Instructions
Pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas, in which the flow of enzymes into the duodenum is disrupted. Treatment of this pathology necessarily includes the use of Ranitidine tablets. The purpose of the drug is to reduce the production of gastric juice, as a result of which the load on the inflamed pancreas is eased. Ranitidine for pancreatitis is a frequently used medicine in its pharmacological group.
Indications for use
Ranitidine belongs to the group of H2-blockers of histamine receptors. Excitation of these receptors provokes stimulation of the digestive endocrine glands, including the pancreas. The drug blocks histamine receptors, reduces the secretion of hydrochloric acid, thereby creating favorable conditions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the stomach, intestines and pancreas. Ranitidine is used for the following diseases:
- exacerbation of peptic ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract,
- ulcers and erosions of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
- gastroesophageal reflux disease,
- prevention of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract,
- as a preventive measure during operations under anesthesia - to prevent the reflux of gastric juice into the respiratory tract,
- in complex therapy of pancreatitis.
Features of admission and cancellation
If Ranitidine is taken for a long time, then if it is abruptly discontinued, “rebound” syndrome is possible.
Ranitidine for pancreatitis is taken daily, so with long-term treatment, the medicinal components accumulate in the body. The dose of Ranitidine after the course of treatment is reduced gradually.
Hydrochloric acid begins to be produced in greater quantities than before treatment with the drug. Therefore, before prescribing a medicine, the doctor gives detailed instructions on how to take and stop taking it. In acute pancreatitis, treatment is carried out according to the following scheme:
- First day: the drug is prescribed intramuscularly. The dosage is 50 mg. Injections are made 3 times a day, adding saline solution (sodium chloride) to 2 ml of the medicine to a volume of 10 ml.
- Second day: take a 150 mg tablet of Ranitidine every 12 hours.
Treatment variations are possible:
- Infusion of the solution through a dropper - 1 ampoule of Ranitidine is diluted with saline to 200 ml and administered over 2 hours.
- Take 300 mg of Ranitidine tablets at night - 1 time per day.
The maximum permissible daily dose of Ranitidine is 600 mg. If it is exceeded, the patient's condition quickly worsens: dizziness, confusion, nausea, tremors of the limbs appear - up to loss of consciousness. After complete dissolution, part of the drug leaves the body through the excretory system.
Directions for use and doses
Ranitidine is taken orally, regardless of food intake. The drug must be washed down with any liquid. Do not chew the tablet.
Ranitidine is an integral part of treatment for chronic pancreatitis, as well as during exacerbation of the disease. The medicine is prescribed in a dosage of 150 mg, morning and evening. At the discretion of the doctor, the regimen can be changed.
Patients with chronic pancreatitis often suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease. Its exacerbations are treated by taking 150 mg of Ranitidine 2 times a day or 300 mg at bedtime. The maximum you can take is 150 mg 4 times a day. Ranitidine can be used prophylactically for a long time, 150 mg in the morning and evening, exclusively under medical supervision.
Ranitidine is also prescribed for the treatment of peptic ulcers of any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Take 1 tablet with a dosage of 150 mg in the morning and evening. If this treatment regimen is inconvenient for the patient, a daily dose may be taken before bedtime. To prevent the occurrence of ulcers and erosions, the drug is used only at night. If necessary, the doctor may increase the number of tablets taken.
Patients with ulcers and erosions may experience bleeding that is life-threatening. Prevention of bleeding is carried out by taking Ranitidine - 150 mg 2 times a day.
Before surgical treatment involving the use of general anesthesia, Ranitidine is prescribed at a dosage of 150 mg. You must take 1 tablet in the evening and 2 hours before surgery.
We must remember that self-medication with Ranitidine is unacceptable. It is necessary to seek advice from a therapist or gastroenterologist to select the optimal treatment regimen.
Action and effectiveness of Ranitidine for pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can occur in acute and chronic forms. The main reason for the appearance and development of the disease is poor nutrition (lack of routine and unbalanced diet).
Note! The main “identifying” sign of pancreatitis is periodically occurring pain in the right hypochondrium (can be aching, pulling or spastic in nature).
One of the factors that causes exacerbation of the disease is excess hydrochloric acid (aggravates the inflammatory process in the pancreas). To prevent this phenomenon, gastroenterologists recommend that patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis take Ranitidine.
Ranitidine is an antisecretory drug that inhibits the production of gastric juice
Ranitidine is a “representative” of the group of antisecretory drugs, the main task of which is to inhibit the production of gastric juice. The drug is indicated for the prevention of disruption of the upper gastrointestinal tract during the postoperative rehabilitation period.
Important! Ranitidine is a drug that acts for 12 hours and is also distinguished by its “ability” to accumulate in the human body (only 40% of the dose taken is excreted within 24 hours).
The widespread use of Ranitidine for the treatment of acid-dependent diseases of the gastrointestinal tract dates back to the 80s of the last century, but nevertheless, today many specialists prescribe this medicine to their patients to relieve the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis during periods of exacerbation.
