Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Ranitidine (Pro Doc)
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
RANITIDINE (ranitidine hydrochloride) tablets are used in the treatment of:
- to heal ulcers in the stomach, or the part that it empties into (the duodenum).
- to prevent stomach ulcers which may be caused by medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), often used to treat arthritis
- to prevent ulcers from bleeding
- to heal or stop problems caused by acid in the food pipe (esophagus) or too much acid in the stomach. This can cause pain or discomfort sometimes known as indigestion or heartburn
- to stop acid coming up from the stomach while under anaesthetic during an operation
What it does:
RANITIDINE belongs to a group of medicines called H2-receptor blockers. It works by reducing the amount of acid in your stomach.
When it should not be used:
Don’t take RANITIDINE tablets if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to ranitidine or any other ingredients of RANITIDINE (see What the nonmedicinal ingredients are).
What the medicinal ingredient is:
Ranitidine hydrochloride
What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:
Croscarmallose sodium, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polydextrose, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, and triethyl citrate.
What dosage forms it comes in:
RANITIDINE is available as tablets, 150 mg and 300 mg.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
BEFORE you use RANITIDINE talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- have stomach cancer
have kidney disease, your doctor may lower your dose of RANITIDINE
- have a rare condition called acute porphyria (a blood disease)
- have lung disease
- are diabetic
- have any problems with your immune system
- have had stomach ulcers before and you are taking Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) medicines
are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- are taking any other medications including NSAIDs (see Interactions with this Medication).
Under rare circumstances supervised by the doctor, H2-receptor antagonists such as RANITIDINE might be used for long periods. Long term use of H2-receptor antagonists may prevent normal absorption of vitamin B12 from the diet and could lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. Talk to your doctor.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you‘re taking any other medicines, if you’ve taken any recently, or if you start taking new ones. This includes medicines bought without a prescription. Some medicines can affect how RANITIDINE works or make it more likely that you’ll have side effects. RANITIDINE can also affect how some other medicines work.
Drugs that may interact with RANITIDINE include:
- procainamide or n-acetylprocainamide (used to treat heart problems)
- warfarin (used to thin the blood)
- triazolam (used to treat insomnia)
- midazolam (a sedative that may be given just before an operation)
- ketoconazole (used to treat fungal infections)
- atazanavir or delaviridine (used to treat HIV)
- gefitnib (used to treat lung cancer)
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) medicines (used to treat pain and inflammation)
- sucralfate (used to treat ulcers). Your doctor may advise that you take high doses or oral sucralfate (e.g. 2g) at least 2 hours after RANITIDINE administration.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Usual Adult Dose:
Always take RANITIDINE exactly as your doctor has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure.
The usual dose is either:
- 150 mg in the morning and 150 mg in the evening or,
- 300 mg at bedtime
Your exact dose will depend on your particular stomach condition. Your doctor will tell you the dose you should take.
Swallow each tablet whole with some water.
Overdose:
If you take too much RANITIDINE, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If possible, show them the RANITIDINE pack.
If you think you have taken too much RANITIDINE, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Side effects may include:
- allergic reactions
- skin rash
- inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
- inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), sometimes with yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- inflammation in the kidney (interstitial nephritis)
- slow, fast or irregular heartbeat
- diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain
- feeling confused, depressed, or excited, or seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations), trouble sleeping (insomnia); feeling sleepy (somnolence)
- joint or muscle pain, malaise, uncontrolled movement
- headache, dizziness, blurred vision
- unusual hair loss or thinning (alopecia)
- unable to get or maintain an erection (impotence)
- unusual secretion of breast milk or breast enlargement in men
If you have any concerns about the side effects, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Side effects that may show up in your blood tests:
- changes to liver function
- low levels of white blood cells
- decrease in number of blood platelets (cells that help blood to clot)
- decrease in number of all types of blood cells
- small increase in the level of creatinine (a waste product) in your blood
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptoms / effects | Talk with your physician or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and seek immediate emergency medical attention | |||
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||||
| Rare | Hypersensitivity Reaction Raised and itchy rash (hives), swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth (angioedema), chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained fever, wheezing or difficulty in breathing, feeling faint, especially when standing up, collapse |
| |||
| Very Rare | Serious Skin Reactions Skin rash, which may blister, and look like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge) |
| |||
Hepatitis Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark or tea coloured urine, pale coloured stools/ bowel movements, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, aching or tenderness on right side below the ribs |
| ||||
Cardiovascular Slow, fast or irregular heartbeat |
| ||||
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking RANITIDINE, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store between 15°C and 30°C. Protect from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep RANITIDINE out of the reach and sight of children.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
MORE INFORMATION
If you want more information about RANITIDINE:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Consumer Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html); or by contacting Pro Doc Ltée at 1-800-361-8559, www.prodoc.qc.ca or info@prodoc.qc.ca.
Pro Doc Ltée, Laval, Québec, H7L 3W9