What is ranitidine?

• Ranitidine is in a group of drugs called histamine-2 blockers. Ranitidine works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces.
• Ranitidine is used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines. It also treats conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid , such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Ranitidine also treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions in which acid backs up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn.
• Ranitidine may also be used for conditions other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my doctor before using ranitidine?

• Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have:
  • kidney disease;
  • liver disease; or
  • porphyria.
• If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to use ranitidine or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.
• The effervescent tablet forms of ranitidine contain phenylalanine. If you have phenylketonuria, you should be aware of possible effects this may have on you.
• Ranitidine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
• Ranitidine passes into breast milk. Do not take ranitidine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
• This medication can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using ranitidine.
• Using this medication may make you more susceptible to pneumonia if you have diabetes, lung disease, a weak immune system, or if you are elderly. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

How should I take ranitidine?

• Take ranitidine exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take ranitidine for longer than your doctor has prescribed.
• Take each ranitidine tablet with a full glass of water.
• The ranitidine effervescent tablet or granules must be dissolved in water before taking each dose. Tablets or granules should not be chewed, swallowed whole, or dissolved on the tongue.
• Place the Zantac 150 mg dose tablet in a full glass (6 to 8 ounces) of water. Allow the tablet to completely dissolve, then drink the entire mixture.
• Place the Zantac 25 mg dose tablet in at least 1 teaspoon of water. Allow the tablet to completely dissolve, then drink the entire mixture. If you are giving this medicine to a child, you can place this mixture in a medicine dropper or syringe before giving it to the child.
• Ranitidine granules should be mixed with 6 to 8 ounces of water before drinking.
• To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid form of ranitidine with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Ranitidine syrup may be given to an infant or child by medicine dropper or oral syringe.
• Do not stop taking ranitidine without asking your doctor. It may take up to 8 weeks for an ulcer to heal.
• Store ranitidine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
• Symptoms of a ranitidine overdose may include weakness, lack of coordination, severe nausea or vomiting, and a fast heartbeat.

What should I avoid while taking ranitidine?

• There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while taking ranitidine, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of ranitidine?

• Stop using ranitidine and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;
  • fast or uneven heartbeats; or
  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take ranitidine and talk to your doctor if you experience
  • headache (may be severe);
  • decreased sex drive, impotence;
  • swollen or tender breasts (in men);
  • nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or
  • diarrhea or constipation.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What drug(s) may interact with ranitidine?

• alcohol containing beverages
• alendronate
• antacids
• cefditoren
• cefpodoxime
• cefuroxime
• delavirdine
• enoxacin
• glipizide
• glyburide
• iron supplements
• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• metformin
• nifedipine
• propantheline
• theophylline
• triazolam
• warfarin

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.

Other Useful Information:

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards, canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and 1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5 grams daily.

Cavities: Holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Small cavities may not cause pain, and may be unnoticed by the patient. Larger cavities can collect food, and the inner pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins, foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet - causing toothache.

Naturopathy: A system of therapy based on preventative care, and on the use of heat, water, light, air, and massage as primary therapies for disease. Some naturopaths use no medications, either pharmaceutical or herbal. Some recommend herbal remedies only. A few who are licensed to prescribe may recommend pharmaceuticals in those cases where they feel their use is warranted.

Naturopathy is an American healthcare profession. It was founded in the US as a formal healthcare system at the turn of the 20th century by medical practitioners from various natural therapeutic disciplines. By the early 1900s, more than 20 naturopathic medical schools existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in most States. Today there are more than 1,000 licensed naturopathic doctors in the US.

As practiced today, naturopathic medicine integrates traditional natural therapeutics -- including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture, traditional oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, and naturopathic manipulative therapy -- with modern scientific medical diagnostic science and standards of care. The medical research base of naturopathic practice consists of empirical documentation of treatments using case history observations, medical records, and summaries of practitioners' clinical experiences.

At present, the two accredited naturopathic medical schools in the US have active research departments. Naturopathic researchers have investigated the pharmacology and physiological effects of nutritional and natural therapeutic agents, and naturopathic physicians have been active in the investigation of new homeopathic remedies and in the natural treatment of women's health problems. The most recently completed naturopathic study in women's health tested the clinical and endocrine effects of a botanical formula as an alternative to estrogen replacement therapy.

Blood: The familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. It's measurement is recorded by two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called "hypertension".

Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull). The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.

Doctor: In a medical context, any medical professional with an MD, a PhD, or any other doctoral degree. The term doctor is quite nonspecific. A doctor may, for example, be a physician, psychologist, biomedical scientist, dentist, or veterinarian. In a nonmedical context, a professor of history might be addressed as doctor, an eminent theologian might be named a doctor of a church, and a person awarded an honorary doctorate by a college or university might also be called a doctor.

The word "doctor" comes from the Latin "docere" meaning to teach. A doctor was a teacher, especially a learned or authoritative one.