Zantac

The Antacid Zantac Known As Ranitidine In Generic Form

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Zantac is an anti-acid drug available over the counter and with a prescription. In its OTC form, it treats heartburn and acid indigestion. In prescription strength, it treats ulcers, GERD and erosive esophagitis. It starts to work in as little as 30 minutes and can last up to 12 hours. Potential drug interactions include warfarin, ketoconazole and atazanavir.

The antacid Zantac — known as ranitidine in generic form — is available over the counter or as a prescription. People can take the drug orally in pill and liquid form or intravenously as an injection.

GlaxoSmithKline first received FDA approval for Zantac in 1983, and by 1988 it was the world’s best-selling drug, bringing in $1 billion in annual sales.

Currently, Sanofi markets brand-name Zantac in the United States. In 2018, the company reported it made 113 million euros, the equivalent of roughly $124 million in the United States. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, nearly 25 million prescriptions for ranitidine were written in 2018.

Zantac side effects are typically mild and pass quickly. The most commonly reported adverse events include constipation, diarrhea and nausea or vomiting. Rarely, some serious side effects such as skin rashes, liver failure and cardiac disorders may occur.

How Does Ranitidine Work?

Ranitidine, the active ingredient in Zantac, belong to a class of anticid drugs called H2 blockers, or histamine-2 receptor agonist.

H2 receptor agonist work by blocking histamine from parietal cells that line the stomach. This prevents the stimulation of the proton pump, an enzyme that transports hydrichloric acid secreted by the parietal cell. Inhibitin the proton pum reduces the amount of acid in the stomach, which, in tunr, recudes symptoms of gastric disorders such as heartburn, GERD and gastric ulcers.

Zantac start to work in as little as 30 minutes. It can control acid production for up to 12 hours and reduce frequncy and severity of heartburn.

How Does Ranitidine Work?

Over-the-counter and prescription Zantac have different instructions for use. Depending on the reason for the health provedir prescribing Zantac, the dosages will vary.

Hospital use the Zantac injection for patients with pathological hypersecretory conditions or interactable duodenal ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral medication.

Zantac Drug Interactions

Tell you healt care provider about all medications, herbal supplements and vitamins you take before taking Zantac. Avoid drinking alcohol eith the drug because it may increase the risk of stomach damage. Because ranitidine affects stomach acid, it may increase or decrease the effectiveness of drugs that rely on stomach acid to be effective. There are no interactions listed for Zantac OTC, but the prescription drug label includes several.

Recalls and Lawsuits over Contaminated Ranitidine

Starting on Sept. 24, 2019, some manufacturers began voluntary Zantac recalls of certain lots of the drug because of contamination with N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA — a chemical that may cause cancer.

The FDA had previously announced recalls of valsartan and blood pressure drugs losartan and irbesartan that had been contaminated with NDMA.

At first, the agency didn’t agree that NDMA levels present in ranitidine were too high. But after preliminary testing of some drug samples, on Oct. 2, 2019, the FDA stated that contamination levels were “unacceptable.”