Rabeprazole: Uses, Dose, Side Effects and Top Brands in India (2026)

• Updated 9 October 2026
• Reviewed by Sudhanshu Singhal
• 24 min read
• 31 sources

Widely listed rabeprazole brands in India

The MRPs above are the prices shown on the 1mg e-pharmacy product pages (PharmEasy for Rablet-L) read on 9 October 2026; 1mg states that MRP may vary by batch, and MRPs change over time. This is a listing of widely stocked brands, not a sales ranking — no published brand-level ranking was found.

What is rabeprazole (alone and with domperidone or levosulpiride)?

Rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), a substituted benzimidazole that lowers stomach acid by blocking the "acid pump" (H+/K+ ATPase) on the surface of the acid-producing cells of the stomach lining. It has no anticholinergic action and does not work as an H2 blocker (FDA AcipHex label, section 12.1).

How it works, and how fast

The antisecretory effect starts within 1 hour of a 20 mg dose, and after the first dose the median inhibition of 24-hour gastric acidity is 88% of the maximum effect (FDA, section 12.2). The UK Pariet SmPC gives the maximum effect at 2 to 4 hours, steady-state inhibition after 3 days of dosing, and normal acid secretion returning 2 to 3 days after stopping.

The tablet is enteric-coated (gastro-resistant) because rabeprazole is broken down by stomach acid; absorption starts only after the tablet leaves the stomach (UK Pariet SmPC, section 5.2). Absolute bioavailability of the 20 mg tablet is about 52%, with peak blood levels 2 to 5 hours after the dose. A high-fat meal can delay absorption by up to 4 hours or more, but peak level and total absorption are not significantly changed, so the FDA label says the tablet may be taken without regard to the timing of meals.

Rabeprazole is cleared from the body partly by non-enzymatic conversion to a thioether and partly by the liver enzymes CYP3A and CYP2C19. The FDA label notes that "poor metabolisers" of CYP2C19 make up 3 to 5% of Caucasians and 17 to 20% of Asians.

Forms and strengths sold in India

Rabeprazole is sold in India mainly as 10 mg and 20 mg tablets; some brands are also listed at 40 mg (e-pharmacy brand pages). The two combination capsules seen most often are:

• Rabeprazole sodium 20 mg (enteric-coated pellets) + domperidone 30 mg (sustained-release pellets) per hard gelatin capsule — the usual "DSR", where DSR stands for domperidone sustained release (JB Pharma Rabiet DSR leaflet).
• Enteric-coated rabeprazole sodium 20 mg + levosulpiride 75 mg sustained release per capsule (Torrent Veloz L prescribing information).

CDSCO's published list of FDCs permitted for continued manufacturing and marketing under the 18-month policy decision names both combinations, giving strengths only and no indication or dose. A CDSCO Subject Expert Committee (Gastroenterology & Hepatology) recommendation of 21 November 2023 also covers a levosulpiride 75 mg SR + rabeprazole 40 mg capsule with an active post-marketing surveillance study; a trade report describes a launch in 2024, but a grant letter was not seen. Most Indian brands carry 20 mg, not 40 mg, of rabeprazole.

What domperidone and levosulpiride add

Domperidone is a dopamine antagonist with antiemetic action that does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier. It raises lower-oesophageal pressure, improves antroduodenal movement and speeds gastric emptying, and it has no effect on stomach acid secretion; it also promotes prolactin release (Irish HPRA SmPC, section 5.1). In the Indian leaflet wording, rabeprazole reduces acid while domperidone acts on gut movement and nausea (Torrent Veloz D).

Levosulpiride is the levo-enantiomer of sulpiride, a benzamide; the Spanish regulator files it under antipsychotics (ATC N05AL07) and states that sulpiride's antidopaminergic activity comes from the levorotatory isomer. The Indian leaflet for Veloz L describes it as blocking D2 receptors at the submucosal and myenteric plexus, acting as a prokinetic; a single dose enhanced gastric emptying in healthy adults and in patients with chronic gastritis.

What is it used for?

Labels list rabeprazole for reflux disease, ulcers and conditions of excess stomach acid, and the combination capsules are labelled in India for GERD; the exact approved uses differ a little between regulators.

