What is Zantac for?

The zantac is a drug of the group of so – called blocking of histamine, which serves to reduce the volume and the content of acid in the stomach, relieving symptoms such as coughing, stomach pain, heartburn and difficulty digesting the food.

This medicine comes in a form of 150 mg, 300 mg tablets and effervescent elements that have a long-lasting action, so one dose can suppress gastric acid secretion for at least 12 hours.

What is zantac for?

In generalized form, it is a drug that is used to treat diseases generated by stomach acids and prevent the recurrence of symptoms. Next, the main uses of this medicine will be mentioned:

• It is used to treat stomach and intestinal ulcers and prevent them from reappearing after their healing.
• It can treat and prevent stomach and throat (esophagus) problems caused by excess stomach acid, such as erosive esophagitis.
• It works efficiently in the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition in which there is an excessive production of the hormone gastrin in the blood.
• It is used to treat acid reflux disease and other situations in which heartburn can occur.
• It is used for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in the esophagus and stomach.
• It is positive in the treatment of pregnant women, especially in childbirth due to the risk of aspiration syndrome of gastric contents into the lungs (Mendelson syndrome).

How to take the drug zantac?

It should be ingested orally, with or without food, following the doctor’s instructions and usually one or two doses a day. When used only once, it should be done after the evening meal or before going to sleep, where the dosage and duration will depend on the condition that is presenting and the response to treatment.

The 150 mg and 300 mg effervescent tablets should be allowed to dissolve completely before ingesting them in a glass of water of at least 75 ml and 150 ml.

• Duodenal ulcer, stomach ulcer and gastric reflux: a dose of 150 mg is recommended, twice a day, in the morning and at night, with a duration of 4 to 6 weeks, or 2 tablets of 150 mg in the evening with the same duration of 4 to 6 weeks.
• Acute reflux or esophagitis: Dose of 150 mg twice a day or 300 mg at night for a period of 8 to 12 weeks if necessary.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: Initial dose of a 150 mg tablet three times a day, which can be increased if required.
• Prevention of Mendelson syndrome: One 150 mg tablet 2 hours before general anesthesia and another 150 mg dose the evening before. In labor patients one 150 mg tablet every 6 hours.
• In children the dose will depend on body weight and a dose of 2 to 4 mg / kg twice a day is recommended up to a maximum of 300mg per day.

Zantac side effects

Like most medications, these can cause some very common symptoms or adverse reactions to the body, among which we can mention:

• Headaches.
• Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
• Constipation or diarrhea

Uncommon side effects

• Blurred vision problems
• You may have mood or mental changes that cause agitation, depression, hallucinations, and confusion.
• Bruising and bleeding.
• Cardiac arrhythmias.
• Tiredness, weakness, and severe dizziness.
• Appearance of signs of infection due to sore throat, cough, fever and chills.
•  Severe stomach and abdominal pain.
• It can cause kidney problems and changes in liver function presenting symptoms of eyes and yellow skin with discharge of dark urine due to increased bilirubin in the body.
• It can generate hypersensitivity by producing severe allergic reactions generating skin rashes, itching and inflammation especially on the face, tongue and throat causing difficulty breathing and chest pain.

Zantac contraindications

All medication contains certain contraindications for its use, so it is recommended that its administration be under the supervision of a trusted doctor who recommends the doses and the best way of administration according to each organism.

• Allergy to any of the compounds that are part of the medicine.
• Complications in patients suffering from stubbornness, which is related to certain blood disorders.
• It should not be mixed with other medications as this can affect their effectiveness, with which the dose must be adjusted and in some cases treatment interrupted. In the case of ketoconazole, it should be consumed 2 hours before and 2 hours after.
• Gastric carcinoma, generated by consumption in patients with gastric ulcers.
• Increase in drug levels in the patient’s blood plasma, generated by the consumption of the drug by individuals with kidney disease.
• Evolution of the risk of pneumonia in elderly patients, suffering from a chronic lung disease, diabetes or patients with a weakened immune system.
• In case of being in the period of management or lactation, the drug should not be administered, since ranitidine crosses the placenta and is excreted in milk and should only be used unless requested by the doctor.
• Do not use this medicine to treat symptoms of poor digestion or other minor symptoms such as heartburn.
• Children under 12 years old should not take the medicine unless the doctor tells them to.
• Do not ingest before carrying out any type of medical examination, as it may alter the real values.

If the doctor has decided to prescribe this drug, it is because he has evaluated that the benefits that they have to provide are above the risks that some individuals may suffer, therefore, if some of the aforementioned side effects were to occur or any other symptom out of the expected, it is advisable to reduce the dose and immediately attend the doctor in charge of the case.