Side Effects:

Common Fatigue, Drowsiness, Headache, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Muscle pain.

Expert advice for Ranitin Tablet
Ranitin is a well tolerated and safe medicine with a very low incidence of side effects. Take Ranitin before going to bed if you are taking this medicine once a day as it is very effective in controlling stomach acid released in the midnight. If you are also taking an antacid, take it two hours before or after taking Ranitin. Avoid taking soft drinks, citrus fruits like orange and lemon, which can irritate the stomach and increase acid secretion. Inform your doctor if you do not feel better after taking Ranitin for two weeks or 14 days as you may be suffering from some other problems. Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver disease. Dose of your medicine may need to be adjusted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Ranitin an over the counter (OTC) drug?
No, Ranitin is not an over-the-counter product. It is a prescription medicine and is available only when prescribed by a physician.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with azithromycin?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with azithromycin. Ranitin may be given to lower the acid secretion caused by gastritis or stomach irritation caused by azithromycin. No drug-drug interactions or any additional harmful effects have been seen when they are used together compared to when they are used alone.

Q. Can the use of Ranitin cause constipation?
Yes, the use of Ranitin can cause constipation. It is one of the common side effect seen with Ranitin. Taking high fiber diet and plenty of fluids can help in relieving constipation and can also help in decreasing acidity.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with prednisone?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with prednisone. No drug-drug interactions or any change in side effect profile have been when these are used together compared to when each drug is used alone.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with metoprolol?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with metoprolol. No drug-drug interactions or any change in side effect profile have been reported compared to when they are used alone.

Q. Is Ranitin an antacid?
No, Ranitin is not an antacid. It belongs to the class of H2 blockers (antihistamines) which decrease the amount of acid produced in the stomach while antacids only neutralize the stomach acid by coating the stomach.

Q. Can I take Ranitin for the treatment of allergies or hives (urticaria)?
Ranitin can help in decreasing the redness of the allergies or hives (urticaria) when used along with antihistaminics like cetirizine by narrowing the blood vessels. However, this is not an approved use of Ranitin and should be used only when advised by a doctor.

Q. Does Ranitin expire?
Yes, Ranitin does expire. Please check the expiry date written on the pack and it refers to the last day of that month. Do not use Ranitin after the expiry date.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with tramadol?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with the tramadol. Ranitin may be given to lower the acid secretion caused by gastritis or stomach irritation caused by tramadol. No drug-drug interactions or any change in side effect profile has been reported compared to when they are used alone.

Q. Is Ranitin an antihistaminic drug?
Yes, Ranitin is an antihistaminic drug. It acts on histamine receptors in the stomach and blocks the action of a chemical messenger histamine (causes acid secretion in stomach) and hence decreases the acid production in the stomach.

Q. Is Ranitin safe?
Yes, Ranitin is safe if used at prescribed doses for the prescribed duration as advised by the doctor. However, there are some very common side effects that you can experience at the doses advised like nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and flatulence.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with doxycycline?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with doxycycline. Ranitin may be given to lower the acid secretion caused by gastritis or stomach irritation caused by doxycycline. No drug-drug interactions or any change in side effect profile has been reported compared to when they are used alone.

Q. Does Ranitin interfere with H. pylori test results?
A significant number of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori can have negative test results if they are using Ranitin as it interferes with the urea breath test, which is done to identify H. Pylori infection.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with Rabeprazole?
Yes, Ranitin and Rabeprazole can be taken together. As Rabeprazole show its effect after some days, Ranitin can be taken along with for immediate relief. No drug-drug interactions or change in side effect profile has been reported when they are used together compared to either drug alone.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with sertraline?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with sertraline. No drug-drug interactions or any change in side effect profile has been reported compared to the effect of the individual drug when used alone.

Q. Does Ranitin cause glaucoma?
Ranitin itself does not cause glaucoma. However, there are some rare reports that Ranitin can increase the intraocular pressure in patients who have glaucoma. Inform your doctor in case you have glaucoma or high intraocular pressure before taking this medicine.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with steroids?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with steroids. No drug-drug interactions or any change in side effect profile has been reported compared to the effect of the individual drug when used alone.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with famotidine?
Both Ranitin and famotidine lower gastric acid secretion by blocking the H2 (histamine) receptor in the stomach. It is not advisable to take them together as they have a similar action and use and when used together, there could be an increased risk of side effects.

Q. Can Ranitin be used to treat gastritis?
Yes, Ranitin can be used for the short-term treatment of gastritis. It helps by decreasing the amount of acid released into the stomach and relieving stomach pain and acid reflux.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with vitamin B?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with vitamin B. No drug-drug interactions have been reported between this medicine and vitamin B.