Rabeprazole alone

The US FDA AcipHex label lists, for adults: healing of erosive or ulcerative GERD; maintenance of that healing; treatment of symptomatic GERD; healing of duodenal ulcers; eradication of H. pylori (with amoxicillin and clarithromycin) to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence; and pathological hypersecretory conditions including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. For adolescents 12 years and older it lists short-term treatment of symptomatic GERD for up to 8 weeks, and it states that the 20 mg tablet is not recommended for ages 1 to under 12 because the lowest strength exceeds the recommended dose.

The UK Pariet SmPC, section 4.1, lists seven uses: active duodenal ulcer; active benign gastric ulcer; symptomatic erosive or ulcerative GORD; long-term management of GORD; symptomatic treatment of moderate to very severe GORD; Zollinger-Ellison syndrome; and H. pylori eradication with antibacterials in peptic ulcer disease. The UK adds that it is not recommended for use in children. One difference to note is that "active benign gastric ulcer" appears on the UK label but not in the FDA indication list.

The combinations

CDSCO's FDC list and committee minutes name the combinations but do not state an indication, so the uses below come from manufacturer leaflets, not from a CDSCO-issued label. The Torrent Veloz D leaflet says the capsule is "for the treatment of Gastroesophageal reflux not responding to Rabeprazole alone", while the JB Pharma Rabiet DSR leaflet says it is "indicated for the treatment of adult patients with gastroesophagal reflux disease (GERD)" — the leaflets differ by company. The Torrent Veloz L leaflet states it is indicated for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

For domperidone itself, the EU/UK label states relief of the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in adults and adolescents over 12 years weighing 35 kg or more. The MHRA (Drug Safety Update, 11 December 2014) states that domperidone is now restricted to relief of nausea and vomiting and should no longer be taken for bloating and heartburn, and the EMA/CMDh (25 April 2014) said it should no longer be authorised to treat other conditions such as bloating or heartburn as there is no good evidence.

For levosulpiride alone, the Spanish AEMPS SmPC lists three short-term uses: dyspeptic syndrome caused by delayed gastric emptying (organic causes such as diabetic gastroparesis or cancer, and/or functional causes) in patients who did not respond to other therapy; symptomatic nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy after first-line failure; and symptomatic dizziness, tinnitus, hearing loss and nausea of Meniere's syndrome.

One open-label, non-comparative study of 50 GERD patients in Mumbai (rabeprazole + domperidone, one capsule daily on an empty stomach, up to 4 weeks) reported good or excellent relief in 94% by physician assessment; the study had no control group. All of these medicines are prescription products — take them only as prescribed by your doctor, for the condition your doctor has diagnosed.

Dose as stated in the labels

Doses differ by product, strength and the condition being treated, and some regimens are twice daily, so only your doctor can set the right one; every regimen below is quoted from a named label and must be taken exactly as prescribed.

Rabeprazole alone

• FDA AcipHex label: healing of erosive or ulcerative GERD — 20 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks; if not healed after 8 weeks an additional 8-week course may be considered. Maintenance of healing — 20 mg once daily, with controlled studies not extending beyond 12 months.
• FDA, symptomatic GERD: adults 20 mg once daily for up to 4 weeks (another course may be considered if symptoms do not resolve); adolescents 12 years and older 20 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks.
• FDA, duodenal ulcer: 20 mg once daily after the morning meal for up to 4 weeks. For H. pylori eradication: rabeprazole 20 mg plus amoxicillin 1000 mg plus clarithromycin 500 mg, all three twice daily with morning and evening meals for 7 days.
• FDA, Zollinger-Ellison and other hypersecretory conditions: starting dose 60 mg once daily, then adjusted to the individual; 100 mg once daily and 60 mg twice daily have been given; continue as long as clinically indicated.
• FDA administration: swallow the tablet whole — do not chew, crush or split it; take with or without food except for the duodenal ulcer regimen (after a meal) and H. pylori therapy (with food); take a missed dose as soon as possible unless it is nearly time for the next one, and never take two doses together.
• UK Pariet SmPC: ulcers — 20 mg once daily in the morning; most duodenal ulcers heal in 4 weeks (a few need 4 more), most benign gastric ulcers in 6 weeks (a few need 6 more). Erosive or ulcerative GORD — 20 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks; long-term management — 20 mg or 10 mg once daily depending on response.
• UK, symptomatic moderate-to-very-severe GORD without oesophagitis: 10 mg once daily, with further investigation if there is no control in 4 weeks, then 10 mg once daily when needed. Zollinger-Ellison: start 60 mg once daily, titrate to 120 mg per day. H. pylori: 20 mg twice daily with clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and amoxicillin 1 g twice daily for 7 days.
• UK timing: once-daily doses should be taken in the morning before eating, although neither the time of day nor food intake was shown to affect the drug's activity — the morning routine is chosen to help compliance; tablets should be swallowed whole, not chewed or crushed. The UK patient leaflet adds that if you forget the medicine for more than 5 days, talk to your doctor before taking any more.
• Liver and kidney: the UK SmPC states no dose adjustment is needed for renal or hepatic impairment, with caution when starting in severe hepatic dysfunction; the FDA label says to avoid rabeprazole in severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) but to monitor if treatment is necessary.

