Why is Ranitidine prescribed by doctors? Before answering the question, it is necessary to find out what this drug is, what composition it has, how it should be taken and in what dosages?
General information
What can Ranitidine be taken from? Such a synthetic drug is an antiulcer drug that can significantly reduce the volume of gastric juice.
The composition of the medication and its release form
The drug "Ranitidine" is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablets that contain 300 mg and 0.15 g of the active ingredient (ranitidine in the form of hydrochloride). This medication goes on sale in 100, 30 or 20 pieces in a cardboard box.
- Injection. Such a drug is used only when oral administration of the drug for any reason is impossible. The drug solution goes on sale in ampoules of 2 ml.
Pharmacodynamics
Why is Ranitidine so often prescribed by doctors? Such a drug, or rather its active component, quickly enough reduces the volume of gastric juice, the release of which is caused by stretching of the main digestive organ. Typically, this pathological condition occurs due to excessive food load, as well as under the influence of some biogenic stimulants (histamine, acetylcholine, gastrin, pentagastrin and caffeine) and hormones.
After using the Ranitidine preparation, the patient has enhanced protection of the mucous membrane of the main digestive organ, and the amount of hydrochloric acid in his juice is also noticeably reduced. It should be noted that when using this drug, the production of mucus is practically unchanged and the enzymatic functions of the liver are not suppressed.
The medicine “Ranitidine” promotes the healing and restoration of all injuries of the gastric mucosa that are associated with the action of hydrochloric acid. This effect of the drug is due to an increase in the formation of mucus of the stomach. According to the instructions, the medicine "Ranitidine" in a dose of 0.15 g inhibits the secretion of juice of the main digestive organ for 8-13 hours.
What is Ranitidine prescribed from?
Such a drug is used for the following deviations:
- an ulcer of the duodenum and stomach (especially in the acute stage);
- inflammation of the esophagus, which is caused by throwing the contents of the stomach into it (with reflux esophagitis);
- inflammation of the esophagus due to a violation of the integrity of its mucosa (with erosive esophagitis) ;
- with symptomatic and rapidly developing ulcers of the duodenum and stomach, resulting from stress, taking certain medications or certain diseases of the internal organs;
- stomach ulcers in combination with a benign tumor of the pancreas (with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).
Use for prophylaxis
The drug "Ranitidine" from the stomach is taken not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of the following deviations:
- exacerbations of peptic ulcer and erosive diseases;
- lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract;
- ingestion of gastric juice in the respiratory tract during surgery (under general anesthesia).
Contraindications
Tablets from the stomach "Ranitidine" should be taken only after consulting a doctor. After all, this drug has some contraindications:
- pregnancy;
- in childhood (up to 14 years old);
- hypersensitivity to the drug;
- lactation period.
Also, the drug "Ranitidine" is prescribed with extreme caution in cases of impaired renal excretory function.
Dosage and Administration
The presented drug is prescribed in one or another dosage, depending on the diagnosis:
- With an exacerbation of an ulcer of the duodenum or stomach, the medication is prescribed 1 tablet twice a day or 0.3 g per night. In case of urgent need, the daily dosage of the drug can be increased to 400-450 mg.
- To prevent ulcers of the duodenum or stomach, the drug is prescribed 0.15 g immediately before bedtime (once a day).
- With Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, this drug in an initial dose is prescribed in the amount of 1 tablet three times a day. In case of urgent need, the named amount of the drug can be increased to 0.7-0.9 g per day.
- If ulcers occur after surgery, the drug "Ranitidine" is recommended to take 0.15 g twice a day. Healing usually occurs over the next 4 weeks.
- For the prevention of stressful sores, the drug is prescribed 2 tablets twice a day.
- Ranitidine tablets for heartburn are recommended to be taken in the amount of 1 piece twice a day.
To prevent stressful ulceration and bleeding, Ranitidine should be used intramuscularly or intravenously at 0.1 or 0.05 g every 7-8 hours.
Side effects
This drug may cause the following side effects:
- skin rash;
- dizziness;
- thrombocytopenia;
- headache;
- fatigue.
In rare cases, the medicine "Ranitidine" provokes hair loss. Also, the drug presented can lead to hallucinations and the development of confusion. With prolonged administration of large doses, the patient increases the prolactin content, gynecomastia, leukopenia, impotence, amenorrhea occur and libido decreases. Sometimes the use of such a drug can lead to the development of hepatitis.
special instructions
- This drug is prescribed with extreme caution to patients with severe impaired renal or hepatic function.
- Before starting treatment with this agent, the possible presence of a malignant disease of the stomach, esophagus or duodenum should be ruled out.
- In case of urgent need to discontinue therapy, the medication is canceled by gradually reducing the dose.
- The effectiveness of the preventive use of the drug in courses of 50 days in the autumn-spring period is much higher than with its constant intake.
Analogs of means
The analogues of this medication are the medicines “Zantak”, “Rantak”, “Ranisan”, “Atzilok”, “Ulran”, “Ulkodin”, “Ranigast” and “Ranitidin-Akos”. What are all these funds taken from? They contain the same active component, and therefore the indications for such drugs are identical.