Ranitidine is in the class of medications called histamine-2 (H2) blockers. This medication may also be used as part of combination therapy to treat a certain condition. Ranitidine is a prescription already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This comes as a tablet with dosage strengths of 150 mg and 300 mg for oral use.
Ranitidine is mostly recommended by doctors for the treatment of several conditions such as:
This medicine is a type of histamine. It is a natural chemical that stimulates parietal cells in the stomach to create acid. H2 blockers stop the action of histamine on the cells. Therefore, it lessens the production of acid by the stomach. Since too much stomach acid can damage the stomach or esophagus and lead to inflammation and ulceration, this heals acid-induced ulcers and inflammation and decreasing stomach acid.
Ranitidine blocks H2 receptors that stop the cells from creating excessive stomach acid. H2 receptors are to be found on the cells inside the stomach lining. Natural body chemical called histamine usually acts on these receptors that cause them to produce stomach acid to help digest food. This drug also lessens the backflow of acid into the food pipe that may cause damage to the food pipe and heartburn symptoms. By lessening the amount of acid in the stomach and duodenum, this medicine allows peptic ulcers to heal.
Your condition should start to feel better within an hour or 2 hours after taking the medicine. The effects will usually last for around 12 hours. It may take a few weeks for this medication to work properly. Depending on your problems, you may still have some acid symptoms during this time.
Your dosage and how often you take the medicine is based on:
Each dose of this medication is taken by mouth with a full glass of water. Ranitidine is used for short- or long-term treatment. If you stop taking this suddenly, it may not work as well or might stop working completely. This can make your condition worse. Follow carefully the instructions given by your doctor.
The generic name Ranitidine is a low-priced prescription that only costs $7.00 per 30 tabs of 150 mg and $13.00 per 30 tabs of 300 mg. The brand name Zantac costs $22.02 per 30 tabs of 150 mg and $351.44 per 30 tabs of 300 mg. Ranitidine is a lot cheaper than Zantac