The combination capsules

Indian leaflets print short instructions and refer the decision to the prescriber. The Torrent Veloz D leaflet (rabeprazole 20 mg + domperidone SR 30 mg) says "One capsule once daily preferably before meal or as directed by physician"; the JB Pharma Rabiet DSR leaflet says "1 capsule once daily or as directed by the Physician", swallowed whole with liquid and not chewed or crushed. For rabeprazole + levosulpiride, the Torrent Veloz L sheet states "As directed by the physician" with no fixed regimen printed.

For domperidone on its own, the Irish HPRA SmPC states one 10 mg tablet up to three times per day, to a maximum of 30 mg per day, and that usually the maximum treatment duration should not exceed one week, using the lowest effective dose for the shortest time; it is taken before meals (15 to 30 minutes before for gastrointestinal complaints), and in severe renal impairment dosing is reduced to once or twice daily. The MHRA gives the same 30 mg maximum in 24 hours for adults and adolescents over 12 years and 35 kg or more, with the same one-week limit and reassessment for anyone on long-term domperidone. The EMA/CMDh noted in 2014 that products supplying a 20 mg oral dose were no longer recommended; the Indian capsule carries 30 mg of domperidone, equal to the 30 mg daily maximum in those labels, and how Indian practice reconciles this with the one-week limit is uncertain. For levosulpiride alone, the AEMPS SmPC gives adults 75 mg per day (one 25 mg tablet three times a day) before meals and states that treatment should not be used permanently.

Side effects

Common side effects in the rabeprazole labels are headache, diarrhoea, nausea, stomach pain, constipation and flatulence, and the only common one listed for domperidone is dry mouth, while a shorter list of reactions needs urgent medical attention.

Common and less common effects

In FDA trial data in adults (1,064 patients on rabeprazole versus 89 on placebo, up to 8 weeks), pain was reported in 3% versus 1%, pharyngitis 3% versus 2%, flatulence 3% versus 1%, infection 2% versus 1% and constipation 2% versus 1%. In adolescents aged 12 to 16 (111 patients), headache was 9.9%, diarrhoea 4.5%, nausea 4.5%, vomiting 3.6% and abdominal pain 3.6%. With amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 7 or 10 days, diarrhoea was 8% and 7% and taste disturbance 6% and 10%. Less common effects under 2% include headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, dry mouth, dizziness, swelling of the limbs, raised liver enzymes, hepatitis, muscle and joint pain.

The UK Pariet SmPC lists as COMMON (1 in 100 to 1 in 10): infection, insomnia, headache, dizziness, cough, pharyngitis, rhinitis, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, benign fundic gland polyps, non-specific pain, back pain, weakness and flu-like illness. UNCOMMON effects include nervousness, sleepiness, bronchitis, sinusitis, indigestion, dry mouth, belching, rash, muscle pain, leg cramps, joint pain, fracture of hip, wrist or spine, urinary infection, chest pain, chills, fever and raised liver enzymes. RARE effects include low white cells or platelets, allergic reactions, loss of appetite, depression, visual disturbance, taste disturbance, hepatitis, jaundice, severe blistering skin reactions and kidney inflammation. Frequency NOT KNOWN: low sodium, low magnesium, confusion, microscopic colitis, breast enlargement in men and swelling of the limbs.

