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| Pronunciation |
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 (ra
NI ti deen hye droe KLOR
ide) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Zantac®; Zantac® 75
[OTC] |
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| Foreign Brand
Names |
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| Acloral® (Mexico);
Alter-H2® (Mexico); Anistal (Mexico);
Apo-Ranitidine® (Canada); Azantac (Mexico); Cauteridol®
(Mexico); Credaxol (Mexico); Galidrin (Mexico); Gastrec (Mexico); Microtid
(Mexico); Neugal (Mexico); Novo-Ranidine (Canada); Nu-Ranit (Canada); Ranifur
(Mexico); Ranisen (Mexico) |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Histamine H2 Antagonist |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to ranitidine or any other part of the
medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of ulcers in the stomach and
small intestine (active treatment and prevention), gastroesophageal reflux
disease, and hypersecretory conditions (Zollinger-Ellison
syndrome).
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| How does it work? |
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- Ranitidine hydrochloride inhibits stomach acid secretion allowing
healing to occur in the area of ulceration or damage by the
acid.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach. Take at bedtime if you are taking this medicine once a day.
- A liquid (syrup) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those who
have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and
after medicine is given.
- Drop effervescent tablet or granules in
3/4
of a cup of water. Drink when
dissolved.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
- Limit caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, cola) and chocolate intake.
Use with this medicine may cause nervousness, shakiness, rapid heartbeats, and
anxiety.
- Avoid aspirin, aspirin-containing products, ibuprofen or like
products, other blood thinners (warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel), garlic,
ginseng, ginkgo, or vitamin E if you have an ulcer. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing
diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
- Diarrhea.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Watch for change in symptoms. Is condition better, worse, or about the
same?
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Blood in the stool and toilet bowl or vomiting blood.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature. Keep
away from moisture.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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