Facts
- Ranitidine belongs to a group of drugs called H2 Receptors Antagonists Or H2 Blockers; they reduce the amount of acid produced by the cells in the lining of the stomach.This helps heal and prevent ulcers and improves symptoms such as heartburn and stomach pain.
- This medication is used to treat and prevent certain stomach and throat (esophagus) problems caused by too much stomach acid (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, erosive esophagitis) or a backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux disease-GERD).
- Ranitidine is also used to treat ulcers of the stomach and intestines and prevent them from returning after treatment.
- This medication is also available without a prescription.
Mechanism Of Action:
The H2 blockers are competitive inhibitors of histamine at the parietal cell H2 receptor. They suppress the normal secretion of acid by parietal cells and the meal-stimulated secretion of acid. They accomplish this by two mechanisms: Histamine released by ECL cells in the stomach is blocked from binding on parietal cell H2 receptors which stimulate acid secretion, and other substances that promote acid secretion (such as gastrin and acetylcholine) have a reduced effect on parietal cells when the H2 receptors are blocked.
Ranitidine Side effects :
- Diarrhea, constipation Headache.
- Pain, redness, burning or stinging at the site of injection.
- A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects But Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: blurred vision, mental/mood changes (e.g agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations).
- Mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations).
- Very Rare And Serious Side effects Like severe tiredness, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, enlarged breasts, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat, cough) ,easy bleeding/bruising, severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing skin/eyes
Ranitidine Dosage
ADULTS
Treatment of reflux oesophagitis:
Take one 150mg tablet twice a day OR one 300mg tablet at bedtime
In severe oesophagitis, take one 150mg tablet four times a day for a maximum of 12 weeks.
Treatment of stomach or duodenal ulcers:
Take one 150mg tablet twice a day, one in the morning and one in the evening OR one 300mg tablet at bedtime. For maintenance, the usual dose is 150mg at bedtime.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome:
Take one 150mg tablet three times a day. This may be increased as necessary.
Elderly
In patients with normal renal function, the doses of Ranitidine Tablets arc the same as for younger adults.
How To Take It:
- For Adults and children 16 years and older:150mg of One tablet should be taken when symptoms appear, day or night. If symptoms persist for more than 1 hour or return after 1 hour, a second tablet may be taken.
- For prevention of symptoms brought on by consuming food or beverages, 1 tablet should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating a meal or consuming beverages expected to cause symptoms.
- The maximum daily dose of ranitidine is 300 mg (24 hours) .