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Ranitidine

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

Ranitidine works by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. It is used to treat various conditions of the gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) tract including:

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (a condition where the acid from the stomach goes back up the food tube and throat, causing pain and a burning sensation known as heartburn)
Ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract (treatment and prevention)

How should I take/use this medication?

Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
You may take this medication with or without food.

What should I do if I forget to take/use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication.
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.

What are some side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

Consult your healthcare professional if you develop any blood in your stool (including blackened stool) or vomiting, severe stomach pain, confusion, unexplained fever or feeling faint, especially when standing up.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Very rarely, it might affect your liver function. If you experience symptoms like dark urine or light coloured stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellowing of your eyes or skin, please contact your healthcare professional immediately.

What are some other side-effects of this medication?

Side effects of ranitidine include gastrointestinal side effects (e.g. abdominal pain, constipation, nausea), headaches and rarely blurred vision.

If symptoms do not go away or cause significant discomfort, please check with your healthcare professional.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medication, supplements, traditional medications or herbal remedies.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How should I throw away this medication safely?

For general waste: Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimers

Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on September 2022

This article was last reviewed on Saturday, March 23, 2024