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The Global Insight

What is the active ingredient in Ranitidine

Author

Emma Valentine

Updated on April 02, 2026

The active ingredient in ZANTAC 150 Tablets, ZANTAC 300 Tablets, ZANTAC 25 EFFERdose Tablets, and ZANTAC Syrup is ranitidine hydrochloride (HCl), USP, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist.

What contains ranitidine?

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  • Duodenal Ulcer.
  • Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis.
  • Eczema.
  • Erosive Esophagitis.
  • Gastric Ulcer Maintenance Treatment.
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage.
  • GERD.

What is an alternative drug to ranitidine?

There are three PPIs that the FDA lists as alternatives to ranitidine and nizatidine: Esomeprazole (brand name Nexium) Lansoprazole (brand name Prevacid) Omeprazole (brand name Prilosec)

Why is ranitidine banned?

The Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) temporary imposed a ban on import, production and sale of Ranitidine in Bangladesh. DGDA took the decision suspecting that Ranitidine, the acid reflux drug, contains a cancer-causing impurity, an official of the drug administration said.

What ingredient in ranitidine causes cancer?

They found that healthy men and women who took a normal dose of the heartburn medicine ranitidine, often known by the brand name Zantac, had extremely high levels of a chemical known as NDMA, a probable cancer-causing substance.

What can I take instead of ranitidine UK?

For alternatives it recommended omeprazole as the first choice proton pump inhibitor “where clinically appropriate, as there are currently sufficient supplies to manage an increase in demand.” Other proton pump inhibitors, such as lansoprazole and pantoprazole, are other possible alternatives.

Is famotidine safer than ranitidine?

Famotidine and ranitidine are both in the same class of medications, H2 blockers, and work equally well to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and other stomach conditions. Famotidine does not have the same cancer risk as ranitidine, making the new Zantac 360 a safer option.

Can you still get ranitidine?

Since ranitidine is no longer on the market, consumers may be searching for alternatives. In addition to FDA-recommended Zantac alternatives, consumers may be able to make diet and lifestyle changes to manage heartburn.

Are Zantac and ranitidine the same?

Ranitidine (also known by its brand name, Zantac, which is sold by the drug company Sanofi) is available both over the counter (OTC) and by prescription. It belongs to the class of drugs known as H2 (or histamine-2) blockers. OTC ranitidine is commonly used to relieve and prevent heartburn.

Is Zantac safe now?

As far as we know, yes, the “new” Zantac (called Zantac 360) is safe. The new version of Zantac contains the active ingredient famotidine, which is marketed as a safe alternative to ranitidine, which was included in now-recalled original Zantac medications.

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Is Prevacid an over-the-counter drug?

Prevacid is available by prescription or over-the-counter (OTC). Prevacid 24HR is the non-prescription version. Studies have found that Prevacid 24HR often works as well as prescription Prevacid. Prevacid 24HR is only available in a 15 mg dose.

Which is safer ranitidine or omeprazole?

Conclusions: Maintenance treatment with omeprazole (20 or 10 mg once daily) is superior to ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) in keeping patients with erosive reflux esophagitis in remission over a 12-month period.

Why was famotidine taken off the market?

Famotidine in Shortage Due to Heartburn Medication Recalls and COVID-19 Research.

Is Pepcid the same as Zantac?

It has been available over-the-counter in 10 mg and 20 mg strengths since 1996 and 2007, respectively. PEPCID® AND ZANTAC® are approved for the same use. However, PEPCID® contains Famotidine. Unlike Zantac® and other OTC products that contain Ranitidine.

Does Zantac still contain NDMA?

Ranitidine 150 mg, sold as Zantac Cool Mint, was found to increase from 19 ng NDMA at baseline to 70 ng NDMA when stored at 70 °C for 14 days, just below of the FDA’s maximum acceptable level.

What's the difference between ranitidine and famotidine?

Famotidine, an H2-receptor antagonist with a thiazole nucleus, is approximately 7.5 times more potent than ranitidine and 20 times more potent than cimetidine on an equimolar basis.

What is the safest antacid to take long term?

Oral pantoprazole is a safe, well tolerated and effective initial and maintenance treatment for patients with nonerosive GERD or erosive esophagitis.

Is famotidine being recalled?

DATE OF RECALL: March 10, 2021 DRUG NAME: Famotidine 40mg Tablets RECALLING FIRM: Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. REASON FOR RECALL: This recall was issued due to the presence of foreign tablets. Famotidine 20mg and ibuprofen 400mg tablets were found in a lot of famotidine 40mg.

What is the safest medication for acid reflux?

You may only have heartburn every now and then—such as after a big, spicy meal. This may be uncomfortable, but it is not serious. You can usually get relief from an antacid, like Rolaids or Tums, or an H2 blocker, such as Pepcid AC or Zantac.

Is atenolol and Noten the same?

The active ingredient in Noten is atenolol. Each Noten tablet contains 50 mg of atenolol.

Is omeprazole the same as Zantac?

The drugs are in different drug classes. Zantac is a H2 (histamine-2) and Prilosec (omeprazole) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Both Zantac and Prilosec are available over-the-counter (OTC) and in generic form.

Can you take omeprazole and ranitidine together?

Combination therapy with ranitidine and omeprazole has been shown to be helpful in select patients with difficult-to-treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Why was Pepcid recalled?

anufacturers and big pharmacies are recalling Zantac after the FDA announced it was investigating low-levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the popular heartburn drug There are other drugs that work similarly to Zantac and are safe alternatives, including Pepcid and Tagamet Experts say that if you’ve been pepcid ac …

Is there a generic for ranitidine?

There are both generic and brand versions of OTC ranitidine. Prescription ranitidine is approved to treat stomach or intestinal ulcers and to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. Prescription ranitidine is only available as a generic.

Does omeprazole contain NDMA?

The FDA Wednesday said that preliminary tests of alternatives including Pepcid (famotidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole) found no N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), the suspected cancer-causing agent found in OTC ranitidine drugs including the popular …

Is ranitidine still available 2021?

Ranitidine is not currently available in the UK or globally. It has been discontinued as a precaution because it may contain a small amount of an impurity that has been linked to an increased risk of cancer in animals.

Who is the maker of Zantac?

Sanofi, the maker of Zantac, and other companies that manufactured ranitidine products, such as Glenmark and GlaxoSmithKline, had removed some lots from the shelves when the issue was first reported in the fall of 2019.

Does ranitidine come back?

Zantac will only be back on the market if the manufacturer can show, using scientific testing data, that it is safe and stable. The manufacturer must also conclusively prove that NDMA levels in the ranitidine that is used in Zantac do not increase to unsafe levels at different temperatures or for any other reasons.

Why was Zyrtec taken off the market?

According to the June 26, 2019, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforcement Report, P & L Developments initiated the recall after learning of a recall issued by its supplier over potential Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) and Ralstonia pickettii (R. pickettii) contamination.

Does famotidine contain NDMA?

FDA’s testing of samples of alternatives such as Pepcid (famotidine), Tagamet (cimetidine), Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and Prilosec (omeprazole) show no NDMA in these medicines.

Is Tagamet still on the market?

Tagamet® is available over-the-counter at drug, grocery, and mass retailers nationwide.