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Zantac (ranitidine) is used to treat and prevent the recurrence of ulcers and to treat other conditions where the stomach makes too much acid. Zantac is also used to treat or prevent occasional heartburn, acid indigestion, or sour stomach. It decreases the amount of acid made in the stomach. Ranitidine tablets are available under several brand names. They are available with and without a prescription, depending on strength.

Follow your physicain's directions and the directions on the product leaflet exactly. Zantac and other ranitidine tablets are available in a range of dosages, and the usage schedule is very different from tablet to tablet. It may take several days before Zantac begins to relieve stomach pain. To help relieve this pain, you may also use antacids, unless your physicain has told you not to use them. However, you should wait one-half to one hour between taking the antacid and the Zantac tablet. Take this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better. Also, it is important that you keep your appointments with your physicain for check-ups so that your physicain will be better able to tell you when to stop taking this medicine.

Store away from heat and direct light, and keep out of the reach of children. Store away from heat and direct light. Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

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When you are taking or receiving H 2-blockers like Zantac, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following: Aminophylline (e.g., Somophyllin) or Anticoagulants (blood thinners) or Caffeine (e.g., NoDoz) or Metoprolol (e.g., Lopressor) or Oxtriphylline (e.g., Choledyl) or Phenytoin (e.g., Dilantin) or Propranolol (e.g., Inderal) or Theophylline (e.g., Somophyllin-T) or Tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil], amoxapine [e.g., Asendin], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], desipramine [e.g., Pertofrane], doxepin [e.g., Sinequan], imipramine [e.g., Tofranil], nortriptyline [e.g., Aventyl], protriptyline [e.g., Vivactil], trimipramine [e.g., Surmontil]). Use of these medicines with cimetidine has been shown to increase the effects of cimetidine. This is less of a problem with ranitidine and has not been reported for famotidine or nizatidine. However, all of the H 2-blockers are similar, so drug interactions may occur with any of them. Itraconazole (e.g., Sporanox) or Ketoconazole (e.g., Nizoral)H 2-blockers may decrease the effects of itraconazole or ketoconazole; H 2-blockers should be taken at least 2 hours after these medicines.

Tell your physicain if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, or ranitidine. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of H 2-blockers. Make sure you tell your physicain if you have any other medical problems, especially: - Kidney disease or liver disease. The H 2-blocker may build up in the bloodstream, which may increase the risk of side effects. - Phenylketonuria (PKU). Some H 2-blockers contain aspartame. Aspartame is converted to phenylalanine in the body and must be used with caution in patients with PKU. The Pepcid AC brand of famotidine chewable tablets contains 1.4 mg of phenylalanine per 10-mg dose. The Pepcid RPD brand of famotidine oral dispersible tablets contains 1.05 mg of phenylalanine per 20-mg dose. The Zantac brand of ranitidine EFFERdose tablets and EFFERdose granules contain 16.84 mg of phenylalanine per 150-mg dose. - Weakened immune system (difficulty fighting infection) - Decrease in stomach acid caused by H 2-blockers may increase the possibility of a certain type of infection. The safety of this medicine for pregnant women hasn't been established. If you are pregnant, consult a physicain. The active ingredients in this medicine pass into breast-milk and may cause unwanted effects in the nursing baby. Consult a physicain if you are breast-feeding. The medicine does not cause any special side effects in children. In the elderly it should be used with caution, because they are more sensitive to its effect.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a research-based pharmaceutical company with headquarters in the UK and the US and around 100,000 employees worldwide. GlaxoSmithKline was formed in 2000 through the merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham, pharmaceuticals companies with histories of over 150 years.