Ranitidine Side Effects

Ranitidine

Ranitidine Side Effects: Ranitidine is available as the brand name Zantac. Ranitidine is available in 75 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg tablets as well as a 15 mg/ML concentration liquid. Ranitidine is also available for intravenous or intramuscular use. Ranitidine is a medication used to reduce the acid content of the stomach fluids. It is in a class of medications called H2 blockers. The histamine receptor has two types of sites for the histamine molecules to stimulate. The H1 sites are typically stimulated causing itching wheel formation and allergic type symptoms. The H2 receptors are generally located in the stomach and in stimulate the production of stomach acid. H2 blockers like ranitidine significantly block the effect of histamine on the H2 blockers and therefore adduce stomach acidity.

Ranitidine side effects are fairly uncommon when compared to most other medications. For this reason, ranitidine is extremely well tolerated by most patients. It has far fewer drug interactions and side effects than cimetidine, one of the earlier H2 Blocker medications available.

Indications for ranitidine include gastroesophageal reflux disease, active duodenal ulcer, active benign gastric ulcers, maintenance therapy of her current duodenal and gastric ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and other hypersecratory conditions.

Common Ranitidine Side Effects: Most of the common ranitidine side effects are fairly minor. Gastrointestinal ranitidine side effects may include diarrhea, constipation, nausea and vomiting. Other common ranitidine side effects may include headache, vertigo, muscle aches, dizziness, dry mouth, dry skin and rash, fatigue, and confusion.

Serious Ranitidine Side Effects: Fortunately, serious ranitidine side effects a very uncommon. Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, can occur with ranitidine use. Hepatotoxicity and pneumonia are also listed as serious ranitidine side effects. These lists of ranitidine side effects both common and serious are not meant to be to comprehensive. Refer to the manufacturers prescribing guidelines for complete information or consult your pharmacist.

Cautions and Drug Interactions: Contraindications to ranitidine use include a history of hypersensitivity to ranitidine or other drugs in its class. Ranitidine should be used with caution in patients with porphyria, patients with serious hepatic or renal insufficiency, elderly or debilitated patients, in seriously immunocompromised patients, and in the very elderly. Potential drug interactions warranting caution include cefuroxime, itraconazole, ketoconazole, as well as several drugs for HIV infection. Ranitidine may require dosage change in patients on warfarin. Several herbal products including ginger and goldenseal, as well as nicotine may result in potential drug interactions. Diltiazem and verapamil are two calcium channel blockers that may have drug interactions with ranitidine.

Pregnancy and Lactation: Ranitidine is pregnancy category B and is considered probably safe for use during lactation.

Unusual Ranitidine Side Effects: Agranulocytosis is probably the most unusual ranitidine side effect.

Special Considerations For Ranitidine Use: Ranitidine is now available over-the-counter medication. It is available over-the-counter and 75 mg and 150 mg doses. Other over-the-counter H2-blockers include cimetidine and some famotatine. Brand names for these are Tagamet and Pepcid. Famotidine and ranitidine are better choices for most patients than cimetidine because of their much lower side effect profile. In general the H2-blockers are better suited for long term use than the proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole also known as Prilosec. The proton pump inhibitors are much more effective acid reducing medications than the H2-blockers. This can have several long-term problems including reduced calcium absorption and osteoporosis, the potential for alteration of bacterial flora of the intestinal tract, and rebound hypersecretion of the gastric acid secreting cells. Most experts recommend against long-term use of proton pump inhibitors unless there is a strong indication for their continued use. H2-blockers are likely a better long-term solution for patients with moderate or mild symptoms. Overall the incidence of ranitidine side effects is low.