Levosulpiride+rabeprazole
About Levosulpiride+rabeprazole
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole is a prescription medicine used to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid reflux, and functional indigestion. It works by reducing excess stomach acid while helping food move more quickly through the digestive system. This dual action helps relieve persistent heartburn and upper abdominal discomfort.
This medicine is typically taken once daily, consistently at the same time each day to maintain stable levels in your body. For the best results, you should take this capsule on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before your morning meal. Incorporating simple habits like eating smaller meals and avoiding lying down right after eating can significantly enhance the effectiveness of this treatment.
While taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole, you may experience mild side effects like headaches, mild diarrhoea, or dizziness, which usually go away on their own. However, you must consult your doctor immediately if you experience severe symptoms, such as persistent watery diarrhoea, sudden muscle weakness, or unusual muscle movements. Your safety is a priority, so keeping your healthcare team informed of any unusual changes is highly recommended.
Before starting Levosulpiride+rabeprazole, inform your doctor if you have a history of liver damage, kidney disease, or bone thinning (osteoporosis). Do not take this medicine if you have any bleeding, blockage, or tears in your stomach or intestines, or if you have certain mental health conditions. Your doctor will evaluate your medical history to ensure this treatment is safe for your body.
This medicine can interact with other drugs, such as certain antifungals, blood thinners, and iron supplements, which may alter how well your medicines work. Drinking alcohol or smoking while taking this medication can increase stomach acid production and worsen drowsiness, making the treatment less effective. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or an elderly individual, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting this medicine to ensure it is safe for you.
Uses of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole
Medicinal Benefits
The following benefits highlight how Levosulpiride+rabeprazole helps relieve acid-related symptoms, improve digestion, promote healing, and enhance daily comfort:
- Relieves heartburn and acid reflux: By reducing stomach acid production, it helps ease burning chest pain, acid regurgitation, and irritation of the food pipe.
- Improves stomach emptying: The levosulpiride component helps food move through the stomach more efficiently, reducing bloating, fullness, nausea, and discomfort after meals.
- Promotes healing of acid-related damage: Lower stomach acid levels allow ulcers and inflammation in the stomach and food pipe to heal more effectively.
- Improves daily comfort and quality of life: Better control of acid reflux and digestive symptoms helps you eat more comfortably, sleep better, and carry out your daily activities with fewer interruptions.
Directions for Use
- Levosulpiride+rabeprazole should be taken 1 hour prior to food, or as advised by the doctor.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication to ensure safety.
- Swallow Levosulpiride+rabeprazole as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Diarrhoea or loose stools
- Dry mouth or altered taste
- Nausea or mild stomach discomfort
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as skin rashes, itching, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing
- Severe, watery diarrhea that does not go away, accompanied by stomach pain and fever
- Unusual, uncontrollable muscle movements, tremors, or stiffness in your face or body
- Signs of low magnesium levels in your blood, such as muscle spasms, irregular heartbeats, or seizures
- Signs of raised prolactin levels (hyperprolactinaemia), such as unexpected breast milk production, breast enlargement or tenderness, menstrual irregularities, or reduced sexual desire.
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect the packaging before use: Always check the blister pack before taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole. Do not use the medicine if the packaging is damaged or the seal is broken.
- Avoid use in certain gastrointestinal conditions: Do not take this medicine if you have a known mechanical blockage, bleeding, or perforation of the stomach or intestines unless specifically advised by your doctor.
- Attend regular monitoring during long-term treatment: If you are taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole for an extended period, your doctor may recommend periodic blood tests to monitor magnesium, calcium, and vitamin B12 levels. Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors such as rabeprazole may reduce vitamin B12 absorption in some people. Contact your doctor if you develop persistent fatigue, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
- Be cautious with activities requiring alertness: Avoid driving, cycling, or operating heavy machinery if you experience dizziness or drowsiness after taking this medicine.
- Inform your doctor before diagnostic tests: Tell your doctor that you are taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole before undergoing procedures such as an endoscopy or certain laboratory blood tests, as this medicine may affect the interpretation of some test results.
Drug Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Levosulpiride+rabeprazole and affect its safety or effectiveness:
- Acid-dependent medicines: Levosulpiride+rabeprazole reduces stomach acid, which may significantly lower the absorption and effectiveness of antifungals (like ketoconazole and itraconazole) and iron supplements.
- Blood thinners: Taking this medicine with certain blood thinners (like warfarin) may increase the risk of bleeding, requiring regular monitoring by your doctor.
- Antiviral drugs: It can reduce the absorption of certain HIV medicines (such as atazanavir), potentially reducing their effectiveness.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole. Alcohol intake leads to increased production of stomach acid, thereby increasing acidity and heartburn.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorConsult your doctor if you are pregnant; your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorLevosulpiride+rabeprazole may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding; your doctor will decide whether Levosulpiride+rabeprazole can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
cautionLevosulpiride+rabeprazole may cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
Liver
consult your doctorDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
consult your doctorDose adjustment may be needed. Consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
unsafeLevosulpiride+rabeprazole should not be given to children as the safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Making targeted adjustments to your diet and lifestyle can significantly improve your recovery and enhance the benefits of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole:
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day rather than three large meals to reduce pressure on your lower oesophageal sphincter.
- Avoid lying down or reclining for at least two to three hours after eating to keep stomach acid where it belongs.
- Identify and limit trigger foods and drinks, such as highly spiced dishes, fried foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, caffeine, chocolate, and carbonated beverages.
- Raise the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches using wooden blocks or a bed-wedge pillow to prevent nighttime acid reflux.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing, especially around your waist and abdomen, to prevent excess pressure on your stomach.
