RANITIDINE belongs to the class of gastrointestinal agents. It is used to treat indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux. RANITIDINE is also used for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) when you get acid reflux. RANITIDINE is also used to prevent and treat stomach ulcers. Often RANITIDINE is taken for a rare condition caused by a pancreatic or intestine tumour called Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.
RANITIDINE contains ranitidine, a histamine-2 (H2) receptor blocker that helps reduce stomach acid by blocking the actions of the H2 receptor. The H2 receptor lies in the parietal cells of the stomach wall and is responsible for the release of gastric acid secretion - extra gastric acid secretion damage the tissues in the food pipe, stomach, and duodenum.
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It would help if you kept taking medicine for long as your doctor recommends. If you stop early, your symptoms may come back, and your condition may worsen. RANITIDINE might have common side effects like headache, diarrhoea, constipation, and shortness of breath. These side effects are temporary and may get resolved after some time. However, if these side effects persist, contact your doctor.
It is recommended not to take RANITIDINE if you are allergic to any components present in RANITIDINE. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, you should not take this medication unless your doctor says it is necessary. Inform your doctor if you have stomach or intestinal cancer, liver problem, or will have an endoscopy in the future. And also, let your doctor know about your health condition and all the medicines you are taking before taking RANITIDINE to rule out any side effects.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Acid reflux, Heartburn, Peptic Ulcer
RANITIDINE helps in reducing the excess amount of stomach acid. In turn, it prevents the formation of an ulcer in the stomach (peptic ulcer), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with or without ulcer, and Zollinger Ellison Syndrome, in which the stomach makes an exceptionally high amount of acid.
You should avoid taking RANITIDINE if you are allergic to RANITIDINE or H2 receptor blockers, have gastric cancer, or have liver disease. If you are a pregnant woman or nursing mother, do not consume RANITIDINE without first consulting your doctor. RANITIDINE may interact with a blood thinner (warfarin), antifungal (ketoconazole), or anti-HIV drug( atazanavir). Let your doctor know if you are taking these medicines. Intake of RANITIDINE may mask the symptom of gastric cancer, so if you have any severe stomach pain or gastric bleeding (blood in stool and mucous), immediately consult the doctor.
Drug-Drug Interactions:RANITIDINE interacts with a blood thinner (warfarin), antifungal (ketoconazole), anti-HIV drug (atazanavir), and antacid (aluminium hydroxide).
Drug-Food Interactions: Drinking alcohol and nicotine (tobacco) with RANITIDINE may cause dehydration and elevate the level of stomach acid, thereby decreasing its efficacy.
Drug-Disease Interactions: RANITIDINE interacts with disease conditions, including gastric bleeding, liver/ kidney disease, and low vitamin B12 (anaemia).
Drinking alcohol with RANITIDINE may cause dehydration and elevate the level of stomach acid, thereby decreasing its efficacy. So try to avoid consuming alcohol.
RANITIDINE should be used in pregnant women only if clinically needed, and the benefits outweigh the risks.
RANITIDINE should be used in nursing women only if clinically needed, and the benefits outweigh the risks.
RANITIDINE has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. In some cases, RANITIDINE may cause dizziness and sleep. If you observe these symptoms, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel better.
If you have or had a history or evidence of any liver-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking medicine.
If you have or had a history or evidence of any kidney-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking medicine.
The dose needs to be adjusted based on your child’s weight.
The stomach is usually protected from acid by a mucous layer. In some cases, excess acid production erodes the mucous layer, which leads to complications like acidity. Due to this, acid frequently flows back into the food pipe (oesophagus). This backflow (acid reflux) irritates the food pipe and causes heartburn. Symptoms include heartburn, sour or bitter taste in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing. Indigestion is the feeling of fullness. It occurs due to slow gastric emptying. Symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, nausea and vomiting.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): The stomach is usually protected from acid by a mucous layer. In some cases, the mucous layer gets irritated or eroded due to excess acid production, which leads to complications like GERD, hyperacidity, peptic ulcers, and heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the food pipe (oesophagus). This backflow (acid reflux) irritates the food pipe and causes heartburn. Symptoms include heartburn, sour or bitter taste in the mouth, and difficulty swallowing.
Peptic ulcers are sores that develop on the stomach and intestine lining due to erosion of the stomach's protective lining. Symptoms include nausea, appetite changes, bloody or dark stools, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, and indigestion.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: It is characterized by the formation of tumours in the upper part of the small intestine, which leads to excess acid production. Symptoms include bloating, burping, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.