell your doctor if you have a rash, face swelling, throat tightness, or difficulty breathing.
Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) medicines may increase your risk of getting severe diarrhea. This diarrhea may be caused by an infection (Clostridium difficile) in your intestines. If you have watery stool, stomach pain, and fever that does not go away, call your doctor immediately.
People who are taking multiple daily doses of PPI medicines for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine.
Low magnesium can happen in some people who take a PPI medicine for at least 3 months. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms: seizures, dizziness, abnormal or fast heartbeat, jitteriness, jerking movements or shaking (tremors), muscle weakness, spasms of the hands and feet, cramps or muscle aches, or spasm of the voice box.
In adolescents, the most common side effects with ACIPHEX include headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions.
Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tell your doctor if you have a rash, face swelling, throat tightness, or difficulty breathing.
Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) medicines may increase your risk of getting severe diarrhea. This diarrhea may be caused by an infection (Clostridium difficile) in your intestines. If you have watery stool, stomach pain, and fever that does not go away, call your doctor immediately.
People who are taking multiple daily doses of PPI medicines for a long period of time may have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine.
Low magnesium can happen in some people who take a PPI medicine for at least 3 months. Tell your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms: seizures, dizziness, abnormal or fast heartbeat, jitteriness, jerking movements or shaking (tremors), muscle weakness, spasms of the hands and feet, cramps or muscle aches, or spasm of the voice box.
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.
Before taking ACIPHEX, tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines: atazanavir, digoxin, iron salts, ketoconazole, warfarin, or methotrexate.

In adults (≥18 years of age), one ACIPHEX 20 mg tablet daily is used for the treatment of daytime and nighttime 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 daytime and nighttime heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid reflux disease.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For more information about ACIPHEX, see Full Product Information.

ACIPHEX^® is a registered trademark used by Eisai Inc. under license from Eisai R&D Management Co., Ltd.
©2012 Eisai Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
This site originates in the United States.

The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a healthcare professional.
All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare professional, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.

This information is intended for use by our customers, patients, healthcare professionals and interested parties in the United States only. Eisai Inc. and 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 is published by Eisai Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which are solely responsible for its contents.

For more information about ACIPHEX, call 1-888-274-2378.

This site was last modified on: November 19, 2012 at 2:00:00 PM ET

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