• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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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:

• chest pain, fever, feeling short of breath, coughing up green or yellow mucus;

• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

• fast or slow heart rate;

• problems with your vision;

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or

• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache (may be severe);

• drowsiness, dizziness;

• sleep problems (insomnia);

• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm; or

• swollen or tender breasts (in men);

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or

• diarrhea or constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take ranitidine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may recommend an antacid to help relieve pain. Carefully follow your doctor's directions about the type of antacid to use, and when to use it. Do not crush, chew, or break the ranitidine effervescent tablet, and do not allow it to dissolve on your tongue. The 25-milligram effervescent tablet must be dissolved in at least 1 teaspoon of water before swallowing. The150-milligram effervescent tablet should be dissolved in 6 to 8 ounces of water.

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What is the most important information I should know about ranitidine?
Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or porphyria. Using ranitidine may increase your risk of developing pneumonia. Symptoms of pneumonia include chest pain, fever, feeling short of breath, and coughing up green or yellow mucus. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk of developing pneumonia. Ranitidine granules and effervescent tablets must be dissolved in water before you take them. Your doctor may recommend an antacid to help relieve pain. Carefully follow your doctor's directions about the type of antacid to use, and when to use it.

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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.

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What other drugs will affect ranitidine?
Before taking ranitidine, tell your doctor if you are taking triazolam (Halcion). You may not be able to use ranitidine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment. There may be other drugs that can interact with ranitidine, or be affected by ranitidine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Ranitidine has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of fetal harm. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Ranitidine is known to cross the placenta, although it has been used safely during labor and delivery for the prevention of Mendelson's syndrome. Ranitidine is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

In one study, ranitidine 50 mg was administered by slow intravenous injection to 20 women at 38 weeks gestation or more for the prevention of Mendelson's syndrome. The maternal serum concentration to umbilical cord concentration ratio averaged 0.9 by three hours post-dose. Following oral administration of 150 mg one to eight hours prior to scheduled Cesarean section in 80 women at 37 weeks gestation or more, the maternal serum concentration to umbilical cord concentration ratio averaged 0.38. No adverse fetal or neonatal effects could be attributed to ranitidine. In another study, ranitidine 150 mg was administered orally every 6 hours for the prevention of Mendelson's syndrome in 909 women in labor. There were no differences in the incidence of operative intervention, placental hemorrhage, or post-partum hemorrhage compared to a control group of 378 women treated with conventional alkali therapy. In addition, there was no difference in Apgar scores or admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit compared to the control group. There are no data on the safety of ranitidine during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.

Ranitidine is excreted into human milk in concentrations exceeding those found in plasma. While the effects of small amounts of ranitidine on the nursing infant have not been studied, the American Academy of Pediatrics considers a related drug, cimetidine, to be compatible with breast-feeding. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering ranitidine to nursing women.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

• Known hypersensitivity to ranitidine or any ingredient in the formulation.
• Do not use for self-medication if swallowing is difficult.
• Do not use for self-medication with other drugs that decrease gastric acid secretion.
• Do not use for self-medication if difficulty or pain occurs when swallowing food, if experiencing vomiting with blood, or if passing bloody or blackened stools. Instead, consult a clinician since such manifestations may indicate presence of a serious condition requiring alternative treatment.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include lack of coordination, feeling light-headed, or fainting.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using ranitidine?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to ranitidine. Before using ranitidine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have: kidney disease; liver disease; or porphyria. If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take ranitidine. The ranitidine effervescent tablet may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of ranitidine if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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