Aciphex is the brand name of rabeprazole, an inhibitor of acid secretion which is prescribed to prevent heartburn and treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease and ulcers. Heartburn and GERD are caused by a back-flow of acid from the stomach into the esophagus, and Aciphex works to control or eliminate this by limiting acid production. Aciphex is also used together with with antibiotic medications to treat certain gastric infections.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR601511 In the United States, Aciphex is only available with a prescription, and it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1999.http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/PediatricAdvisoryCommittee/UCM214745.pdf

Aciphex is to be taken as a whole pill, and the drug should not be crushed or chewed, or cut into halves. The usual dosage is one pill per day, and you may also use antacids if heartburn persists. This medicine works best with regular use, and it should be taken at the same time each day.http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-17511-Aciphex+Oral.aspx?drugid=17511&drugname=Aciphex+Oral

Aciphex blocks the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme, which, in the gastric parietal cell, normally pumps protons (H+) into the stomach. Consequently, the H+ are not pumped into the stomach and do not combine with Cl- to make hydrochloric acid (HCl).http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/PediatricAdvisoryCommittee/UCM214745.pdf

Eisai Co., Ltd. is the manufacturer of rabeprazole. It is one of the 25 largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in the world, and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.http://www.eisai.com/section.asp?ID=157 Over 1/10th of Eisai employees are in research. Another drug Eisai developed is donepezil (brand name Aricept).http://www.eisai.co.jp/enews/enews200609.html