Look for Drugs and Conditions

RANITIDINE

RANITIDINE

It is a potent long acting histamine H2-receptor antagonist for the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcer. It inhibits basal and stimulated secretion of gastric acid, reducing both the volume and the acid and pepsin content of the secretion. Ranitidine has a relatively long duration of action and so a single 150 mg dose effectively suppresses gastric acid secretion for twelv hours.

Indications

Duodenal ulcer; benign gastric ulcer, reflux oesophagitis; postoperative gastric ulceration and other hyperacidity syndromes where reduction of acidity is beneficial.


Dosage

Duodenal or benign gastric ulcer : 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg at bed time for 4 to 8 weeks. Zollinger Ellison syndrome : 600 to 900 mg daily in divided doses. Maintenance dose is 150 mg at night for prevention of ulcer recurrence.


Contra-Indications

Hypersensitivity.


Special Precautions

Exclude the presence of gastric malignancy. Concomitant use of NSAID especially in elderly and in those with history of peptic ulcer. Dose to be adjusted in patients with renal impairment. Paediatrics: Reduced dose necessary. Pregnancy: Use only, if clearly indicated. Lactation: The drug passes into breast milk. at normal doses adverse effects on the baby are unlikely. Elderly: No special problem.


Side Effects

Skin rash, headache, dizziness, mental confusin, hallucination, blurred vision, arthralgia, hypersensitivity reactions, acute pancreatitis, leucopenia, thrombocytopaenia.


Drug Interactions

Antacids may interefere with absorption.


Ad 5