Ranitidine

Ranitidine is indicated for the treatment of duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer reflux oesophagitis, zollinger-ellison syndrome post operative ulcer and other conditions where reduction of gastric secretion and acid output is desirable such as the prophylaxis of gastrointestinal haemorrhage from stress ulceration in seriously ill patients the prophylaxis of recurrent haemorrhage in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers and before general anaesthesia  in patients considered to be at risk of acid aspiration, obstetric patients during labour.

 Dosage and administration

Adult dose: Benign gastric and duodenal ulcer: Ranitidine 150 mg twice daily (morning and night) or 300 mg at night for 4-8 weeks.

Reflux oesophagitis: Ranitidine 150 mg twice daily or Ranitidine 300 mg as a single dose at night for up to 8 weeks. Peptic ulcer associated with NSAID: Ranitidine 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg at night for 8 weeks. In case of duodenal ulcer 300 mg can be given twice daily for 4 weeks.

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: 150 mg 3 times daily and this may be increased if necessary up to 6 mg daily in divided dose.

Contraindications:Ranitidine is contraindicated for patients with known hypersensitivity to the medicine.

Side-effects:

Anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, skin rash and mental confusion hallucination have occurred in some patients during Ranitidine therapy.

 Precautions:

Histamine H2 antagonist may mask symptoms associated with carcinoma of the stomach and may therefore delay diagnosis of the condition. As Ranitidine is excreted through kidney, in severe renal impairment plasma level of the drug increases. Therefore, it is recommended that the dosage of Ranitidine in such patients to be 150 mg at night for 4 to 8 weeks. If an ulcer has not been healed after treatment the standard dosage regimen of 150 mg twice daily be instituted, if need followed, by maintenance treatment 150 mg at night. Regular supervision of patients with peptic ulcer and on non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs is recommended, especially in elderly. Ranitidine crosses the placenta but therapeutic doses administered to obstetric patients in labour of undergoing caesarean section have been without any adverse effect on labour, delivery or subsequent neonatal progress. Ranitidine is also excreted in human breast milk. Like other medicine ranitidine should only be used during pregnancy and lactation if essential.

Use in pregnancy and lactation:

Ranitidine should be given in this context only when absolutely necessary.