Two medicines, side by side
Esomeprazole vs rabeprazole
Esomeprazole and rabeprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of esomeprazole since 2001 and of rabeprazole since 1999. Pharmacies paid $0.145 per esomeprazole mag DR 20 mg capsule and $0.224 per rabeprazole sod DR 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026).
Check it at the source: the esomeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 19, 2024); the rabeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 2026).
Highlights of the esomeprazole record
Esomeprazole (Nexium) · label of March 19, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstreats frequent heartburn (occurs 2 or more days a week) not intended for immediate relief of heartburn; this drug may take 1 to 4 days for full effect
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 20, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 116 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.145 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 12
Highlights of the rabeprazole record
Rabeprazole (Aciphex) · label of January 27, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsACIPHEX delayed-release tablets is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated in adults for: Healing of Erosive or Ulcerative Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) ( 1.1 ). Maintenance of Healing of Erosive or Ulcerative GERD ( 1.2 ). Treatment of Symptomatic GERD ( 1.3 ). Healing of Duodenal Ulcers ( 1.4 ). Helicobacter pylori Eradication to Reduce Risk of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence ( 1.5 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1999
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.224 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Esomeprazole label of March 19, 2024, Rabeprazole label of January 27, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do esomeprazole and rabeprazole differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class proton pump inhibitors.
Generics: esomeprazole since 2013; rabeprazole since 2013 (Drugs@FDA).
| Esomeprazole | Rabeprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Proton Pump Inhibitor | Proton Pump Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Rabeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds (substituted benzimidazole proton-pump inhibitors) that do not exhibit anticholinergic or histamine H 2 -receptor antagonist properties, but suppress gastric acid secretion by … |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | This relatively prolonged pharmacodynamic action compared to the short pharmacokinetic half-life (1 to 2 hours) reflects the sustained inactivation of the H + , K + ATPase. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | February 20, 2001 | August 19, 1999 |
| First generic approved | March 18, 2013 | November 8, 2013 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 116 labelers | 20 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.145 per capsule (Esomeprazole mag DR 20 mg capsule) | $0.224 per tablet (Rabeprazole sod DR 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -12% | -0.4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 12 | 1 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 235,202 | 38,147 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to esomeprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions