Zantac

Brand Names

Zantac, Ranitidine

What is Zantac

Zantac (ranitidine hydrochloride) is a medicine that is used to treat different conditions related to the esophagus, stomach and intestines. Zantac belongs to the class of drugs known as H2 blockers. It comes as both a prescription and non-prescription medicine .

Side effects of Zantac

You should stop using Zantac and address your doctor if you have noticed the following side effects:

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Welling of your face, lips, tongue or throat
• 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
• Nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• 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
• Diarrhea or constipation

Indication

Zantac is beneficial for treating duodenal ulcers (ulcers in the very first part of the intestine after the stomach) and for preventing ulcers from coming back.

Zantac is registered to treat gastric ulcers (stomach ulcers). It helps to heal a stomach ulcer and to keep ulcers from returning.

Zantac is approved to treat the symptoms of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach.

Non-prescription Zantac is used for treating heartburn, acid indigestion and sour stomach. It can be also used to treat these problems once they have started. Besides, taken before eating or drinking foods or beverages that may cause heartburn it can be useful for preventing these problems.

Precautions

You should be careful with this medicine if you have:

• Kidney disease or kidney failure
• Liver disease, including liver failure or cirrhosis
• Acute porphyria
• Phenylketonuria

If you are pregnant, thinking of becoming pregnant,breastfeeding or you are taking other medicines, you should inform your doctor.

Dosage forms

Zantac Dosing for Duodenal Ulcers is 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg once a day in the evening. When the ulcer is healed, the dose to prevent future ulcers is usually 150 mg once a day at bedtime.

For children or babies the recommended dosage is usually 2 mg to 4 mg per kg twice a day. The total amount per day should not exceed 300 mg. For preventing ulcers from coming back when they are healed the dose is 2 mg to 4 mg per kg once a day (no more than 150 mg per day).

Zantac Dosing for Stomach Ulcers is 150 mg twice a day. After the ulcer has healed, the dose to prevent ulcers from returning is typically Zantac 150 mg once daily at bedtime.

The recommended Zantac Dosing for GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is 50 mg twice a day