Zantac (Ranitidine)

What is Zantac?

The pace of modern life, constant stress, a responsible approach to nutrition, or rather, its absence (snacks and fast food), the impact of various aggressive factors negatively affect the organs and systems of our body. The presence of peptic ulcer has long been a common phenomenon and is not surprising, and anti-ulcer drugs are in every home medicine kit. The pharmaceutical industry is actively engaged in the development of such medicines. One of these medications used to treat peptic ulcers is Zantac, which successfully cures and prevents ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract.

Zantac tablets are an anti-ulcer drug with the active ingredient in it, which is called Ranitidine. One pill contains 150 or 300 mg of this active substance.

Zantac (Ranitidine) is a blocker of H2-histamine receptors, which are located in the parietal cells of the mucous membranes of the stomach. These are the cells responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid. Ranitidine inhibits the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and reduces the total volume of gastric juice, changing its pH to the alkaline range, which automatically suppresses pepsin activity, which is one of the digestive enzymes. When reducing the amount of this acid in the stomach, the liver enzymes associated with cytochrome P450 are practically not inhibited, the concentration of gastrin in the plasma is not reduced and the mucus synthesis is not suppressed. Zantac 150mg is used both for treatment and for the prevention of ulcers in stomach and duodenum, as well as for some other disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The main active component of the drug promotes strengthening of the protective mechanisms of the mucous membrane of the stomach and potentiates the process of healing damage caused by hydrochloric acid (including contributing to healing of stress-induced ulcers and preventing stomach bleeding) by the formation of gastric mucus.

In what kind of disease treatment, Zantac is helpful?

Zantac is used to treat gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer in the acute phase; for prophylaxis of peptic ulcer, symptomatic ulcers, erosive and reflux esophagitis, Zollinger Elaillon syndrome. In addition, the described medication is taken as preventive measures for "stress" ulcers of the digestive system, postoperative ulcers and recurrence of bleeding in the upper parts of the abdomen, as well as for aspiration of gastric juice during anesthetic surgeries.

Before you buy this medication at a traditional drugstore or buy Zantac online without prescription, be sure to consult a doctor.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zantac?

Zantac contraindications are practically absent. This medication cannot be used only in the case of individual intolerance of the active component, age under 14 years of age, renal or hepatic insufficiency. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications to the use of this medicinal product. If during breastfeeding period it is necessary to take Zantac, then the infant should be fed with special baby food. Clinical studies regarding the use of this medicinal product in pediatrics have not been conducted; therefore, it is not prescribed to small children.

How should I take Zantac?

This medicine should be taken as your gastroenterologist advises you. If you only take Zantac once a day, then it's better to do this before you go to bed. In no case should you chew these pills! Otherwise, the effectiveness of this drug will be zero. Zantac should be taken with a full glass of clean, still water.

You can also discuss this information with your pharmacist when you buy this drug at your local drugstore or you can buy Zantac online.

Zantac dosage information

• To treat stomach ulcers, adults are prescribed 150 mg of the medication 2 times / day or 300 mg in the evening. As a rule, ulcers heal within 4 weeks

• To treat ulcers of the duodenum, which is caused by H. pylori, Zantac is prescribed 2 times a day. This medication may be combined with other medications such as Amoxicillin (750 mg) and Metronidazole (500 mg). The latter drugs are taken 3 times a day. Treatment lasts 2 weeks, however, if the condition has not improved, then the course of therapy is prolonged for another 14 days

• To treat postoperative ulcers, Zantac is administered at a dosage of 150 mg 2 times a day. Treatment lasts for an average of 30 days

• To cure acute reflux esophagitis, doctors prescribe the drug at a dosage of 300 mg once a day or 150 mg, but the reception is then carried out 2 times. Treatment lasts about 8 weeks. If required, the therapy can be extended up to 12 weeks

• For effective treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the medication is prescribed in the initial dosage of 150 mg 3 times a day. In the future, the dosage can be increased or decreased

• If a person has been diagnosed with chronic dyspepsia, then the medication is prescribed 2 times a day. Treatment lasts for 42 days

• To prevent the occurrence of bleeding from ulcers (in the event that the patient can already eat by himself), the medication is prescribed at a dosage of 150 mg 2 times / day

• In the treatment of peptic ulcers in children, doctors prescribe the following Zantac dose: 2-4 mg per kilogram of body weight 2 times a day. The maximum allowed dosage is 300 mg

What may interact with?

If you simultaneously take this medication with antacids, as well as Sucralfate in high dosages (up to 2 g), the absorption of Ranitidine can begin. That is why the break between taking these medications should no shorter than 2 hours.

With the joint administration of Zantac with drugs that inhibit the bone marrow, there is a risk of developing neutropenia.

Zantac does not interact with such drugs as Theophylline, Lidocaine, Propranolol, Warfarin, Diazepam and Phenytoin.

The active substance, which is part of the Zantac, inhibits the metabolism of Aminophenazone, Buformin, Phenazone, Hexobarbital, and Glipizide.

As a result of increasing the acidity of the stomach with the joint administration of the drug, a decrease in the absorption of Ketoconazole and Itraconazole may occur.

What should I watch for while taking Zantac?

Before starting treatment, you should exclude the presence of malignant formations. Prolonged treatment for weakened patients in stressful conditions may be complicated by bacterial lesion of the stomach and subsequent spread of infection. Not gradual cessation of taking Ranitidine may cause recurrence of peptic ulcer disease. The effect of the prophylactic use of this medication is much stronger if treatment is carried out in the fall and spring, than at a constant intake.

While taking Zantac it is not recommended to eat foods, drinks or other products that can irritate the stomach mucosa. Also, you should be careful about driving a car and other actions that require increased concentration of attention and active psychomotor reactions.

Zantac side effects

Sometimes (rarely), during Zantac treatment, there are problems with the heart and blood vessels. The GI tract can respond with nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or constipation. Rarely hepatitis can be observed. In very rare cases, the following side effects of Zantac have been reported: headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and blurred vision. In seriously ill patients, rupture of consciousness and hallucinations extremely rarely were observed. Prolonged use of high doses of the medication can provoke leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. The medication also slightly increases creatinine in the blood at the initial stage of treatment, and also increases the activity of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase.

The endocrine system can respond to the long-term intake of large doses of the drug by the fact that in the body increases the content of prolactin, there is gynecomastia, amenorrhea, erectile dysfunction, low libido. Allergic reactions occur extremely rarely and usually are expressed as urticaria, itching, angioedema, anaphylactic shock, bronchospasm, arterial hypotension. In the special literature are described cases of development of acute episodes of porphyria after Zantac treatment, in this connection, the patients suffering from this disease, should not take the drug.

Where can I keep Zantac?

Zantac should be stored at room temperature. In the place where the medication is located, small children or pets should not have access. Zantac can be stored for no longer than 3 years.

Zantac can be purchased at any pharmacy. The price of the drug depends on what country and city you are in. But you can buy cheap Zantac online from the best Italian online pharmacy.