Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Abdominal pain, Constipation, Flatulence, Diarrhoea.

Expert advice for Minirab Tablet
Inform your doctor if you do not feel better after taking it for 14 days as you may be suffering from some other problem that needs attention. Minirab can decrease magnesium levels in blood. Get your magnesium levels checked regularly. You may need a magnesium supplement or need to discontinue your medicine.  Inform your doctor if you are suffering from osteoporosis as Minirab can weaken your bones by decreasing calcium levels in blood. You may need a calcium supplement, preferably calcium citrate. Minirab is a well-tolerated medicine and provides relief for a long time. It may take a few days to show its effect. You can take an antacid for a quick relief during this time unless your doctor has asked you not to use them. Once you start feeling better, do not stop taking your medicine. Take it for the duration as advised by your doctor

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Minirab an over the counter product?
No, Minirab is not an over the counter product, it is available when prescribed by a doctor.

Q. Is Minirab an antacid?
Minirab is not an antacid. It belongs to the class of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) which decrease the amount of acid produced in the stomach while antacids only neutralize the stomach acid by coating the stomach.

Q. Does Minirab cause osteoporosis (thinning of bones)?
Yes, long term use of Minirab can cause osteoporosis (thinning of bones). It decreases the calcium absorption leading to calcium deficiency and increases the risk of bone fractures of hip, wrist or spine. Inform your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroids (these can increase the risk of osteoporosis) before starting your therapy. Take enough calcium and vitamin D to reduce the risk.

Q. Can I take aluminum hydroxide and magnesium carbonate or other antacids with Minirab?
Minirab can be taken with antacids like aluminum hydroxide, magnesium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate. Minirab takes a few days to show its effect, so antacids can be taken during that time for relief of acidity and heartburn. However, antacids should be taken two hours before or one hour after taking Minirab as antacids can increase the pH of the stomach and decrease the action of Minirab which requires a lower pH for its action.

Q. Does Minirab have addictive potential?
No, Minirab has no addictive potential. It shows no withdrawal symptoms when you stop using this medicine.

Q. Is Minirab safe?
Yes, Minirab is safe if taken for prescribed duration in prescribed doses as advised by your doctor. However, there are some very common side effects that you can experience at effective doses like nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Does Minirab cause hair loss?
No, hair loss has not been reported as a side effect of Minirab. Talk to your doctor in case there is excessive hair fall as it could be due to some underlying problem that needs attention.

Q. Does Minirab cause flatulence (gas or bloating)?
Flatulence (gas) has been reported as a common side effect of Minirab. Although it would be mild to moderate in nature and transient.

Q. Does Minirab cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears)?
Tinnitus (ringing sensation in the ears) has not been seen as a side effect with the use of Minirab. Talk to your doctor in case you have this problem as it could be due to some underlying condition that needs attention.

Q. Does Minirab cause weight gain?
Weight gain has been reported as a rare side effect of Minirab. Weight gain can add to your problem of acidity and heartburn. So, you must try to do some exercise and make healthy changes in your diet to control your weight.

Q. Does Minirab expire?
Yes, like any other medicine, Minirab also expires. Always check the expiry date on the pack of the medicine before using it.

Q. Does Minirab cause constipation?
Constipation is a common side effect seen in patients using Minirab. Making healthy lifestyle changes like doing yoga, taking high fiber diet and plenty of fluids will prevent constipation.

Q. Does Minirab cause high blood pressure?
Minirab is not reported to cause high blood pressure. In case you experience high blood pressure, talk to your doctor as it may need attention. Common side effects seen with Minirab includes nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Does Minirab cause headache?
Headache is reported as one of the common side effects of Minirab. Please consult your doctor in case you experience an intolerable headache for a prolonged duration while taking Minirab.

Q. Can I take Minirab with ranitidine?
Yes, Minirab can be taken with ranitidine. As Minirab show its effect after some days, Ranitidine can be taken for immediate relief. No drug-drug interactions or change in side effect profile has been reported when they are used together compared to either drug alone.

Q. Can I take Minirab with ibuprofen?
Minirab can be taken with ibuprofen. Minirab is used to prevent painkiller (NSAIDs) induced gastritis and stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. Can I take Minirab with paracetamol?
Minirab can be taken with paracetamol. Minirab is used to prevent painkiller (NSAIDs) induced stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. How is Minirab metabolized?
Minirab is metabolized in the liver mainly by microsomal CYP450 enzymes (CYP2C19 and CYP3A4). Patients with poor CYP2C19 enzymatic activity will have higher levels of Minirab for a long time and a better suppression of stomach acid.

Q. Can Minirab be used for the treatment of throat infection?
No, Minirab is not meant for throat infections. However, it may be given along with antibiotics and other drugs to protect the stomach from excessive acid secretion.

Q. Why is Minirab used with cinitapride for some conditions?
Cinitapride increases the movement of the gut and is useful in the treatment of conditions like heartburn, dyspepsia and is also useful in the treatment of reflux esophagitis. It has much better efficacy when it is used with Minirab.

Q. Does Minirab play any role in treating ulcerative colitis?
Minirab does not have any role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. However, it can be given if there is associated dyspepsia or increased stomach acid secretion. Talk to your doctor before taking any treatment for ulcerative colitis.

Q. Can Minirab be used for reflux esophagitis?
Yes, Minirab is effective in the treatment of reflux esophagitis. It is a disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates and inflames the lining of the food pipe. Minirab decreases the production of acid in the stomach and can help in healing the inflamed and eroded esophagus.The efficacy is better when it is given in combination with a prokinetic agent like domperidone.

Q. Is Minirab being used for treating weight loss?
No, Minirab is not used for the treatment of weight loss. It is a proton pump inhibitor and is used for the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers.

Q. Is there any role of Minirab in treating hiatus hernia?
A hiatus hernia is the bulging of the stomach into the chest through an esophageal opening in the diaphragm which is larger than the normal size. A hiatus hernia is associated with acidity and heartburn. Minirab does not play any role in treating hiatus hernia, however, it can help in relieving the symptoms of acidity, heartburn and acid reflux.

Q. Can I take Minirab with vitamin D?
Yes, vitamin D can be taken with Minirab. Vitamin D is generally advised to be taken as a supplement with Minirab as its long-term use decreases the absorption of calcium and cause calcium deficiency. This can lead to osteoporosis (thinning of bones) and increase the risk of bone fractures like hip, wrist and spine fractures.

Q. How is Minirab useful in the treatment of H. pylori?
Minirab is used along with antibiotics for the treatment of H.Pylori infection. It works by decreasing stomach acid volume and decreasing breakdown and washout of antibiotics leading to an increased antibiotic concentration and tissue penetration. It also helps in the symptomatic relief by decreasing associated acidity, reflux, and heartburn.

Q. Can I take Minirab with domperidone?
Minirab can be safely taken with domperidone as no harmful effects have been reported clinically. A fixed-dose combination of these two medicines is also available. Domperidone increases gut motility and Rabeprazole decreases the acid production in the stomach. So, this combination is very effective in the treatment of reflux esophagitis associated with acidity, heartburn, intestinal and stomach ulcers.

Q. Can long term use of Minirab cause magnesium deficiency?
Long-term use of Minirab can lower magnesium levels in patients taking multiple daily doses for a year or longer (at least 3 months). Get your magnesium levels checked at regular intervals. Tell your doctor if you experience seizures, dizziness, abnormal or fast heartbeat, jitteriness, jerking movements or shaking (tremors), muscle weakness, spasms of the hands and feet, cramps, muscle aches or spasm of the voice box.