Q. Can a patient of hepatitis B take Ranitin?
Caution should be exercised when Ranitin is given to patients with a liver disease like hepatitis B as it is metabolized in the liver. Ranitin can be taken by a patient of hepatitis B if it is really essential and advised by a doctor. Very rare reports of hepatitis with or without jaundice have been documented in patients taking Ranitin.

Q. Why Ranitin is given along with vitamin B12?
Long term use of Ranitin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency as it decreases the acid secretion in the stomach which is required for the absorption of Vitamin B12. To prevent this deficiency, vitamin B12 may be advised by your doctor along with this medicine.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with vitamin C?
Yes, you can take Ranitin with vitamin C. No drug-drug interactions or change in side effect profile has been reported when they are used together compared to either drug alone.

Q. Can a patient with hepatitis C take Ranitin?
Yes, a patient of hepatitis C can take Ranitin, however, this should be taken under medical supervision. Ranitin belongs to the group of drugs called H2 blockers which have been seen to increase the risk of hepatic encephalopathy in hepatitis C patients. So, this group of medicines should be used with caution in patients with underlying liver disease.

Q. Can Ranitin be used with vitamin D?
Yes, vitamin D can be taken with Ranitin. It is generally advised to be taken as a supplement as the long-term use of Ranitin decreases the absorption of calcium and cause calcium deficiency leading to osteoporosis (thinning of bones) and increasing the risk of bone fractures like hip, wrist and spine fractures.

Q. Can the use of Ranitin cause gastroparesis (partial paralysis of the stomach)?
No, the use of Ranitin is not known to cause gastroparesis (partial paralysis of the stomach), however in case you experience signs and symptoms of gastroparesis like persistent nausea, vomiting (especially of undigested food) and abdominal pain or a feeling of fullness after eating even small amount of food, consult your doctor as it may be due to some condition that needs attention.

Q. Can the use of Ranitin make you feel high?
No, Ranitin does not make you feel high. However, use of Ranitin can cause mental confusion, irritability, depression, though very rarely. These undesirable side effects occur usually in elderly or severely ill or kidney disease patients.

Q. Can the use of Ranitin cause high blood pressure?
Ranitin is not reported to cause high blood pressure. In case you experience high blood pressure,inform your doctor as it may need attention. Common side effects seen with Ranitin include nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

Q. Can I use Ranitin for treating warts?
No, Ranitin is not used for treating warts as it is not approved for this disease condition. However, some research studies have shown that Ranitin can improve the effect of medicines used for the treatment of this condition. Warts are a viral condition in which the patient has small, rough, and hard growths like raised bumps on the skin. Avoid self-medication and talk to a doctor for the right treatment of warts as it may bleed or get infected or spread to other body parts if not treated properly.

Q. Can I use Ranitin for stomach pain?
Stomach pain can be due to many reasons and Ranitin can help in this condition if the stomach pain is due to an underlying acid-peptic disorder.

Q. Can the use of Ranitin cause headache?
Headache is reported as one of the common side effects of Ranitin. Inform your doctor in case you experience headache for a prolonged duration while taking Ranitin.

Q. Why does Ranitin cause pneumonia?
Patients using Ranitin are two times more prone to develop pneumonia (infection of the lung) than the normal patients. Ranitin by means of its acid suppressing ability may allow growth of bacteria in the gut which can move to the respiratory tract (lungs) following breathing. So inform your doctor if you have or a history of lung disease as your dosage may need to be adjusted.

Q. What is the role of Ranitin in critically ill patients?
Ranitin may be used in critically ill patients to decrease stomach acid secretion and lower the risk of acid aspiration into the lungs. It also helps in decreasing stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding in these patients.

Q. What foods should be avoided when you are taking Ranitin?
You should preferably avoid foods that cause acidity and heartburn as they would aggravate your disease condition, for example: fried foods, prepared in butter or oil, fat rich foods, tomato-based foods and juices, caffeinated drinks like cola, tea, drinks from citrus fruits like lemon water or orange juice and alcohol-containing drinks.

Q. Can Ranitin be used for reflux esophagitis?
Yes, Ranitin is effective in the treatment of reflux esophagitis. It is a disease in which stomach acid or bile irritates and inflames the lining of the food pipe. Ranitin decreases the production of acid in the stomach and this can help to heal the inflamed and eroded esophagus. The efficacy is better when it is given in combination with a prokinetic agent like domperidone.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with paracetamol?
Yes, you can take Ranitin with paracetamol. Ranitin is used to prevent paracetamol (painkillers) induced gastritis and stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. There are no clinically significant drug-drug interactions or harmful effects seen when they are used together.

