Acifix

Description

Acifix Tablet: Uses, Dosing, and Important Information

Acifix Tablet, containing Rabeprazole, is a medication primarily used to reduce stomach acid. It is manufactured by Curex Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. and is available in Nepal.

What is Acifix Tablet Used For?

Acifix Tablet is used to treat various conditions caused by excessive stomach acid, including:

• Peptic Ulcer Disease: To heal ulcers in the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine.
• H. pylori Infection: As part of a treatment plan to eliminate this bacterium, which can cause ulcers.
• Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): To manage symptoms like heartburn and acid reflux in both adults and children.
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: A rare condition that causes the stomach to produce too much acid.
• Oesophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus.
• Acid-Related Dyspepsia: Indigestion caused by stomach acid.
• NSAID-Associated Ulceration: To prevent or treat ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Ulcers Resistant to H2 Receptor Antagonists: For ulcers that haven’t responded to other types of acid-reducing medications.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding from Stress: To help prevent or treat bleeding in the digestive tract that can be stress-related.
• Prophylaxis for Acid Aspiration Syndrome: To reduce the risk of stomach acid entering the lungs during the induction of anesthesia.

How to Take Acifix Tablet (Dosing Information)

Important Note: Always follow your doctor’s specific instructions for Acifix Tablet. The doses listed below are general guidelines.

Adult Dosing

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
  • Treatment: 20 mg once daily for 4-8 weeks.
  • Maintenance: 10 or 20 mg once daily.
  • All doses should be taken once in the morning.
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome:
  • Initial: 60 mg once in the morning.
  • Adjusted: Up to a maximum of 120 mg/day if needed. Daily doses over 100 mg should be split into two divided doses.
• Peptic Ulcer:
  • Duodenal ulcer: 20 mg once in the morning for 4-8 weeks.
  • Gastric ulcer: 20 mg once in the morning for 6-12 weeks.
• H. pylori Infection (1-week triple therapy):
  • 20 mg twice daily, combined with clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1 g twice daily.
  • OR 20 mg twice daily, combined with clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily and metronidazole 400 mg twice daily.
• Erosive Oesophagitis:
  • 20 mg once daily for 4-8 weeks. May be continued for another 8 weeks if healing is incomplete.
  • Maintenance: 10 or 20 mg once daily.
  • All doses should be taken once in the morning.
• Elderly Patients: No dosage adjustment is typically needed.
• Hepatic Impairment (Liver Problems): No dosage adjustment is typically needed.

Child Dosing (Oral)

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD):
  • Children >12 years: 20 mg once in the morning for up to 8 weeks.

Renal Impairment (Kidney Problems)

• No dosage adjustment is typically needed.

How to Administer Acifix Tablet

• Acifix Tablet can be taken with or without meals.

Important Considerations and Warnings

Do Not Use If:

• You have a known hypersensitivity (allergy) to rabeprazole, other PPIs, or any component of the formulation.

Precautions:

• Your doctor should rule out gastric malignancy (stomach cancer) before you start this medication.
• Use with caution in patients with severe hepatic impairment (severe liver problems).
• Pregnancy and Lactation: Discuss with your doctor if you are pregnant. It is unknown whether rabeprazole is distributed into breast milk; use caution if breastfeeding, as it is generally not recommended.
• Monitoring: Your magnesium levels should be monitored before starting Acifix and periodically during prolonged use.

Possible Drug Interactions:

Acifix Tablet can interact with other medications, potentially leading to:

• Decreased serum concentration of ketoconazole, itraconazole, and clopidogrel.
• Increased risk of hypomagnesaemia (low magnesium) when used with diuretics and digoxin.
• May increase prothrombin time and INR of warfarin (a blood thinner).
• May increase plasma concentration of saquinavir and methotrexate.
• Decreased serum levels when used with sucralfate.
• Potentially Fatal: May significantly decrease plasma concentrations and pharmacological effects of rilpivirine and atazanavir.

Possible Side Effects:

Common (1–10% of patients):

• Headache (2–10%)
• Abdominal pain (4%)
• Diarrhea (2–5%)
• Flatulence (3%)
• Pain (3%)
• Pharyngitis (3%)
• Constipation (2%)

Less Common (<1%, but potentially serious):

• Agitation
• Agranulocytosis (severe drop in white blood cells)
• Alopecia (hair loss)
• Anemia
• Angioedema (severe swelling under the skin)
• Chest pain
• Delirium
• Erythema (skin redness)
• Hypokalemia (low potassium)
• Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium)
• Hyponatremia (low sodium)
• Jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes)
• Leukocytosis (high white blood cell count)
• Leukopenia (low white blood cell count)
• Migraine
• Osteoporosis-related fracture (bone fracture due to weakened bones)
• Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (severe skin reaction)
• Sudden death
• Toxic epidermal necrolysis (very severe skin reaction)
• Abnormal taste

How Acifix Tablet Works (Mechanism of Action)

Rabeprazole, the active ingredient in Acifix Tablet, is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by suppressing gastric acid secretion. It does this by inhibiting the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system (also known as the “proton pump”) which is found on the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cells in the stomach lining. This action effectively reduces both the normal (basal) and stimulated production of stomach acid.

Disclaimer: This information about Acifix Tablet is for general knowledge and should not be used for self-diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment. It is not a substitute for professional medical judgment. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment