What Ranitidine Injection ?
anitidine injection is a medication used to treat various gastrointestinal conditions. The active ingredient in ranitidine is also known as Zantac, which is its brand name. Ranitidine belongs to a class of drugs called H2 (histamine-2) blockers.
Ranitidine Injection Uses
- Peptic Ulcers: Ranitidine injection is used to treat both gastric and duodenal ulcers. These are open sores that develop on the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcers) or the upper part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcers). Ranitidine helps to heal these ulcers by decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): This is a condition where stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation. Ranitidine is used to alleviate these symptoms and promote healing of the esophagus.
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: This is a rare condition characterized by the overproduction of stomach acid, leading to ulcers in the digestive tract. Ranitidine is used to control excessive acid production in this syndrome.
Ranitidine Injection – Mechanism of Action and Pharmacology
- Histamine Receptors: In the stomach lining, there are specific histamine-2 receptors. When histamine (a naturally occurring chemical in the body) binds to these receptors, it triggers a series of events that lead to the production of stomach acid.
- Competitive Antagonism: Ranitidine is structurally similar to histamine. When it is introduced into the body, it competes with histamine for binding to the histamine-2 receptors. By doing so, ranitidine blocks the action of histamine on these receptors.
- Reduction in Acid Production: When ranitidine binds to the histamine-2 receptors, it prevents or reduces the stimulation of acid secretion by the stomach lining. This leads to a decrease in the amount of acid produced by the stomach.
Ranitidine Injection – Side Effect
- Headache: Some people may experience mild to moderate headaches.
- Dizziness or Lightheadedness: This can occur, especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
- Nausea or Vomiting: These gastrointestinal symptoms are possible but not very common.