Special Advise
- Levosulpiride+rabeprazole might cause false-positive results for secretin stimulation test, prolactin test, and tests for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole.
- Regular blood tests for monitoring magnesium levels and bone density tests are advised if you are on long-term treatment with Levosulpiride+rabeprazole.
- Inform your doctor if you are due to have a Chromogranin A test.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Acidity: The stomach is usually protected from acid by a mucous layer. In some cases, due to excess acid production, the mucous layer gets eroded, which leads to complications like GERD, acidity, heartburn, and peptic ulcers.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): It occurs when stomach acid frequently flows into the food pipe (oesophagus). This backflow (acid reflux) irritates the food pipe and causes heartburn and acidity. Symptoms include heartburn, sour or bitter taste in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing.
Stomach ulcers: Stomach ulcers are sores that develop on the stomach and intestinal lining due to erosion of the protective stomach lining. Symptoms include nausea, changes in appetite, bloody or dark stools, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, and indigestion.
Indigestion: Indigestion is the feeling of fullness. It occurs due to slow gastric emptying. Symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
FAQs
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole is used to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acidity, heartburn, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, Helicobacter pylori infection, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, duodenal and gastric ulcers.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole contains Rabeprazole and Levosulpiride. Rabeprazole works by blocking an enzyme called the gastric proton pump, which is responsible for producing acid. Levosulpiride works by increasing the pressure of the inferior oesophageal sphincter (food pipe), thereby preventing the backflow of food and acid into the mouth. Together, Levosulpiride+rabeprazole helps in providing relief from acidity.
Avoid lying down immediately after meals to prevent acid reflux. Raise the head of the bed 10-20cm by putting on a pillow so that the head and chest are above the waist. This helps in preventing acid reflux.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole contains rabeprazole, which might increase the risk of osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones). This mainly occurs in people taking higher doses of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole for longer durations. Inform your doctor if you are at risk of osteoporosis. Your doctor may prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Dry mouth could be a side-effect of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole. Limiting caffeine intake, avoiding smoking and mouthwashes containing alcohol, drinking water regularly, and chewing sugar-free gum/candy might help stimulate saliva and thereby prevent drying of the mouth.
Do not take Levosulpiride+rabeprazole for longer durations unless prescribed by the doctor. Levosulpiride+rabeprazole might cause bone problems and hypomagnesemia on long-term treatment. Talk to your doctor if you do not find symptomatic relief despite taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole for 2 weeks.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole might cause irregular periods/abnormal menstruation. Consult your doctor if you notice abnormal bleeding patterns.
Avoid consuming alcohol along with Levosulpiride+rabeprazole as it could lead to increased drowsiness and elevated stomach acid production.
If you're experiencing frequent heartburn and stomach pain while taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole, it's essential to consult with your doctor. They can assess your specific situation and provide the best course of action.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole is typically used to treat excessive stomach acid production conditions. It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if Levosulpiride+rabeprazole is appropriate for your specific condition. They can assess your symptoms, medical history, and other factors to provide personalized guidance.
The best time to take Levosulpiride+rabeprazole depends on your doctor's specific instructions. However, a common recommendation is to take it before breakfast. This helps the medication effectively reduce stomach acid production throughout the day.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole is more often used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. However, its use may be contraindicated in individuals with allergies to either the drug or its excipients, pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with gastrointestinal bleeding or obstruction, severe kidney or liver impairment, and individuals with certain medical conditions. Before using Levosulpiride+rabeprazole, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional to assess your individual situation and determine if it's safe for you.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole combines two drugs: Rabeprazole (proton pump inhibitor) and Levosulpiride (prokinetic agent).
The safety of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been fully established. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it's essential to discuss the risks and benefits of taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole with your doctor.
Yes, dizziness can be a side effect of taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole.
Levosulpiride+rabeprazole may cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert.
It's always best to follow the specific storage and disposal instructions provided on the medication packaging or by your pharmacist. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask your healthcare provider.
Common side effects of Levosulpiride+rabeprazole may include headache, nausea, vomiting, gas, abdominal pain, dizziness, and diarrhea. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.
Before using this medication, you should inform your doctor about your medical history, including any ongoing medicines, to avoid potential interactions and minimize side effects.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it's almost time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Stomach ulcers are sores that develop on the stomach and intestine lining due to erosion of the protective stomach lining. Symptoms include nausea, changes in appetite, bloody or dark stools, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, and indigestion.
Yes, Levosulpiride+rabeprazole should always be taken on an empty stomach, ideally at least 30 minutes before your morning meal. Taking it this way ensures the medicine is absorbed correctly and works effectively to control acid production throughout the day. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about the timing.
Yes, Levosulpiride+rabeprazole can cause drowsiness, sleepiness, or dizziness in some people. If you experience these side effects, avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing tasks that require full mental alertness. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms persist or interfere with your daily life.
No, you should not stop taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole suddenly without consulting your doctor, even if your symptoms disappear. Stopping the treatment too early may cause your symptoms to return or worsen. Talk to your doctor, who will guide you on how to safely stop or reduce your medication.
If you have liver disease, you must inform your doctor before starting Levosulpiride+rabeprazole. Your liver processes this medicine, and severe liver damage may require your doctor to adjust your dose or monitor your liver health closely during treatment. Talk to your doctor for advice.
You should avoid fatty foods, highly spiced meals, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine, and carbonated drinks while taking Levosulpiride+rabeprazole. These foods can trigger excess acid production and delay your recovery, reducing the effectiveness of the treatment. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian for more dietary guidance.
Some pain relievers, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, can irritate your stomach lining and worsen reflux symptoms. If you need pain relief, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find a safe option that will not interfere with Levosulpiride+rabeprazole.
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