Serious effects that need urgent medical help

• Severe skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, DRESS, AGEP), acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, and cutaneous or systemic lupus — all named on the FDA label.
• Irregular heartbeat or fainting on domperidone: the labels report QT prolongation and torsades de pointes, and epidemiological studies show an increased risk of serious ventricular arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death, higher in patients over 60, on daily doses above 30 mg, or taking QT-prolonging medicines or CYP3A4 inhibitors. A pooled analysis of 8 observational studies (480,395 people) found an adjusted odds ratio of 1.69 (95% CI 1.46 to 1.95) for sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia with domperidone use. The FDA also notes serious cardiac events in lactating individuals.
• Prolactin-related effects: the domperidone SmPC reports breast discharge, breast enlargement and irregular menstruation, "particularly evident" at higher doses or longer durations. The Indian Veloz L leaflet lists levosulpiride effects of raised prolactin (breast enlargement, milk production, stopped periods), acute muscular dystonia, sedation, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, postural hypotension and raised transaminases.
• Movement disorders with levosulpiride: parkinsonism, dyskinesia, tremor, dystonia, sleepiness and neuroleptic malignant syndrome are listed as very rare (under 1 in 10,000), observed with prolonged administration and/or with other medicines of the same class.
• Heart and clots with levosulpiride: QT prolongation, ventricular arrhythmias including torsades de pointes, cardiac arrest (rare) and sudden death (very rare) have been observed with other medicines of the same class, and venous thromboembolism has been reported with antipsychotic medicines.
• The FDA label notes that symptom relief does not exclude the presence of gastric cancer, and that fundic gland polyps become more likely beyond one year of use.

Effects of longer use

Low magnesium has been reported rarely in patients on PPIs for at least 3 months, mostly after a year, with serious events including tetany, arrhythmias and seizures; the label suggests considering magnesium checks for prolonged use or with digoxin or diuretics. Daily acid suppression longer than 3 years may cause vitamin B12 malabsorption. Observational studies link PPIs to hip, wrist and spine fracture, with higher risk on multiple daily doses and use of a year or longer; the UK SmPC reports an overall fracture-risk increase of 10 to 40%, part of which may be due to other risk factors. PPIs may also be associated with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea (the UK also names Salmonella and Campylobacter), so the lowest dose and shortest appropriate duration are advised.

Who should not take it, and interactions

Rabeprazole is contraindicated in people with known hypersensitivity to rabeprazole, substituted benzimidazoles or any component of the product, and with rilpivirine-containing products (FDA label); the UK SmPC adds breastfeeding and notes that cross-hypersensitivity with other PPIs cannot be excluded.

Key interactions for rabeprazole

• Warfarin: raised INR and prothrombin time have been reported with PPIs and warfarin, which may lead to abnormal bleeding; INR and PT should be monitored.
• Methotrexate (mainly high dose): PPIs may raise and prolong methotrexate levels and cause toxicity; a temporary PPI withdrawal may be considered.
• Absorption of other drugs: rabeprazole can reduce absorption of pH-dependent medicines such as iron salts, erlotinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, mycophenolate mofetil, ketoconazole and itraconazole; the UK notes ketoconazole and itraconazole levels may fall significantly, and no interaction was seen with liquid antacids. Avoid with nelfinavir; atazanavir is not recommended (UK); saquinavir exposure may rise.
• Other: digoxin and tacrolimus levels should be monitored; rabeprazole can cause a false-positive chromogranin A test (stop at least 14 days before the test) and false-positive urine THC screens.

Domperidone: who must avoid it

The HPRA SmPC lists hypersensitivity, prolactinoma, conditions where stimulating gut movement could be harmful (gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction, perforation), moderate or severe liver impairment, known prolonged cardiac conduction (QTc), significant electrolyte disturbance or heart disease such as heart failure, and confirmed or suspected pheochromocytoma. It is contraindicated with QT-prolonging medicines (for example quinidine, amiodarone, sotalol, haloperidol, pimozide, citalopram, escitalopram, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, fluconazole, methadone, cisapride) and with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, saquinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin and telithromycin; diltiazem and verapamil are not recommended.

The domperidone label also advises that antacids or other acid-reducing medicines should not be taken at the same time as oral domperidone, because reduced stomach acidity impairs domperidone absorption; such medicines should be taken after meals and not before. This general advice sits awkwardly with the Indian fixed-dose capsules, which place domperidone together with rabeprazole (an acid-reducing medicine) inside one capsule, and the Indian leaflets do not discuss the point. Do not split, delay, or change the timing of a prescribed combination capsule on your own — take it exactly as your doctor has directed.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and the combinations

For rabeprazole, the FDA label states there are no available human data to inform the drug-associated risk, while animal studies showed no evidence of fetal harm at 13 times (rat) and 8 times (rabbit) the human exposure; the UK SmPC says over 1,000 exposed pregnancies do not indicate a relevant increased risk of major congenital malformations, and use should be only if the benefit outweighs the remaining uncertainty. For breastfeeding the labels differ: the FDA notes no lactation studies and that the drug is present in rat milk, while the UK says it should not be used during breastfeeding.

