Mode of action
competitively block H2 receptors on parietal cells, reducing gastric acid secretion.
Indications
Marketed: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD); Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD); Dyspepsia.
Accepted: Stress ulcer prophylaxis.
Contraindications
Acute porphyria.
Specific considerations
Phenylketonuria: effervescent tablets contain aspartame.
Renal impairment: Although renally cleared, dosage reduction is rarely required in renal impairment.
Surgery: Continue treatment throughout perioperative period.
Pregnancy: Safe to use; ADEC category B1.
Breastfeeding: No adverse effects reported.
Adverse effects
Infrequent: Brady arrhythmia (following rapid IV administration), hypotension.
Rare: interstitial nephritis, involuntary movement disorder (reversible), headache, tiredness, dizziness, confusion
(especially in elderly people), diarrhoea, constipation, rash (all common with cimetidine); thrombocytopenia,
agranulocytosis, hepatitis, vasculitis.
Dosage
PUD
Oral, initially 300 mg daily as a single evening dose (or 2 divided doses) for 4–8 weeks or
IV/IM, 50 mg every 6–8 hours.
Maintenance, oral 150–300 mg daily as a single evening dose.
GORD
Oral, 300 mg daily as a single evening dose, or 2 divided doses.
Stress ulcer prophylaxis:
Oral, 150 mg twice daily until risk factors removed.
IV, 50 mg every 6–8 hours; or 50 mg initially, then IV infusion 125–250 micrograms/kg/hour until risk factors
removed.
Dyspepsia: Oral, 150 mg twice daily for 4–8 weeks.
Child: Oral, 2–4 mg/kg twice daily (maximum 300 mg daily). IV, 1 mg/kg (up to 50 mg) every 6–8 hours.
Administration instructions
IV, dilute in sodium chloride 0.9% and give over not less than 5 minutes or infuse at 25 mg/hour over 2 hours.
Products
RANITIDINE AMPS 50 MG/AMPS (EPADOREN®, RANIDINE®, ROLAN®, TUPAST®, ZANTAC®,
ZYDAC®)
RANITIDINE SYRUP 75 MG/5ML (EPADOREN®, RANIDINE®)
RANITIDINE TABS 75 MG (NADINE®, PEPTACID®, RANACID®, RANIDINE®, ZANTAC®)
RANITIDINE TABS 150 MG (ANTAGONIN®, HISTAC®, NADINE®, PEPTAC®, PEPTACID®, RANID®,
RANIDINE®, ROLAN®, ZANTAC®)
RANITIDINE TABS 300 MG (ANTAGONIN®, HISTAC®, NADINE®, PEPTAC®, RANID®, RANIDINE®,
ROLAN®, ZANTAC®)
