Side Effects:

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

Expert advice for Ranitidine
Ranitidine is a well tolerated and safe medicine with a very low incidence of side effects. Take Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine. 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 Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine an over the counter (OTC) drug?
No, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with azithromycin?
Yes, Ranitidine can be taken with azithromycin. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause constipation?
Yes, the use of Ranitidine can cause constipation. It is one of the common side effect seen with Ranitidine. Taking high fiber diet and plenty of fluids can help in relieving constipation and can also help in decreasing acidity.

Q. Can I take Ranitidine with prednisone?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with metoprolol?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine an antacid?
No, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine for the treatment of allergies or hives (urticaria)?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine and should be used only when advised by a doctor.

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

Q. Can I take Ranitidine with tramadol?
Yes, Ranitidine can be taken with the tramadol. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine an antihistaminic drug?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine safe?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with doxycycline?
Yes, Ranitidine can be taken with doxycycline. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine interfere with H. pylori test results?
A significant number of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori can have negative test results if they are using Ranitidine as it interferes with the urea breath test, which is done to identify H. Pylori infection.

Q. Can I take Ranitidine with Rabeprazole?
Yes, Ranitidine and Rabeprazole can be taken together. As Rabeprazole show its effect after some days, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with sertraline?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause glaucoma?
Ranitidine itself does not cause glaucoma. However, there are some rare reports that Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with steroids?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with famotidine?
Both Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine be used to treat gastritis?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with vitamin B?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine?
Caution should be exercised when Ranitidine is given to patients with a liver disease like hepatitis B as it is metabolized in the liver. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine.

Q. Why Ranitidine is given along with vitamin B12?
Long term use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with vitamin C?
Yes, you can take Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine?
Yes, a patient of hepatitis C can take Ranitidine, however, this should be taken under medical supervision. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine be used with vitamin D?
Yes, vitamin D can be taken with Ranitidine. It is generally advised to be taken as a supplement as the long-term use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause gastroparesis (partial paralysis of the stomach)?
No, the use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine make you feel high?
No, Ranitidine does not make you feel high. However, use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause high blood pressure?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine include nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

Q. Can I use Ranitidine for treating warts?
No, Ranitidine is not used for treating warts as it is not approved for this disease condition. However, some research studies have shown that Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine for stomach pain?
Stomach pain can be due to many reasons and Ranitidine can help in this condition if the stomach pain is due to an underlying acid-peptic disorder.

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

Q. Why does Ranitidine cause pneumonia?
Patients using Ranitidine are two times more prone to develop pneumonia (infection of the lung) than the normal patients. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine in critically ill patients?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine?
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 Ranitidine be used for reflux esophagitis?
Yes, Ranitidine 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. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with paracetamol?
Yes, you can take Ranitidine with paracetamol. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine given with cancer drugs?
Ranitidine 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, Ranitidine can potentiate white blood cell against cancer cells and can be helpful in the treatment of cancer.

Q. Does Ranitidine treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine used to treat nausea?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine.

Q. What is the benefit of taking Ranitidine with pantoprazole?
Both Ranitidine and pantoprazole lower gastric acid secretion, however, they work by different mechanisms. If you have been advised to take pantoprazole, you can also take Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with pain killers?
Yes, Ranitidine can be taken with painkillers. Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with painkillers.

Q. What are the serious side effects associated with the use of Ranitidine?
Some serious side effects associated with the use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause diarrhea?
Use of Ranitidine lowers the natural stomach acid which normally helps to kill bacteria. So, use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine effective?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine useful in the prevention of painkiller (NSAID) induced gastric ulcers?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine?
It is better to avoid cigarette smoking when you are taking Ranitidine. As studies have shown that the effectiveness of Ranitidine is lower in smokers compared to non-smokers. Moreover, smoking may add to gastric problems leading to more production of gastric acid.

Q. Does Ranitidine increase uric acid levels and cause gout-like symptoms?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with warfarin?
Yes, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine with gabapentin?
Yes, Ranitidine can be taken with gabapentin. There are no reported drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

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

Q. Is Ranitidine a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)?
No, Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause iron deficiency?
Yes, use of Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine but you can maintain good dietary nutrition so that no deficiency occurs.

Q. Is there any known role of Ranitidine before surgery?
Ranitidine 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 Ranitidine cause flatulence (gas or bloating)?
Flatulence (gas) has been reported as a common side effect of Ranitidine. Although it would be mild to moderate in nature and it goes away once you stop taking Ranitidine.