Does anyone take ranitidine?

[TheAngryDog]

Does anyone here take ranitidine for heart burn?

I've just been reading that it is being recalled in the USA because it has NDMA in it and has been linked to cancer (like a lot of things).

Does this cause any concern? I'm considering contacting my GP to seek their advice tomorrow, but I am also currently considering stopping taking it.

[Turn7]

Zantac inst it ? I tried it a few times, but found it less effective than Gaviscon tbh...

[TheAngryDog]

Turn7 said:

Zantac inst it ? I tried it a few times, but found it less effective than Gaviscon tbh...

Zantac is one name for it I believe. I take 300mg nightly.

[RobM77]

Yes, I used to suffer from awful acid reflux, and took Ranitidine for it, but only when I had it, not as a regular thing. My wife, a GP, recommended it because anecdotally she's found it generally more effective in most people.

[Glosphil]

I have been taking Ranitidine for 6 months or so to combat reflux. It doesn't completely stop it but seems to reduce it. Perhaps I will stop taking the medication for a week and see if the reflux worsens or not.

[Vantagemech..]

TheAngryDog said:

Zantac is one name for it I believe. I take 300mg nightly.

Arent you only supposed to take a low dosage over a period of time but not constantly?

I take Zantac ( Tescos version is 1/2 the price!) but my doc prescribed me omeprazole. Initially gave me a high dose then halved it which stopped its effectiveness. Still trying to figure out what the hell it is that gives me reflux. Seems anything I bloody eat tries to come up, worst of all at night. Sorry, didnt mean to hikack the thread!

[RobM77]

Vantagemech.. said:

TheAngryDog said:

Zantac is one name for it I believe. I take 300mg nightly.

Arent you only supposed to take a low dosage over a period of time but not constantly?

I take Zantac ( Tescos version is 1/2 the price!) but my doc prescribed me omeprazole. Initially gave me a high dose then halved it which stopped its effectiveness. Still trying to figure out what the hell it is that gives me reflux. Seems anything I bloody eat tries to come up, worst of all at night. Sorry, didnt mean to hikack the thread!

I went through a period of about 1-2 years when I got awful acid reflux regularly, then it suddenly just disappeared as quickly as it arrived. No change in diet, exercise, weight etc, it just went. Weird. I didn't find the tablets were a huge help. I tried Omeprazole and Ranitadine, but ended up taking Ranitidine just to save the NHS and me some money, because the Tesco version was really cheap and as I said above, I'm told it's slightly more effective in many people.

[Peanut Gallery]

I take Sainsburys 75mg Ranitidine on a case by case basis - I used to get heartburn really bad, apples were a main cause of it - and made me crave a nice, crispy, sweet apple!

I was prescribed Omeprazole but stopped as it made me want to fight anything that moved.

(When my stash runs out I may move on to Tesco)

Now I take about 1 a month, but for a while it was daily.

Far more effective than gaviscon or the likes.

I feel I do not take enough to put myself at risk, sorry!

[C0ffin D0dger]

I have occasionally in the past as it was available over the counter, in fact even in most supermarkets. I'd only take it if I was having a particularly bad spell of heartburn usually triggered by eating bad food.

Since being put on steroids for another condition I now take Omprezole to protect my stomach from the steroids which is great as I no longer get any indigestion issues.

[Hoofy]

Many foods can make it worse - chilli, chocolate, coffee, other food not starting with the letter 'C'.
https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/triggers#1
I notice chocolate makes me quite "phlegmy".

Stress and anxiety also can affect things. If this is the case, you can take action that doesn't involve medicine.

If ranitidine works, it's usually a case of your stomach producing too much acid, so look at the cause.

Some people do have a loose sphincter muscle which doesn't help matters - it can be genetic.

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 30th September 10:19

[shirt]

Used to, but switching to a low carb diet has alleviated 99% of acid reflux issues.

Wouldn’t be too concerned about the cancer thing. I fitted new clutch and detent springs to a gt86 the other day and the bags the springs came in had a cancer/reproductive health warning. ‘Murica

[Vantagemech..]

shirt said:

Used to, but switching to a low carb diet has alleviated 99% of acid reflux issues.

Wouldn’t be too concerned about the cancer thing. I fitted new clutch and detent springs to a gt86 the other day and the bags the springs came in had a cancer/reproductive health warning. ‘Murica

Bread seems to be a favourite to upset my stomach and I had a bad reaction to some pastry last week - perhaps reducing carbs might help. I had several nights where Ive had to sit up quickly when the problem occurs. My doctor seems very unconcerned to this and other things Ive been to see him with. Seems like prescribe a drug rather than figure out what the issue is.

[kurt535]

TheAngryDog said:

Does anyone here take ranitidine for heart burn?

I've just been reading that it is being recalled in the USA because it has NDMA in it and has been linked to cancer (like a lot of things).

Does this cause any concern? I'm considering contacting my GP to seek their advice tomorrow, but I am also currently considering stopping taking it.

Talk to them about transferring over to lanroprazole maybe?

[Hoofy]

kurt535 said:

TheAngryDog said:

Does anyone here take ranitidine for heart burn?

I've just been reading that it is being recalled in the USA because it has NDMA in it and has been linked to cancer (like a lot of things).

Does this cause any concern? I'm considering contacting my GP to seek their advice tomorrow, but I am also currently considering stopping taking it.

Talk to them about transferring over to lanroprazole maybe?

Might be worthwhile researching the side effects of the other PPIs - one of them can give you heart issues. Ranitidine was supposed to be the safe one.

[shirt]

Vantagemech.. said:

shirt said:

Used to, but switching to a low carb diet has alleviated 99% of acid reflux issues.

Wouldn’t be too concerned about the cancer thing. I fitted new clutch and detent springs to a gt86 the other day and the bags the springs came in had a cancer/reproductive health warning. ‘Murica

Bread seems to be a favourite to upset my stomach and I had a bad reaction to some pastry last week - perhaps reducing carbs might help. I had several nights where Ive had to sit up quickly when the problem occurs. My doctor seems very unconcerned to this and other things Ive been to see him with. Seems like prescribe a drug rather than figure out what the issue is.

You probably know this, but sleeping on your left side rather than your right should alleviate things at night.

I went low carb for weight loss but found it largely eradicated my acid reflux problem and had other benefits besides. Would recommend .

[Scabutz]

When I'm overweight and or drinking too much I get bad heartburn. Gaviscon gives instant relief but I also use ranitidine as it gives me longer relief.

Had no idea about the cancer warning. But then almost everything might give you cancer these days.

[RTB]

The FDA hasn't recommended people stop taking ranitidine.

Nitrosodimethylamineis found in lots of things we ingest every day. I've had a look and can't find the actual levels found in ranitidine other than to say it is at a "low level". From what I understand the acceptable levels of nitrosodimethylamine is calculated as the amount ingested daily for 70 years. It looks as though the levels might be slightly over this acceptable level, therefore if you take ranitidine every day for decades, it may slightly increase your chance of getting cancer. You could probably negate that by avoiding cured meats and cutting down on your dairy intake.

If you're taking it on an as-and-when basis then I'm not sure I'd be too worried. I take the odd one due to having a hiatus hernia which sometimes causes me problems if I have a massive meal.

[Hoofy]

RTB said:

The FDA hasn't recommended people stop taking ranitidine.

Nitrosodimethylamineis found in lots of things we ingest every day. I've had a look and can't find the actual levels found in ranitidine other than to say it is at a "low level". From what I understand the acceptable levels of nitrosodimethylamine is calculated as the amount ingested daily for 70 years. It looks as though the levels might be slightly over this acceptable level, therefore if you take ranitidine every day for decades, it may slightly increase your chance of getting cancer. You could probably negate that by avoiding cured meats and cutting down on your dairy intake.

If you're taking it on an as-and-when basis then I'm not sure I'd be too worried. I take the odd one due to having a hiatus hernia which sometimes causes me problems if I have a massive meal.

I tend to agree, largely, because I use it about once a week.

[Vantagemech..]

shirt said:

You probably know this, but sleeping on your left side rather than your right should alleviate things at night.

I went low carb for weight loss but found it largely eradicated my acid reflux problem and had other benefits besides. Would recommend .

No I didnt, thanks I will see if it works. Ive massively reduced my dairy intake so will see if that makes any difference.

[TheAngryDog]

Just to add closure - I checked with the pharmacist who said that the Ranitidine that I take is not affected.