Ranitidine Non Prescription: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION is a commonly used acid reliever prescribed by doctors world-wide. RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION is a product which contains the maximum nonprescription strength (150 mg) of ranitidine.

RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION provides fast relief, treatment and prevention, day or night, from the burning and discomfort of the following symptoms caused by too much acid in the stomach:

• Heartburn,
• Acid Indigestion,
• Upset or Sour Stomach

What it does:

RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION works by reducing and controlling the amount of acid in your stomach for up to 12 hours, day or night. This is what makes RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION different from antacids which only neutralise the acid in your stomach. Antacids do not reduce the production of excess stomach acid.

RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION can also effectively prevent symptoms of heartburn and acid indigestion when taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating food and/or drinking beverages that cause heartburn.

When it should not be used:

Do not use RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION if you are allergic to any component of this product or have had an allergic reaction to another product that contains an acid reducer.

When you should contact your doctor:

Contact your doctor if the following occur while taking or before taking RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION as the following may be symptoms of a serious reaction/medical condition:

• if you experience heartburn with light-headedness, sweating, dizziness, or frequent wheezing
• if you have chest or shoulder pain with shortness of breath, sweating, pain spreading to neck, arms, or shoulders

What the medicinal ingredient is:

Each RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION tablet contains 150 mg of ranitidine, as ranitidine hydrochloride.

What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are:

Non-medicinal ingredients: magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrogen phosphate, maize starch, sodium starch glycolate and colloidal anhydrous silica. The film-coating suspension contains: lactose, methylhydroxypropyl-cellulose, titanium dioxide and macrogol 4000.

RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION is Gluten- and tartrazine-free.

What dosage forms it comes in:

Tablets: 150 mg

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

BEFORE you use RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• have a stomach or duodenal ulcer
• are taking a prescription medicine for stomach ulcer or any other prescription drugs
• have kidney disease
• have chest pain
• have difficulty or pain on swallowing, experience choking or continuous stomach pain or discomfort
• are nauseous, have severe vomiting, or have bloody or black stools
• have heartburn that is frequent (> 3 times per week) and/or unusually severe
• have had heartburn for over 3 months
• suffer from porphyria (a rare blood disorder)

• are pregnant, or breast-feeding

• are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), (because these medicines may be causing your symptoms) or other medications
• experience unintended weight loss
• are over 40 years of age and are experiencing new or recently changed symptoms of heartburn or acid indigestion
• have any other illness, or are taking any prescription medicines, for which you are seeing a doctor regularly
• are under 16 years of age.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

BEFORE you use RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION talk to your doctor or pharmacist if: you are taking antacids, ketoconazole, tolazoline, atazanavir, sucralfate, triazolam and procainamide.

Do not take antacids within 1 hour of taking RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

Usual dose:

Adults and children 16 years and older: swallow one tablet whole with a glass of water when symptoms appear, day or night. If symptoms persist for more than 1 hour or return after 1 hour, a second tablet may be taken.

For prevention of symptoms brought on by consuming food or beverages, 1 tablet should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating a meal or consuming beverages expected to cause symptoms.

Do not take more than 2 tablets during a 24 hour period. Stop use and consult your doctor if symptoms get worse or new symptoms develop or persist after 14 days of treatment. RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION and antacids should be taken one hour apart.

What can you do to help avoid symptoms:

• do not lie down or bend over soon after eating,
• if you are overweight, try to reduce excess weight,
• if you smoke, stop or cut down,

• avoid or limit foods such as: caffeine (coffee, tea, or cola drinks), chocolate, spicy or fatty fried foods and alcohol,

• try to reduce stress,
• do not eat large meals; eat late at night or before bedtime,
• raise the head of your bed,
• consider wearing loose fitting clothing around abdomen (stomach).

Overdose:

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

Common side effects that have occurred with RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION include headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking RANITIDINE NON PRESCRIPTION, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

HOW TO STORE IT

Keep in a safe place out of the reach of children.

Store between 15 and 30° C. Protect from light and excessive moisture.

Reporting Side Effects

MORE INFORMATION

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be obtained by contacting the sponsor, Sandoz Canada Inc. at:

1-800-361-3062

or by written request at:

145, Jules-Léger

Boucherville, (QC), Canada

J4B 7K8

or by e-mail at :

medinfo@sandoz.com

Last revised: February 15, 2017