What is acute pancreatitis - video
Side effects
Like any drug, ranitidine has side effects:
- Gastrointestinal disorders manifest themselves in the form of constipation or diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
- On the part of the hematopoietic organs, a decrease in the number of leukocytes and platelets, a decrease in hemoglobin levels, and suppression of bone marrow function may be observed.
- From the cardiovascular system, a decrease in heart rate and rhythm disturbances may be observed. Possible decrease in pressure.
- Nervous system disorders include weakness, headaches, increased anxiety and irritability, and emotional instability.
- In rare cases, patients complain of muscle and joint pain.
- An allergic reaction is possible to the active substance or auxiliary components. Manifests itself in the form of skin rash, anaphylactic shock or spasm of bronchial smooth muscles.
Side effects and contraindications
Possible side effects when taking Ranitidine:
- dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, headaches;
- tachycardia;
- pain in muscles and joints;
- individual intolerance to the active substance, manifested in the form of skin rashes and Quincke's edema;
- pain in the right hypochondrium caused by liver failure;
- increased hair loss;
- gynecomastia (men experience painful swelling of the mammary glands), possibly impaired potency;
- delay of menstruation and loss of libido in women;
- pain in the suprapubic region.
This medicine is prohibited:
- children under 12 years of age;
- women during pregnancy and lactation.
If the pain intensifies, you should stop taking Ranitidine and drink papaverine or no-shpa before the ambulance arrives.
Precautionary measures
The use of this drug may be associated with a number of side effects:
- dizziness, migraines, confusion;
- various digestive disorders (from nausea and vomiting to diarrhea, constipation);
- heart rhythm failure;
- joint and muscle pain;
- various forms of allergic reactions - from skin rashes (dermatitis) to Quincke's edema;
- liver failure;
- alopecia (baldness);
- hallucinations;
- increased fatigue;
- decreased platelet count and increased creatinine in the blood.
You can take Ranitidine only after consulting a doctor, as the medication has a number of contraindications
Long-term use of Ranitidine can lead to such undesirable consequences as:
- gynecomastia (an abnormal phenomenon in which the mammary glands in men increase in size);
- disruption of the menstrual cycle in women;
- decreased sexual desire.
In addition, clinical cases of the development of hepatitis (liver inflammation), a decrease in the level of leukocytes in the blood, and an increase in the synthesis of prolactin (a hormone produced by the pituitary gland) have been recorded.
Before starting treatment of pancreatitis with these tablets (injections), it is necessary to exclude the presence of malignant neoplasms in the digestive tract.
Drug for pancreatitis
Despite the emergence of more modern drugs in the pharmaceutical field, many doctors continue to use ranitidine to treat exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis.
The release form of ranitidine for injection is ampoules of 50 mg-2 ml. On the first day of hospitalization of the patient in the hospital, the drug is administered intravenously 3 times a day, 50 mg. The contents of the ampoule are diluted with an isotonic solution to 10 ml and slowly (2 minutes, no less) injected into a vein.
Drop administration of ranitidine in the form of an infusion lasting two hours is allowed. One ampoule is diluted with isotonic sodium chloride solution in an amount of 200 ml. In some cases, intramuscular injections of 50 mg are prescribed every 6-8 hours.
Thus, in the first hours of exacerbation of chronic inflammation of the pancreas, gastric secretion decreases and the load on the gland decreases. This is especially important, since on the first day of an exacerbation the patient usually does not eat anything.
A small amount of gastric secretion leads to a minimization of the activity of subsequent stages of the digestive chain. The secretion of pancreatic juice also decreases, and this is very beneficial in the acute stage.
Already on the second day of hospital stay, the patient is transferred to ranitidine tablets. The following schemes are usually used:
- morning and evening, or rather after 12 hours - 150 mg;
- at the discretion of the doctor, the drug can be prescribed 3 times a day, 150 mg;
- once a day at night – 300 mg (the peak of gastric secretion occurs at night);
The maximum daily dose of ranitidine should not exceed 600 mg. Due to the rebound syndrome mentioned above, ranitidine requires permanent withdrawal. Otherwise, the patient's condition may worsen.
After relieving an exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, doctors sometimes use a combination of ranitidine and enzyme preparations for the pancreas. This scheme is relevant for pancreatic insufficiency. According to medical research, the action of these enzymes when gastric secretion is suppressed is considered most effective.
Many patients with chronic pancreatitis develop a complication such as reflux esophagitis. In this situation, long-term treatment with ranitidine (6-8 weeks) is prescribed, the standard regimen is used - 150 mg in the morning and evening.
- Ranitidine is taken regardless of food.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a small amount of water.
- The effervescent tablet is thrown into water and the liquid is drunk only after the drug has completely dissolved.
If the patient is prescribed antacids such as Maalox or Almagel, then there should be at least a two-hour interval between them and ranitidine.
