Prevalence of disorders related to stomach acid or GERD is relatively high in the US, affecting one out of every five individuals in the US. Various treatment options, including medications, natural remedies, lifestyle and dietary modifications are presently used for managing/treating the condition. Ranitidine ranks high among the various medications widely used for the condition, and is available under various brand names, since its first commercial use in the year 1981. The number of annual prescriptions in the US is around 18 million, which makes it one of the most commonly prescribed or used medications. While it can be easily called the medication of first choice, it is not free from undesirable effects; lets take a good look at side effects of Zantac and measures to manage the effects.
Overview of ranitidine, and its mechanism of action
A deeper understanding of the medication and its mechanism of action will help in learning the side effects of Zantac better. Belonging to the category of histamine H2 antagonist, Zantac is typically used for treating duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, and GERD. It is also used for treating Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and a condition known as erosive esophagitis. The medication works by reducing gastric acid secretion, which helps in managing the above conditions. It is available in oral formulations and as injections. Oral forms include tablets and effervescent tablets that offer faster relief.
The mechanism of action of the medication, as mentioned above is primarily the reduction of gastric acid secretion. The hormone gastrin is known to stimulate the release of histamines, and following a sequence of binding action, result in the secretion of gastric acid. This occurs after a meal and when the secretion is high, it causes conditions mentioned above. The medication works by reverse binding to receptors, and this binding action inhibits the histamine from binding to the receptors. When the binding action is inhibited, gastric acid secretion is affected, brining about a reduction. Consequently, individuals experience considerable symptomatic relief from gastric acid related, within a short duration of one hour. Depending on the strength of the medication, and its formulation, the effects of gastric acid reduction can last anywhere between four hours and ten hours.
Commonly reported side effects
As explained above, medications come with possible side effects, and the actual effects may differ from person to person. In certain instances, the undesirable effects may be mild and moderate, whereas in certain instances, the effects may be severe, requiring some form of medical intervention. The intensity and the nature of the undesirable effects depend to a large extent on the mechanism of action of the medication and the condition or conditions it is intended to treat. Commonly reported side effects of Zantac are relatively mild in nature and may not require any medical intervention. Conditions may resolve naturally in a few days a\without causing any serious consequences or lasting effects.
For instance, individuals are likely to experience bouts of constipation when on the medication. Contrastingly, side effects of Zantac also include the possibility of diarrhea. Patients on the medication are known to experience fatigue for no explained reason. This may or may not be accompanied by throbbing headache among a small section of individuals on the medication. Similarly, patients may also experience insomnia as a result of the medication for a short period. This may not any treatment to manage, and will typically resolve either when the medication is stopped or after the body adjusts to the mechanism of action of the medication.
Other side effects of Zantac include possible pain in the muscles that is not attributed to any other condition or trauma. Similarly, patients may experience feelings of nausea when on the medication and this could cause some discomfort in social settings. In a relatively small number of people, vomiting sensations are likely to be induced or experienced when on the medication. Here again, the effects may not last long or may not require medical intervention. However, if the conditions persist or the intensity causes intense discomfort, it may be necessary to seek medical attention to mitigate the effects.
Side effects of Zantac that are relatively serious in nature
In addition to the above, there is also the possibility of side effects of Zantac that can be considered as relatively serious in nature. The occurrence of these effects may not be common, and are likely to be limited to a very small section of individuals, with very rare instances. Patients on the medication for a long term are likely to feel agitated for no apparent reason. Other conditions that can be considered as rare in nature include anemia when on the medication. By virtue of the mechanism of action, patients are likely to experience depression that is not connected to any other condition. Additionally, the patient may also feel confused, that could be one of the after effects of lack of sleep or the mechanism of action of the medication.
A small number of patients may experience hair loss that is not linked to conditions commonly attributed to hair loss. Other discernible changes include the outbreak of rashes on the skin and in some patients, there could be discoloration of the eyes or the skin. The color of the eyes of the skin may change to yellow, and can be easily observed. Apart from the above, patients are sometimes known to be prone to suffer bruising or bleeding easily. Similarly, the heartbeat rate of the patients may also turn irregular, when on the medication for a long time. Finally, individuals may also end up hallucinating when on the medication, and this may require medical intervention.
In addition to the above undesirable effects, patients may experience a reduction in blood platelet count as a result of the medication. Additionally, patients may also experience inflammation of the blood vessels when on the medication. There is also the possibility of impact on vision in a small number of users. Indirect side effects of Zantac include possible pneumonia and bronchospasm. These undesirable effects are rare in occurrence and are known to affect a very small section of individuals.
Ideal dosage of Zantac to prevent side effects
Most side effects of medications are attributed to incorrect dosage or wrong medication schedule. To make matters worse, medications that are available as OTC formulations are often misconstrued as relatively harmless, prompting overuse or abuse. In the absence of a strict recommendation about the dosage, individuals tend to make wrong decisions about the dosage. Additionally, the impatience of patients also contributes to double doses. For instance, the mechanism of action of medications may result in outcomes after a certain period of time. Individuals who do not experience symptomatic relief in the intervening period are likely to end up taking an additional dose of the medication, resulting in possible side effects.
The ideal dosage of ranitidine to treat various conditions without triggering undesirable effects includes the following. It is important to add that the following information is provided only for the purpose of reference, to understand the maximum safe dosages. The actual dosage prescribed may differ, depending on the condition, and various other factors pertaining to the individual receiving the medication. To treat GERD, oral formulations of ranitidine are prescribed, with a recommended dosage of 300 mg daily, that can also be taken as 150 mg twice per day. The medication is typically taken at night, either with food or without food. The prescribed maintenance doses for patients are typically 150 mg per day.
Ranitidine is prescribed in higher doses for patients diagnosed with erosive esophagitis. The dose is generally 150 mg taken four times a day during the treatment period. Ranitidine is taken wither with food or without food, though in certain instances, it is best to take it before food. Follow the advice of the treating specialist for specific conditions. For effective management of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome without side effects of Zantac, specialists recommend dosages that could be as much as 6g every day. Similarly, individuals diagnosed with heartburn or associated symptoms are administered dosages between 75 mg and 150 mg, taken twice every day. This is generally taken before food with a gap of half an hour or so before a meal or liquid that is known to cause heartburn.
Drug interactions and precautions
It is common for medications to trigger drug interactions with other medications. This could include herbal formulations, supplements and natural remedies, apart from prescription and OTC medications. This could also involve food products or beverages in some instances. Drug interactions may be experienced when ranitidine is taken alongside medications that require stomach acid for absorption of the medications. For instance, certain medications work best when stomach acid helps in proper absorption of the active ingredients. This includes iron salts such as iron sulphate, ketoconazole and itraconazole. The efficacy of these medications may be affected as the mechanism of action of ranitidine will inhibit the secretion of stomach acid.
In addition to the above, it is essential to safeguard individuals from possible side effects of Zantac through simple precautions. For instance, women who are breast feeding infants are advised to take medical advice prior to taking the medication. This is because ranitidine is known to secrete through breast milk, and this may impact the health of infants. Depending on the dosage consumed, this may cause undesirable side effects of Zantac on infants. The effects of the medication on pregnant women have not been studied in detail and therefore there is insufficient information about possible effects.