Ranitidine is a best-selling drug used to reduce high stomach acid. Through its lowering effect on stomach acid, it is widely used in the treatment of conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux, ulcers in the stomach and bowel, erosive esophagitis, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Read on to learn more about this medication, its health benefits, and main adverse effects.<\/p>\n
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Disclaimer: By writing this post, we are not recommending this drug. Some of our readers who were already taking the drug requested that we commission a post on it, and we are simply providing information that is available in the scientific literature. Please discuss your medications with your doctor.<\/p>\n
Ranitidine is a drug that decreases stomach acid production<\/strong> and is therefore employed in the treatment and prevention of disorders related to excessive stomach acid [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Developed in 1977, ranitidine was first introduced into the market in 1981 and quickly became the best-selling drug worldwide<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The main brand names for ranitidine are Zantac\u00ae and Taladine\u00ae.<\/p>\n Ranitidine is a histamine<\/strong><\/a> blocker<\/strong>. By binding to the H2-receptors on the stomach acid-producing cells, it prevents their activation by histamine [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Prescription ranitidine comes as tablets (oral and effervescent), capsules, and syrup. This medication is mainly used to treat [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n It is also sold over-the-counter (OTC) as 75 mg and 150 mg tablets to prevent symptoms of excessive acid<\/strong> in the stomach such as [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Histamine<\/a> is a compound that is produced by white blood cells<\/a> (mast cells and basophils), platelets, immune cells (lymphocytes<\/a>), brain cells, and secreting cells in stomach glands (enterochromaffin cells) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In the stomach, histamine is produced by enterochromaffin cells and activates those that produce acid (parietal cells) by binding to the H2-receptors on their surface [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Ranitidine and other H2-receptor blockers were designed by using histamine as a starting point<\/strong> and modifying its chemical structure [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n These chemicals compete with histamine for binding to the H2-receptor. The reversible interaction between a blocker and the receptor prevents the binding of histamine, and thus the activation of acid production [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Over-the-counter ranitidine is approved to prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid ingestion and sour stomach. Prescription ranitidine is mainly approved for the treatment and prevention of ulcers of the stomach and intestines and gastroesophageal reflux disease.<\/p>\n Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Take ranitidine as recommended and do not change its dose and frequency or stop taking it without your doctor’s approval. Your healthcare provider may recommend you combine ranitidine with other medications (such as antacids and PPIs). Talk to your doctor if your condition doesn\u2019t improve or if it worsens.<\/p>\n Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the abnormal entry of stomach acid into the esophagus. The main symptoms of this disease, which affects 20% of the US adult population at least once a week, are heartburn and regurgitation [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n GERD normally occurs when the muscle closing the stomach opening cannot counteract the internal pressure of this organ [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n The main factors triggering GERD are [R<\/a>, R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n Ranitidine reduced GERD symptoms such as heartburn and esophagitis<\/strong> in several trials [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Ranitidine outperformed an antacid (calcium<\/a> carbonate) in relieving heartburn<\/strong> in a clinical trial on over 150 people with GERD [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Low doses of ranitidine decreased stomach acid<\/strong> for 9 hours in a small trial on 24 healthy people [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n High doses of ranitidine showed better GERD relieving capacity<\/strong> in 2 small trials on 38 people [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n However, a small trial on 18 people with GERD showed the development of tolerance to the medication after long-term treatment <\/strong>with ranitidine, resulting in a reduced efficiency [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a small trial on 29 children, low doses of ranitidine reduced stomach acid <\/strong>[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a small trial on 18 pregnant women, ranitidine twice daily relieved GERD symptoms<\/strong> more efficiently than the same dose once daily [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n However, PPIs generally outperform ranitidine<\/strong> in the treatment of this disease.<\/p>\n Several studies showed a better efficiency of omeprazole<\/a> compared to ranitidine in the management of GERD symptoms [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In several studies, lansoprazole treated GERD more efficiently than ranitidine <\/strong>[R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Pantoprazole also relieved GERD symptoms more efficiently<\/strong> than ranitidine [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Both ranitidine and omeprazole were equally efficient in treating GERD symptoms<\/strong> in a clinical trial on 76 children [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Heartburn is a burning and painful sensation in the chest and upper stomach that is normally due to the entry of stomach acid into the esophagus, and is the main symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Heartburn is generally well controlled with antacids. While H2-receptor blockers and PPIs prevent the formation of acid in the stomach, antacids neutralize it after its production [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a clinical trial on almost 100 people with self-perceived heartburn taking either an antacid (Maalox) or ranitidine, the antacid was faster in relieving heartburn symptoms<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a small trial on 26 people with frequent meal-induced heartburn, ranitidine was faster at reducing stomach acidity, while the effect of the antacid (calcium carbonate) was faster in the esophagus [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a longer-term trial on over 150 people suffering from heartburn frequently, ranitidine was more effective than antacid (calcium carbonate) in relieving heartburn, curing erosive esophagitis, reducing pain, and improving life quality <\/strong>[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In several trials, ranitidine efficiently relieved heartburn symptoms<\/strong> within 30 to 60 minutes and lasted up to 12 hours [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Ranitidine reduced heartburn symptoms and esophagus sensitivity<\/strong> to acid in 2 independent trials [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n However, doubling the dose to 300 mg did not improve the recovery rate<\/strong> in the first trial [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n A small proportion of people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develop erosive esophagitis, in which the lining of the esophagus is inflamed and worn away [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Those whose esophagus is in contact with stomach acid for extended periods have the highest risk of developing erosive esophagitis [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n High doses of ranitidine were effective in treating erosive esophagitis<\/strong> in several studies [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a small trial on 7 people with erosive esophagitis, low doses of ranitidine decreased the exposure of the esophagus to acid, but failed to reduce it to normal values<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In several trials, omeprazole treated erosive esophagitis more effectively<\/strong> than the combination of ranitidine and metoclopramide [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n Similarly, rabeprazole and lansoprazole were more effective than ranitidine against erosive esophagitis<\/strong> in multiple studies [R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n In a trial on almost 400 people with erosive esophagitis being treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), adding ranitidine improved heartburn symptoms in the short term, but patients eventually developed tolerance<\/strong> [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n
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<\/a>Mechanism of Action<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Uses of Ranitidine<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Effective for:<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>1) Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)<\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/a>2) Heartburn<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/a>3) Erosive Esophagitis<\/span><\/h3>\n