Taking rabeprazole with other medicines and herbal supplements

You can take rabeprazole with antacids like calcium carbonate (Tums), sodium bicarbonate, Maalox and Milk of Magnesia. They help to relieve indigestion and heartburn by reducing the damage that acid can do to your stomach. They give quick relief that lasts for a few hours. They're ideal for occasional bouts of stomach acid symptoms.

Some antacids, such as Gaviscon, have an extra ingredient called alginic acid. They work by lining your stomach so that juices from it do not splash up into your food pipe. They're especially good for relieving acid reflux.

Taking rabeprazole with painkillers

It’s safe to take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, at the same time as rabeprazole.

It’s best to take ibuprofen with, or just after, a meal so it does not upset your stomach.

Cautions with other medicines

If you are taking rabeprazole, it can affect the way other medicines work. Other medicines may also affect the way rabeprazole works. It can make side effects more likely, or stop one of the medicines working as well. Tell your doctor if you're taking any of these medicines before you start taking rabeprazole:

• antifungal medicines such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole
• clopidogrel and warfarin, medicines to prevent or treat blood clots
• methotrexate, a medicine that treats psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis
• HIV medicines
• rifampicin, an antibiotic

These are not all the medicines that may not mix well with rabeprazole. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

Mixing rabeprazole with herbal remedies and supplements

Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you're taking rabeprazole. It may stop rabeprazole working as well as it should.

There's not enough information to say that other complementary medicines and herbal remedies are safe to take with rabeprazole. They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.