The drug "Ranitidine": indications for use, composition and properties

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - an extremely common problem that affects people regardless of age and sex. For example, gastritis is often diagnosed among adolescents, and sometimes in young children. Fortunately, modern medicine offers a lot of funds for the treatment of inflammatory processes of the digestive tract. And one of them is the drug "Ranitidine". Indications for use in this medication is very wide. So what is included in its composition and how effective is such a tool?

The drug "Ranitidine": composition and form of release

The main active substance of the drug is ranitidine hypochloride. In its natural form, it is a granular powder of white color (sometimes with a yellowish tinge) with a characteristic smell of sulfur and a bitter taste. This substance has antagonistic properties with respect to histamine H2 receptors.

The drug is available either in the form of tablets, or as a solution for intramuscular or intravenous administration. There are so-called "effervescent" tablets for the preparation of an aqueous solution.

The tablets are round, biconvex, with a light orange cover on top. As auxiliary substances are used: sodium lauryl sulfate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal silicon dioxide, corn starch, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol 6000, ethylcellulose and yellow dye.

To date, pharmacological companies offer tablets that contain either 150 mg or 300 mg of active substance. Injection solutions are available in glass ampoules of 2 ml.

Pharmacological properties of the drug "Ranitidine"

As already mentioned, the main active substance of the drug is blocked by H2-histamine reachers. This drug affects mainly the work of parietal cells of the gastric mucosa. Under its influence, the release of hydrochloric acid is inhibited, which leads to a decrease in the volume of secreted gastric juice, as well as a decrease in its acidity. By the way, that's why the drug "Ranitidine" for heartburn is very effective.

It should be noted that blockers of histamine receptors reduce the concentration of digestive enzymes (pepsin) in gastric juice. The oppression of secretion creates optimal conditions for healing ulcers on the mucous membrane, which naturally speeds up the healing process.

In addition, the active components of the drug affect the gastroduodenal zone, increasing the activity of local defense mechanisms, increasing the secretion of protective mucous secretions. The drug also accelerates the regeneration process.

Along with this, the medicine does not have any dangerous effect on the body. In particular, it does not affect the concentration of calcium ions in the blood, does not disrupt the endocrine system, does not affect the processes of spermatogenesis. The results of the studies also showed that the drug does not have a carcinogenic effect and does not cause mutations. On the other hand, the active substance penetrates the placental barrier and into the breast milk.

After taking the medicine, it is quickly absorbed by the wall of the digestive tract. The maximum concentration in the blood is observed after 2-3 hours. In most cases, the effect lasts about 12 hours. In the process of metabolism is partially converted in the liver. Completely removed from the body of the kidneys within a day after taking.

The drug "Ranitidine": indications for use

This drug is widely used as an antiulcer. Nevertheless, there are a number of violations in which doctors prescribe a medicine called "ranitidine". Indications for use are as follows:

• Severe heartburn;
• Peptic ulcer of the stomach and small intestine;
• For today, the drug "Ranitidine" with gastritis is widely used;
• An indication to its use is also esophagitis, which is caused by thrown into the esophagus of gastric contents or is associated with a violation of the integrity of mucosal tissues;
• The drug helps people with dyspepsia if it is accompanied by severe epigastric pain associated with eating;
• The drug is used in the treatment of certain benign tumors;
• As an auxiliary therapy used in aspiration pneumonitis and rheumatoid arthritis;
• This remedy is part of the therapy for bleeding in the upper parts of the digestive system;
• As a preventive medicine prescribe to patients who underwent surgery on the organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

It should be noted that acute diseases are not the only ailments requiring treatment with the drug "Ranitidine". Indications for use include and prevention of exacerbations of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer.

How to take the medicine correctly?

Of course, before starting this medication, you need a doctor's consultation. All doses are determined individually, depending on the age and condition of the patient, the form of the disease, the purpose of admission (treatment or prevention):

• Adult patients are shown taking tablets with a dose of active substance 150 mg twice daily. In some cases, doctors recommend taking two tablets at once before going to bed.
• To prevent bleeding, the patient is administered intramuscularly (or intravenously) at 0.05-0.1 g with a periodicity of 6-8 hours (if necessary, the dose may be increased to 0.9 g).
• Adolescents, as a rule, take 150 mg twice a day.
• In the treatment of benign tumors, the recommended dose is 150 mg of active substance three times a day.

Typically, the duration of treatment is four to eight weeks. If it is a question of prevention, some patients are recommended to take the drug for several months, and sometimes for a whole year, but under constant supervision of the doctor and with regular endoscopic examinations.

Contraindications to the use of the drug "Ranitidine"

Like any other medicine, this drug can not be used by every patient. In particular, it is not allowed to be used to treat women during pregnancy and lactation, as active substances easily penetrate into the milk and pass the placental barrier. Contraindication is hypersensitivity to any constituent drug substance. "Ranitidine" is not used in the treatment of children under 14 years of age.

In addition, this agent is used with caution in the treatment of patients who are diagnosed with hepatic or renal insufficiency, as well as acute porphyria and cirrhosis of the liver.

What side effects are possible during treatment?

Unfortunately, the active components of the drug affect virtually all organ systems. Therefore, in some patients, the drug may be associated with some adverse reactions:

• Often observed headaches, drowsiness, increased anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision. In more serious cases, the drug can lead to confusion, the development of depressive conditions, the occurrence of hallucinations.
• Possible disruption of the cardiovascular system, in particular, lowering blood pressure, aplastic or hemolytic anemia, arrhythmia, tachycardia, thrombocytopenia, less often - bone marrow hypoplasia.
• Allergic reactions are often accompanied by the appearance of skin rashes and itching, fever, swelling, erythrema. Very rarely, the drug leads to anaphylactic shock.
• Perhaps the appearance of nausea and vomiting, pain in the abdomen. Very rarely treatment leads to the development of pancreatitis and some forms of hepatitis.

If any side effects occur, stop taking the medication and describe the symptoms to the doctor.

Additional information about the medicine

Before starting this medication, as a rule, a thorough examination is carried out, since it is extremely important to check for the absence of malignant tumors in the stomach and small intestine. The fact is that the drug can mask the main symptoms of cancer.

Long-term treatment of patients with weakened immune system and exhaustion of the body can lead to bacterial damage to stomach tissues.

The intake of "Ranitidine" should be discontinued gradually, decreasing the dose day after day. A sharp cancellation of the medicine can trigger an aggravation of peptic ulcer.

How does drug "Ranitidine" interact with other drugs?

Quite often, therapy involves the use of this medication and antacids, which reduce acidity in the stomach. In such cases, a break between the use of these drugs should be at least 1-2 hours.

The drug "Ranitidine" makes absorption of ketoconazole difficult, and also inhibits the metabolism in the liver of diazepam, metronidazole, lidocaine and some other drugs. By the way, smoking significantly reduces the effect of taking this medication.

The drug "Ranitidine": reviews of patients

Reviews of patients who used this drug are mostly positive. People note the really visible effect of such treatment. The drug "Ranitidine" helps to eliminate heartburn, relieves the main symptoms of gastritis. The advantages of this drug can be attributed and relatively affordable. Adverse reactions occur extremely rarely.