Generic Zantac

Zantac is a brand name for the generic drug ranitidine. It is used to treat and prevent heartburn, to heal erosive esophagitis and then to maintain the healed condition, to treat GERD—gastroesophageal refleux disease, for the short-term treatment and maintenance of duodenal ulcers, for the treatment of hypersensitivity conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and for the short-term treatment and maintenance of gastric ulcers. It is administered in tablets, in EFFERdose Tablets, which must be dissolved in water and drunk, and in a suspension liquid.

Some common side effects that occur with Zantac use include headache, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, rash, and an increased risk of pneumonia. Other negative effects are very rare, but can include hair loss, vasculitis, impotence, loss of sex drive, gynecomastia, changes in blood count, anemia, aching or weakness of the muscles, liver failure, jaundice, pancreatitis, irregular heart rate, malaise, dizziness, sleepiness or insomnia, confusion, agitation, depression, hallucinations, blurred vision, and motor skill difficulties. You may also experience an allergic reaction, which may include difficulty breathing, hives or rash, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.

Some people should be very careful when taking Zantac. It is important to remember that even if your symptoms respond to Zantac, that does not preclude the possibility that you may have a tumor or other serious condition that is causing your discomfort in the first place. Your doctor should be sure to test you thoroughly for a serious underlying condition when prescribing Zantac for the first time. In addition, if you have a kidney disorder or impaired kidney function, your doctor should adjust your dosage to allow for the differences in processing this medication. In rare cases, it has been reported that taking Zantac may provoke an attack of porphyria in people who already suffer from this condition. If you have porphyria, you should not take Zantac.

Zantac is in Pregnancy Category B, which means that it has been tested and not found to have any negative effects on developing fetuses or complicating effects on pregnancies. However, it should be noted that even though these tests were done at high dosages, they were not performed on human subjects, and the results of animal tests do not always translate to humans. Therefore, this drug should only be used during pregnancy if there is a clear need for it. It is also known that Zantac is excreted in breast milk, so if you are nursing a child, you should consult your doctor before taking Zantac. Zantac is safe for pediatric use; studies have shown that it can be used with children as young as one month old up to sixteen years old for the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers. It can also be used in children to treat GERD and erosive esophagitis, and to maintain a state of healing after these illnesses have been treated. It is not known if Zantac is safe to give to newborns under one month old.