Properties:
Ranitak is a Histamine H2 receptor antagonist that inhibits gastric acid secretion and reduces pepsin out put by competitive inhibition of the action of the histamine at the histamine H2 receptor located in the parietal cells in the upper portion of the stomach.
Ranitak reduces the pain & hastens the healing of duodenal and gastric ulcers. Ranitak is rapidly absorbed from the GIT with peak plasma concentration occurring in about 2 hours after oral administration.
Ranitak has a long duration of action and so a single 150 mg dose suppresses gastric acid secretion for twelve hours.
A small portion of Ranitak is metabolized in the liver but most part is excreted unchanged in the urine.
Ranitak crosses the placental barrier and is secreted in the milk but does not cross the blood brain barrier.


Precautions:
The usual dose should be reduced for patients with liver impairments. It is generally considered that drug interactions is far less in comparison to cimetedine. Gastric malignancy must be excluded before therapy with Ranitak.
Ranitak should only be used during pregnancy & nursing mothers if clearly needed

Indications and dosage:
Duodenal and Gastric ulcers :
Treatment : oral 150 mg Twice Daily or 300 mg at bed time for at least 4 - 6 weeks
Maintenance : Oral 150 mg at bed time for more than one year if required.
Gastro- Esophageal Reflux :
Treatment : Oral 150 mg twice daily for not more than 6 weeks.
Gastric Hypersecretory Syndrome (Zollinger Ellison Syndrome, Systemic Mastocytosis, Multiple Endocrine Adenomas)
Treatment : Oral 150 mg Twice / 3 times & may be increased up to 6 gms daily in severe cases.
Upper Gastrointestinal stress - induced ulceration & bleeding :
Treatment & prophylaxis : Oral 150 mg twice daily, or parentral therapy may be used.
Aspiration Syndrome :
Prophylaxis : Oral 150 mg may be given 2 hours before the induction of anesthesia or at the start of labor to reduce the danger of aspiration of acidic gastric contents & may be repeated at intervals of 6 hours if required.

Side effects:
Headache
Rare hypersensitivity reactions
Bradycardia
Dizziness
Skin rash
Transient reversible changes in the liver function tests may occur.
Reversible leucopenia & thrombocytopenia have been rarely reported.
Unlike Cimetidine, Ranitidine has little or No antiandrogenic effects & incidence of gynecomastia & impotence in patients treated with higher doses has been reported not to differ from that encountered in the general population.


Storage:
Keep at room temperature not exceeding 30ºC & away from moisture.


Presentation:
Ranitak 150 mg : Box of 20 tablets or 1000 tablets.
Ranitak 300 mg : Box of 20 tablets