How Is It Used?
Take ranitidine tablets or capsules by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets or capsules with a drink of water. If you only take ranitidine once a day, take it at bedtime. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What should my health care professional know before I take ranitidine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• Frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Other chronic illness
• Porphyria
• An unusual or allergic reaction to ranitidine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• Breast-feeding

Are There Possible Side Effects?
Side effects with ranitidine are infrequent but include:

• Agitation, nervousness, hallucinations
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Dark yellow or brown urine
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting
• Redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• Skin rash, itching
• Sore throat, fever
• Stomach pain
• Unusual weakness or tiredness
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes

What About Interactions With Other Drugs?

• Alcohol containing beverages
• Alendronate
• Antacids
• Cefditoren
• Cefpodoxime
• Cefuroxime
• Delavirdine
• Enoxacin
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Iron supplements
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Metformin
• Nifedipine
• Propantheline
• Theophylline
• Triazolam
• Warfarin

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking ranitidine?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your condition does not improve or gets worse. You may need to take this medicine for several days as prescribed before your symptoms improve. Finish the full course of tablets prescribed, even if you feel better.

Do not self-medicate with aspirin, ibuprofen or other antiinflammatory medicines; these can aggravate your condition.

Do not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol; these increase irritation in your stomach and can lengthen the time it will take for ulcers to heal. Cigarettes and alcohol can also worsen acid reflux or heartburn.

If you need to take an antacid you should take it at least 1 hour before or 1 hour after ranitidine. Ranitidine will not be as effective if taken at the same time as an antacid.

If you get black, tarry stools or vomit up what looks like coffee grounds, call your prescriber or health care professional at once. You may have a bleeding ulcer.

What If I Miss A Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

How Should It Be Stored?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 2 and 25 degrees C (36 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light and moisture. Keep container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

NOTE: The above information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indicate that the use of the product is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before taking the product.