Ranitidine
About
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.
Uses of Ranitidine
Medicinal Benefits
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.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Ranitidine
Headache
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Stomach pain
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
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 Interactions
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).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDrinking alcohol with Ranitidine may cause dehydration and elevate the level of stomach acid, thereby decreasing its efficacy. So try to avoid consuming alcohol.
Pregnancy
safe if prescribedRanitidine should be used in pregnant women only if clinically needed, and the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
safe if prescribedRanitidine should be used in nursing women only if clinically needed, and the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
cautionRanitidine 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.
Liver
cautionIf you have or had a history or evidence of any liver-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking medicine.
Kidney
cautionIf you have or had a history or evidence of any kidney-related diseases, please consult the doctor before taking medicine.
Children
safe if prescribedThe dose needs to be adjusted based on your child’s weight.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Avoid acid or heartburn-triggering foods or drinks like onions, peppermint, chocolate, caffeinated beverages, citrus fruits or juices, tomatoes and high-fat and spicy foods.
Before going to sleep, raise your bedhead, so your head and chest are higher than your feet. Do not use piles of pillows; one raised block is fine. This will not allow the stomach acid to backflow through your food pipe.
Avoid taking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. Alcohol can raise the production of stomach acid leading to heartburn and acid reflux. On the other hand, nicotine smoking damages the valve (sphincter), preventing stomach acid backflow into the food pipe.
Include high fibre-containing foods, berries, cherries, leafy green veggies (kale, spinach) and black peppers in your meal.
Fermented dairy products like miso, sauerkraut, and kimchi contain probiotics which help prevent excess stomach acid production. Cranberry juice can be beneficial for peptic ulcers and H Pyroli infections.
Avoid regular sitting continuously, as it can increase stomach acid production. Take a break of 5 minutes in 1 hour by brisk walking or stretching.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
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.
FAQs
Ranitidine belongs to a class of drugs known as H2 receptor antagonists (gastrointestinal agents). Ranitidine works by lessening the quantity of acid produced in your stomach.
You can take Ranitidine with or without food. However, if you get symptoms whenever you eat or drink, take your medicine 30 minutes before having a drink, snack, or meal.
Ranitidine starts working as fast as 15 minutes from when it is given. Its effect is seen to last all day or all night.
Ranitidine may have some serious side effects, but these are rare. These side effects may include hives, skin rash, itching, and difficulty in breathing. Inform your doctor in case you notice any of these side effects.
No, Ranitidine prevents excess production of stomach acid, causing acid reflux and heartburn. If blood is coming in your stool or mucous, immediately contact the doctor.