Q. Why is Ranitin given with cancer drugs?
Ranitin may be used for multiple reasons in cancer patients. It can lower stomach acid volume in patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent aspiration and lower the risk of stomach ulceration and bleeding. According to some studies, Ranitin can potentiate white blood cell against cancer cells and can be helpful in the treatment of cancer.

Q. Does Ranitin treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Ranitin is not routinely used for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is given if there is associated dyspepsia or increased stomach acid secretion. IBS is managed with a combination of antispasmodics (to relieve stomach pain), laxatives (to relieve constipation), and anti motility drugs (to relieve diarrhea).

Q. Is Ranitin used to treat nausea?
Ranitin is used for the treatment of acidity, heartburn, intestinal ulcers and stomach ulcers and can help in providing relief in nausea that may happen due to acid reflux. It is not used to treat nausea due to any other cause. Rather, nausea is one of the most common side effects of Ranitin.

Q. What is the benefit of taking Ranitin with pantoprazole?
Both Ranitin and pantoprazole lower gastric acid secretion, however, they work by different mechanisms. If you have been advised to take pantoprazole, you can also take Ranitin initially for rapid relief of heartburn and acid reflux as pantoprazole may take a few days to show its effect and provide relief.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with pain killers?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with painkillers. Ranitin can help to prevent painkillers induced gastritis and stomach ulcers by decreasing the production of acid in the stomach. Moreover, there are no clinically significant interactions of Ranitin with painkillers.

Q. What are the serious side effects associated with the use of Ranitin?
Some serious side effects associated with the use of Ranitin are bone marrow hypoplasia (decreased formation of blood cell components), anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reactions) sinus bradycardia (lowering of heart rate) and acute pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Q. Why does Ranitin cause diarrhea?
Use of Ranitin lowers the natural stomach acid which normally helps to kill bacteria. So, use of Ranitin leads to overgrowth of the harmful bacteria like clostridium difficile which can cause diarrhea. This is known as clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD). Inform your doctor if you have loose stools many times in a day and for many days with stomach cramps and fever.

Q. Is Ranitin effective?
Ranitin would be effective only if used for the right indication in the dose and for the duration as advised by the doctor. In case you do not find any change in your disease condition while taking this medicine, please talk to your doctor. Do not change the dose or stop taking the medicine without consulting your doctor.

Q. Is Ranitin useful in the prevention of painkiller (NSAID) induced gastric ulcers?
Yes, Ranitin is useful for the prevention of painkiller (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug - NSAID) induced gastric ulcers. These may cause dull pain in the stomach, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or bloating. Avoid stress and spicy foods as they can make your symptoms worse.

Q. Can I smoke while taking Ranitin?
It is better to avoid cigarette smoking when you are taking Ranitin. As studies have shown that the effectiveness of Ranitin is lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. Moreover, smoking may add to gastric problems leading to more production of gastric acid.

Q. Does Ranitin increase uric acid levels and cause gout-like symptoms?
Ranitin can increase blood uric acid levels and cause gout-like symptoms like pain, redness, and inflammation of joints and cause difficulty in movement of joints. Regular monitoring of uric acid levels may be advised if you are taking this medicine for a long term.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with warfarin?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with warfarin. However, they should be used with caution as there could be an increase in warfarin levels which can increase the risk of bleeding from your gums, nose, skin (unusual bruising), or gut (dark stools). Stop taking the medicine and inform your doctor if you have any of these signs or symptoms.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with gabapentin?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with gabapentin. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. Can I take Ranitin with cetirizine?
Yes, Ranitin can be taken with cetirizine. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. Is Ranitin a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)?
No, Ranitin is not a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) as it has no known inhibitory effect on proton pumps in the stomach.

Q. Can the use of Ranitin cause iron deficiency?
Yes, use of Ranitin can cause iron deficiency and a decrease in hemoglobin levels as it decreases the acidic environment of the stomach needed for the absorption of iron. However, there are no recommendations on the regular monitoring of iron levels or taking iron supplements when the patient is taking Ranitin but you can maintain good dietary nutrition so that no deficiency occurs.

Q. Is there any known role of Ranitin before surgery?
Ranitin is given as a part of pre-anesthetic medication before surgery to decrease the stomach acid secretion so that stomach acid is not aspirated into the lungs during surgery as this may complicate or delay the procedure.

Q. Does Ranitin cause flatulence (gas or bloating)?
Flatulence (gas) has been reported as a common side effect of Ranitin. Although it would be mild to moderate in nature and it goes away once you stop taking Ranitin.