For domperidone, the HPRA SmPC says use in pregnancy only when justified by the anticipated benefit; it is excreted in milk (the infant receives under 0.1% of the maternal weight-adjusted dose) but cardiac effects in the infant cannot be excluded. Indian combination leaflets are stricter: Torrent Veloz D lists pregnancy and breastfeeding among its contraindications, and the JB Pharma Rabiet DSR leaflet says rabeprazole is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation and domperidone is not recommended in pregnancy. Levosulpiride is contraindicated with hypersensitivity to it, in pregnancy and breastfeeding, with epilepsy history, manic states, pheochromocytoma, malignant breast disease and gastrointestinal bleeding, obstruction or perforation; the Veloz L leaflet also contraindicates Parkinson disease and notes interactions with antacids and sucralfate, added sedation with alcohol, opposition with levodopa, and arrhythmia risk with atomoxetine and antiarrhythmics. Whether any of these is right for you is a decision for your doctor.

Rules in India

In India rabeprazole is a Schedule H prescription drug, it is not in NLEM 2022 and so carries no NPPA ceiling price, while domperidone 10 mg tablets are a scheduled formulation with a ceiling price.

The Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, Schedule H ("Prescription Drugs", Rules 65 and 97, consolidated text amended up to 31 December 2016) lists Rabeprazole (entry 423), Domperidone (entry 161), Pantoprazole (386), Omeprazole (367), Esomeprazole (179) and Sulpiride (475). Levosulpiride is not named in that 2016 text (only sulpiride is), and whether it is treated as covered is uncertain; amendments after 2016 were not checked here. E-pharmacy pages mark rabeprazole and the combinations "Prescription required".

NLEM 2022, Section 17 (Gastrointestinal Medicines), lists only omeprazole and pantoprazole among the antiulcer entries; rabeprazole tablets are not in NLEM 2022. Domperidone is listed (tablet 10 mg, oral liquid 1 mg/mL), while levosulpiride and the combinations are not. Because rabeprazole is not an NLEM scheduled drug, no NPPA ceiling price applies to it; under DPCO 2013, paragraph 20, a manufacturer may not raise the MRP of a non-scheduled formulation by more than 10% of the MRP during the preceding twelve months.

For domperidone 10 mg tablets, NPPA's consolidated ceiling-price list "Updated: 30.09.2020" shows ₹2.41 per tablet (and ₹1.07 per ml for the 1 mg/mL oral liquid). That list is several years old and ceiling prices are revised, so the current value is uncertain. Separately, NPPA fixed a retail price of ₹7.47 per capsule (excluding GST) for one rabeprazole 20 mg (EC pellets) + domperidone 30 mg (SR pellets) capsule manufactured by Ved Lifesavers (P) Ltd and marketed by German Remedies Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd, by Order S.O. 4775(E) dated 27 August 2026; that order applies only to that manufacturer and marketer. No NPPA ceiling or retail price was found for the rabeprazole + levosulpiride combination.

Widely listed brands in India

The brands listed in the table above are the rabeprazole brands widely listed on Indian e-pharmacies, along with the common domperidone and levosulpiride combinations; this is a listing, not a ranking, because no published brand-level sales ranking was found. IQVIA's public Q2 2023 India report gives only category-level figures, stating that "Pantoprazole+Domperidone and Rabeprazole+Domperidone continue to grow at 6% (PPG) each". MRPs are as read on 1mg (and PharmEasy for one brand) on 9 October 2026 and will change.

The Vibcare range

Vibcare Pharma offers 32 rabeprazole products in 7 compositions: plain rabeprazole 20 mg tablets, rabeprazole with domperidone (10 mg, or 30 mg sustained release), with levosulpiride 75 mg, with itopride 150 mg, and aceclofenac with rabeprazole. Every product, pack and price is listed below.

This range is available to Vibcare PCD franchise partners across India, district by district, with monopoly rights confirmed in writing.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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