Ranitidine hydrochloride (
Zantac®) is a medication that is available as both a prescription medication and an over-the-counter medication. It is used to treat several conditions related to the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Ranitidine is part of a class of drugs known as
H2 blockers.
Prescription Zantac is made by GlaxoSmithKline, while over-the-counter Zantac is made by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.
Generic ranitidine (both prescription and over-the-counter) is made by several manufacturers.
Uses of prescription ranitidine include the treatment of:
- Duodenal ulcers (ulcers in the very first part of the intestine after the stomach) -- ranitidine can be used to treat a duodenal ulcer and also to prevent ulcers from coming back
- Gastric ulcers (stomach ulcers) -- ranitidine helps to heal a stomach ulcer and to keep ulcers from returning
-
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (
GERD)
- Erosive esophagitis (damage to the esophagus, usually due to stomach acid) -- ranitidine can be used to heal erosive esophagitis and to prevent it from returning
- Pathological hypersecretory conditions (in which too much stomach acid is produced), such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or systemic mastocytosis.
Over-the-counter ranitidine is approved for the following conditions:
Over-the-counter ranitidine can be used to treat these problems once they have started. Also, it can be used to prevent these problems if taken before eating or drinking foods or beverages that may cause them.