What is ranitidine used for?

Answer 1

Ranitidine, the generic name for Zantac, is a H2 histamine blocker used for the prevention and treatment of GastroEsophageal Reflux disease (GERD) or Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD). It is commonly used as first line treatment for this complaint and may be used with other anti-GERD medications, including proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole.

H2 blockers are sometimes also used in the adjuvant treatment of severe allergic reactions, in addition to diphenhydramine, epinephrine, and corticosteroids.

Ranitidine belongs to a class of medications, the H2 blockers. Other medications in this class include famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and cimetidine (Tagamet).

Answer 2

It is a drug used to prevent acid indigestion (and/or stomach ulcers). It inhibits the production of stomach acid. (Sometimes it is used prophylactically; if you have just been prescribed a drug that commonly will cause stomach ulcers (as a side-effect), you may be prescribed ranitidine as well, to prevent stomach ulcers occurring)