Razo 20: Uses, How It Works, Side Effects
Also known as: Razo, Razo 20 mg, Razo-20, Razo 20 tablet, Rabeprazole 20 mg
Razo 20 is a prescription tablet containing 20 mg of rabeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that lowers the amount of acid the stomach makes. It is used to treat acid reflux (GERD), duodenal ulcers and, with antibiotics, Helicobacter pylori infection. It is taken only on a doctor's advice and swallowed whole.
- Active ingredient
- Rabeprazole 20 mg
- Type of medicine
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Starts working in
- Acid starts to fall within hours, but full relief of symptoms can take a few days
- Effect lasts
- A single dose lowers acid for about a day, which is why it is usually taken once a day
- With or without food
- Follow the label or your doctor's advice; timing can depend on the condition being treated
- Alcohol
- Alcohol can irritate the stomach and make symptoms worse; ask your doctor
- Pregnancy
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking it
- Habit-forming
- No
- Made by
- VERIFY on pack
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
On this page
What is Razo 20 used for?
Razo 20 is a prescription medicine. It is used, on a doctor's advice, to treat conditions caused by too much stomach acid.
- Treating acid reflux (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, GERD) and its heartburn
- Healing duodenal ulcers
- Treating Helicobacter pylori infection, together with antibiotics
- Treating conditions with very high acid production, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, under a specialist
How does Razo 20 work?
The stomach lining has tiny acid pumps (called H+/K+ ATPase) that release acid into the stomach. Rabeprazole blocks these pumps, so less acid is made. The body must make new pumps to restore acid, so the effect lasts much longer than the medicine stays in the blood.
What happens in your body after you take it
You swallow the tablet
The tablet has a coating that protects it from stomach acid. Swallow it whole; do not chew or crush it.
It is absorbed in the intestine
The coating dissolves in the intestine, and rabeprazole passes into the blood.
It reaches the stomach lining
Rabeprazole travels in the blood to the acid-making cells of the stomach lining.
It switches off the acid pumps
In the acid-making cells, rabeprazole blocks the proton pumps, which stops the last step of acid production.
Acid stays low
The body must build new pumps before acid returns to normal, so a daily dose keeps acid low through the day. The medicine itself is cleared by the liver within hours.
How to take Razo 20
Take Razo 20 exactly as your doctor has prescribed or as printed on the pack. Your doctor decides the dose, the timing and how many weeks you need it.
- Swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, crush or split it.
- It is usually taken once a day. Whether it is taken before or after food can depend on the condition, so follow the label or your doctor's advice.
- For Helicobacter pylori, it is taken together with antibiotics, exactly as your doctor has prescribed, and the full course should be finished.
- If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
- Ask your doctor to review it if you have taken it for months.
Side effects of Razo 20
Most people take rabeprazole without serious problems. Some side effects are common and mild, but a few need medical help.
Uncommon or mild
- Headache
- Stomach pain, wind or constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Dizziness or dry mouth
- Sore throat
Rare but serious: get medical help
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing (a severe allergic reaction). Get medical help immediately
- Red skin with blisters or peeling, or mouth sores (a serious skin reaction)
- Watery or bloody diarrhoea that does not go away, with cramps or fever (possible C. difficile gut infection)
- Passing less urine, blood in the urine, or fever with a rash (possible kidney inflammation)
- A rash on sun-exposed skin with joint pain (possible lupus-type reaction)
- Muscle cramps, twitching, an irregular heartbeat or confusion (possible low magnesium)
Who should be careful
Some people need to check with a doctor before taking Razo 20, or need extra care while taking it.
When the label says not to use it
- Allergy to rabeprazole, other proton pump inhibitors (substituted benzimidazoles) or any ingredient of the tablet
- Treatment with the HIV medicine rilpivirine
- Warning signs that need a doctor's check first: unexplained weight loss, trouble swallowing, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood or black stools. Relief of symptoms does not rule out stomach cancer
- Long-term use (a year or more): it can lower vitamin B12 and magnesium, weaken bones and slightly raise the risk of fractures and gut infections
- Liver disease: tell your doctor
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding: ask your doctor or pharmacist first
- Children: do not give to a child unless a doctor has prescribed it
- A planned endoscopy or chromogranin A blood test: tell the doctor that you take it, as it may need to be paused
- Allergy to rabeprazole or other PPIs
Medicines and things that interact with Razo 20
Razo 20 lowers stomach acid, so it can change how some medicines work. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about everything you take, including herbal remedies.
- Rilpivirine (an HIV medicine): must not be combined
- Atazanavir and nelfinavir (HIV medicines): levels can fall, so the combination is avoided or adjusted by the doctor
- Warfarin: clotting tests (INR) may be needed more often
- Methotrexate in high doses, digoxin and tacrolimus: levels may rise
- Ketoconazole, itraconazole and iron tablets: may be absorbed less well
- Clopidogrel: a small reduction in its active form has been seen; ask your doctor
If someone takes too much
Taking one extra tablet by mistake is unlikely to cause harm. If someone has taken much more than prescribed, or feels unwell, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital and take the medicine pack with you.
Storage
Store below 30 C in a dry place, protected from light and moisture, in the original strip, and out of the reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date. Check the pack for the exact storage instructions.
Regulatory status in India
Approved for sale in India as a prescription medicine. Single-ingredient rabeprazole is not on the CDSCO list of banned medicines in the text checked for this batch. Several fixed-dose combinations that include rabeprazole are prohibited (section 26A), for example with diclofenac and paracetamol or with zinc and domperidone, so check the ingredient list on the pack. Razo 20 contains rabeprazole only.
Other brands with the same medicine
Rabeprazole 20 mg tablets are sold under other brand names and as generic medicines. They contain the same medicine; check the label for the strength. Some Razo products also contain other medicines, so do not switch between them without asking your doctor.
Other strengths and forms
Rabeprazole is sold in different strengths, and in combination tablets or capsules with other medicines. The strength and contents are printed on the pack and are not the same across products, so check the label of the one you have.
Common questions
Is Razo 20 a prescription medicine?
Yes. Rabeprazole is a prescription medicine in India. It should be taken only if a doctor has prescribed it, and it should not be started, stopped or changed without the doctor's advice.
What is Razo 20 used for?
It is used to treat acid reflux (GERD), duodenal ulcers and, with antibiotics, Helicobacter pylori infection. It lowers stomach acid. Your doctor decides whether it suits you and for how many weeks.
Should I take Razo 20 before or after food?
It depends on the condition being treated, so follow the label or your doctor's advice. Always swallow the tablet whole with water; do not chew or crush it.
Can I take Razo 20 for a long time?
Only if your doctor advises and reviews it. Long-term use is linked to low vitamin B12 and magnesium, weaker bones and gut infections. Many people need it for only a few weeks.
Why do I need antibiotics with Razo 20 for H. pylori?
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can live in the stomach and cause ulcers. Rabeprazole lowers acid, which helps the antibiotics work and the ulcer heal. Take the full course your doctor prescribes.
What should I do if I miss a dose of Razo 20?
Take it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one and carry on as usual. Never take two doses together to make up for a missed one.
What is the difference between Razo 20 and Rabeprazole 20 mg?
Razo is a brand name, and rabeprazole is the medicine inside it. Generic rabeprazole 20 mg tablets contain the same active ingredient. Check the strength and ingredient list on the pack, and ask your doctor before switching.
Sources
- Rabeprazole sodium delayed-release tablets: prescribing information (Amneal). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- ATC/DDD Index: A02BC04 rabeprazole. WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology
- List of drugs prohibited for manufacture and sale through gazette notifications under section 26A of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO)