RANITIDINE: 418,307 Adverse Event Reports & Safety Profile

DESCRIPTION Ranitidine Tablets USP are available for oral administration containing 150 mg or 300 mg of ranitidine. The active ingredient in Ranitidine Tablets USP, 150 mg and 300 mg is Ranitidine hydrochloride (HCl), USP, a histamine H 2 -receptor antagonist. Chemically it is N[2-[[[5-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-2-furanyl] methyl]thio]ethyl]-N´-methyl-2-nitro-1,1-ethenediamine, HCl. It has the following structure: The emperical formula is C 13 H 22 N 4 O 3 S•HCl, representing a molecular weight of 350.87. Ranitidine HCl is white to pale yellow, crystalline, practically odorless powder, sensitive to light and moisture. Melts at about 140°C with decomposition. Ranitidine is available as 150 mg and 300 mg tablets for oral administration.

Each Ranitidine

Tablet USP, 150 mg contains 150 mg ranitidine (equivalent to 168 mg of ranitidine HCl) and the following inactive ingredients microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, Opadry ® 200 Orange 203A530006 (Polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, glycerol monostearate, sodium lauryl sulphate, FD&C yellow 6 and iron oxide yellow), purified water.

Each Ranitidine

Tablet USP, 300 mg contains 300 mg ranitidine (equivalent to 336 mg of ranitidine HCl) and the following inactive ingredients microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, Opadry ® 200 Yellow 203A520014 (Polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, glycerol monostearate, sodium lauryl sulphate, FD&C yellow 5 and FD&C Blue 1), purified water. Contains color additives including FD&C Yellow No.5 (tartrazine) Meets FDA approved specifications for nitrosamine impurities. ranitidine-hcl-struc

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Ranitidine Tablets are indicated in: Short- term treatment of active duodenal ulcer. Most patients heal within 4 weeks. Studies available to date have not assessed the safety of Ranitidine in uncomplicated duodenal ulcer for periods of more than 8 weeks. Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of acute ulcers. No placebo- controlled comparative studies have been carried out for periods of longer than 1 year. The treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and systemic mastocytosis). Short-term treatment of active, benign gastric ulcers. Most patients heal within 6 weeks and the usefulness of further treatment has not been demonstrated. Studies available to date have not assessed the safety of ranitidine in uncomplicated, benign gastric ulcer for periods of more than 6 weeks. Maintenance therapy for gastric ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of acute ulcers. Placebo-controlled studies have been carried out for 1 year. Treatment of GERD. Symptomatic relief commonly occurs within 24 hours after starting therapy with Ranitidine Tablets USP, 150 mg twice daily. Treatment of endoscopically diagnosed erosive esophagitis. Symptomatic relief of heartburn commonly occurs within 24 hours of therapy initiation with Ranitidine Tablets USP, 150 mg 4 times daily. Maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis. Placebo-controlled trials have been carried out for 48 weeks. Concomitant antacids should be given as needed for pain relief to patients with active duodenal ulcer; active, benign gastric ulcer; hypersecretory states; GERD; and erosive esophagitis.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Active Duodenal Ulcer The current recommended adult oral dosage of Ranitidine Syrup (Ranitidine Oral Solution USP) for duodenal ulcer is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) twice daily. An alternative dosage of 300 mg or 20 mL of oral solution (4 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 300 mg of ranitidine) once daily after the evening meal or at bedtime can be used for patients in whom dosing convenience is important. The advantages of one treatment regimen compared to the other in a particular patient population have yet to be demonstrated (see Clinical Trials: Active Duodenal Ulcer ) . Smaller doses have been shown to be equally effective in inhibiting gastric acid secretion in US studies, and several foreign trials have shown that 100 mg twice daily is as effective as the 150-mg dose. Antacid should be given as needed for relief of pain (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics ). Maintenance of Healing of Duodenal Ulcers The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) at bedtime.

Pathological Hypersecretory

Conditions (such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) twice daily. In some patients it may be necessary to administer ranitidine 150-mg doses more frequently. Dosages should be adjusted to individual patient needs, and should continue as long as clinically indicated. Dosages up to 6 g/day have been employed in patients with severe disease.

Benign Gastric Ulcer

The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) twice daily. Maintenance of Healing of Gastric Ulcers The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) at bedtime.

Gerd

The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) twice daily.

Erosive Esophagitis

The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) 4 times daily. Maintenance of Healing of Erosive Esophagitis The current recommended adult oral dosage is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) twice daily.

Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of ranitidine have been established in the age-group of 1 month to 16 years. There is insufficient information about the pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in neonatal patients (less than 1 month of age) to make dosing recommendations. The following 3 subsections provide dosing information for each of the pediatric indications. Treatment of Duodenal and Gastric Ulcers The recommended oral dose for the treatment of active duodenal and gastric ulcers is 2 to 4 mg/kg twice daily to a maximum of 300 mg/day. This recommendation is derived from adult clinical studies and pharmacokinetic data in pediatric patients. Maintenance of Healing of Duodenal and Gastric Ulcers The recommended oral dose for the maintenance of healing of duodenal and gastric ulcers is 2 to 4 mg/kg once daily to a maximum of 150 mg/day. This recommendation is derived from adult clinical studies and pharmacokinetic data in pediatric patients. Treatment of GERD and Erosive Esophagitis Although limited data exist for these conditions in pediatric patients, published literature supports a dosage of 5 to 10 mg/kg/day, usually given as 2 divided doses.

Dosage

Adjustment for Patients With Impaired Renal Function On the basis of experience with a group of subjects with severely impaired renal function treated with ranitidine, the recommended dosage in patients with a creatinine clearance <50 mL/min is 150 mg or 10 mL of oral solution (2 teaspoonfuls of oral solution equivalent to 150 mg of ranitidine) every 24 hours. Should the patient's condition require, the frequency of dosing may be increased to every 12 hours or even further with caution. Hemodialysis reduces the level of circulating ranitidine. Ideally, the dosing schedule should be adjusted so that the timing of a scheduled dose coincides with the end of hemodialysis. Elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, therefore caution should be exercised in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics: Geriatrics and PRECAUTIONS: Geriatric Use ).

CONTRAINDICATIONS Ranitidine Tablets, USP are contraindicated for patients known to have hypersensitivity to the drug or any of the ingredients (see PRECAUTIONS ).

ADVERSE REACTIONS The following have been reported as events in clinical trials or in the routine management of patients treated with Ranitidine Tablets. The relationship to therapy with Ranitidine Tablets has been unclear in many cases. Headache, sometimes severe, seems to be related to administration of Ranitidine Tablets.

Central Nervous

System: Rarely, malaise, dizziness, somnolence, insomnia, and vertigo. Rare cases of reversible mental confusion, agitation, depression, and hallucinations have been reported, predominantly in severely ill elderly patients. Rare cases of reversible blurred vision suggestive of a change in accommodation have been reported. Rare reports of reversible involuntary motor disturbances have been received. Cardiovascular: As with other H 2 -blockers, rare reports of arrhythmias such as tachycardia, bradycardia, atrioventricular block, and premature ventricular beats. Gastrointestinal: Constipation, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal discomfort/pain, and rare reports of pancreatitis. Hepatic: There have been occasional reports of hepatocellular, cholestatic, or mixed hepatitis, with or without jaundice. In such circumstances, ranitidine should be immediately discontinued. These events are usually reversible, but in rare circumstances death has occurred. Rare cases of hepatic failure have also been reported. In normal volunteers, SGPT values were increased to at least twice the pretreatment levels in 6 of 12 subjects receiving 100 mg intravenously 4 times daily for 7 days, and in 4 of 24 subjects receiving 50 mg intravenously 4 times daily for 5 days. Musculoskeletal: Rare reports of arthralgias and myalgias. Hematologic: Blood count changes (leukopenia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia) have occurred in a few patients. These were usually reversible. Rare cases of agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, sometimes with narrow hypoplasia, and aplastic anemia and exceedingly rare cases of acquired immune hemolytic anemia have been reported. Endocrine: Controlled studies in animals and man have shown no stimulation of any pituitary hormone by Ranitidine Tablets and no antiadrenogenic activity, and cimetidine-induced gynecomastia and impotence in hypersecretory patients have resolved when Ranitidine Tablets has been substituted. However, occasional cases of impotence and loss of libido have been reported in male patients receiving Ranitidine Tablets, but the incidence did not differ from that in the general population. Rare cases of breast symptoms and conditions, including galactorrhea and gynecomastia, have been reported in both males and females. Integumentary: Rash, including rare cases of erythema multiforme. Rare cases of alopecia and vasculitis. Respiratory: A large epidemiological study suggested an increased risk of developing pneumonia in current users of histamine-2-receptor antagonists (H 2 RAs) compared with patients who had stopped H 2 RA treatment, with an observed adjusted relative risk of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.07-2.48). However, a causal relationship between use of H 2 RAs and pneumonia has not been established. Other: Rare cases of hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., bronchospasm, fever, rash, eosinophilia), anaphylaxis, angioneurotic edema, acute interstitial nephritis, and small increases in serum creatinine. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Rising Pharma Holdings, Inc. at 1-844-874-7464 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Warnings Allergy alert: Do not use if you are allergic to ranitidine or other acid reducers Do not use if you have trouble or pain swallowing food, vomiting with blood, or bloody or black stools. These may be signs of a serious condition. See your doctor. with other acid reducers Ask a doctor before use if you have had heartburn over 3 months. This may be a sign of a more serious condition. heartburn with lightheadedness, sweating or dizziness chest pain or shoulder pain with shortness of breath; sweating; pain spreading to arms, neck or shoulders; or lightheadedness frequent chest pain frequent wheezing, particularly with heartburn unexplained weight loss nausea or vomiting stomach pain kidney disease Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are

• taking a prescription drug. Acid reducers may interact with certain prescription drugs. Stop use and ask a doctor if your heartburn continues or worsens you need to take this product for more than 14 days If pregnant or breast-feeding , ask a health professional before use. Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away (1-800-222-1222).

PRECAUTIONS General: Symptomatic response to therapy with Ranitidine Tablets does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy.

Since Ranitidine

Tablets are excreted primarily by the kidney, dosage should be adjusted in patients with impaired renal function (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Caution should be observed in patients with hepatic dysfunction since Ranitidine Tablets are metabolized in the liver. Rare reports suggest that Ranitidine Tablets may precipitate acute porphyric attacks in patients with acute porphyria.

Ranitidine

Tablets should therefore be avoided in patients with a history of acute porphyria. This product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic-type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible persons. Although the overall incidence of FD&C Yellow No 5 (tartrazine) sensitivity in the general population is low, it is frequently seen in patients who also have aspirin hypersensitivity.

Laboratory

Tests: False-positive tests for urine protein with MULTISTIX ® may occur during therapy with Ranitidine Tablets, and therefore testing with sulfosalicylic acid is recommended.

Drug

Interactions: Ranitidine has been reported to affect the bioavailability of other drugs through several different mechanisms such as competition for renal tubular secretion, alteration of gastric pH, and inhibition of cytochrome P 450 enzymes. Procainamide: Ranitidine, a substrate of the renal organic cation transport system, may affect the clearance of other drugs eliminated by this route. High doses of ranitidine (e.g., such as those used in the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) have been shown to reduce the renal excretion of procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide resulting in increased plasma levels of these drugs. Although this interaction is unlikely to be clinically relevant at usual ranitidine doses, it may prudent to monitor for procainamide toxicity when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose exceeding 300 mg per day. Warfarin: There have been reports of altered prothrombin time among patients on concomitant warfarin and ranitidine therapy. Due to the narrow therapeutic index, close monitoring of increased or decreased prothrombin time is recommended during concurrent treatment with ranitidine. Ranitidine may alter the absorption of drugs in which gastric pH is an important determinant of bio-availability. This can result in either an increase in absorption (e.g., triazolam, midazolam, glipizide) or a decrease in absorption (e.g., ketoconazole, Atazanavir, delavirdine, gefitinib). Appropriate clinical monitoring is recommended. Atazanavir: Atazanavir absorption may be impaired based on known interactions with other agents that increase gastric pH. Use with caution. See atazanavir label for specific recommendations. Delavirdine: Delavirdine absorption may be impaired based on known interactions with other agents that increase gastric pH. Chronic use of H 2 -receptor antagonists with delavirdine is not recommended. Gefitinib: Gefitinib exposure was reduced by 44% with the co-administration of ranitidine and sodium bicarbonate (dosed to maintain gastric pH above 5.0). Use with caution. Glipizide: In diabetic patients, glipizide exposure was increased by 34% following a single 150 mg dose of oral ranitidine. Use appropriate clinical monitoring when initiating or discontinuing ranitidine. Ketoconazole: Oral ketoconazole exposure was reduced by up to 95% when oral ranitidine was co-administered in a regimen to maintain a gastric pH of 6 or above. The degree of interaction with usual dose of ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) is unknown. Midazolam: Oral midazolam exposure in 5 healthy volunteers was increased by up to 65% when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose of 150 mg twice daily. However, in another interaction trail in 8 volunteers receiving IV midazolam, a 300 mg oral dose of ranitidine increased midazolam exposure by about 9%. Monitor patients for excessive or prolonged sedation when ranitidine is co-administered with oral midazolam. Triazolam: Triazolam exposure in healthy volunteers was increased by approximately 30% when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose of 150 mg twice daily. Monitor patients for excessive or prolonged sedation. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Impairment of Fertility: There was no indication of tumorigenic or carcinogenic effects in life-span studies in mice and rats at dosages up to 2,000 mg/kg/day. Ranitidine was not mutagenic in standard bacterial tests (Salmonella, Escherichia coli) for mutagenecity at concentrations up to the maximum recommended for these assays. In a dominant lethal assay, a single oral dose of 1,000 mg/kg to male rats was without effect on the outcome of 2 matings per week for the next 9 weeks. Information for Patients: Keep Ranitidine Tablets in the original container (bottle) and protect from moisture. After the first opening of the bottle, discard unused tablets after 3 months (90 days), or by the expiration date on the bottle, whichever is sooner. If more than one bottle is dispensed, open only one bottle at a time. Store additional bottles without opening until needed for dosing. At the time of dosing, remove one tablet from the bottle. Immediately close the bottle, secure the cap, and keep the bottle tightly closed. Keep the desiccant in the bottle. Pregnancy: Teratogenic Effects: Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at doses up to 160 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to Ranitidine Tablets. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing

Mothers: Ranitidine is secreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when Ranitidine Tablets are administered to a nursing mother.

Pediatric

Use: The safety and effectiveness of Ranitidine Tablets have been established in the age-group of 1 month to 16 years for the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease and erosive esophagitis, and the maintenance of healed duodenal and gastric ulcer. Use of Ranitidine Tablets in this age group is supported by adequate and well-controlled studies in adults, as well as additional pharmacokinetic data in pediatric patients and an analysis of the published literature (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pediatrics and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Pediatric Use ). Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients for the treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions or the maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis have not been established. Safety and effectiveness in neonates (less than 1 month of age) have not been established (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pediatrics ).

Geriatric

Use: Of the total number of subjects enrolled in US and foreign controlled clinical trials of oral formulations of ranitidine for which there were subgroup analyses, 4,197 were 65 and over, while 899 were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, caution should be exercised in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics: Geriatrics and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Dosage Adjustment for Patients with Impaired Renal Function ).

General: Symptomatic response to therapy with Ranitidine Tablets does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy.

Since Ranitidine

Tablets are excreted primarily by the kidney, dosage should be adjusted in patients with impaired renal function (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION ). Caution should be observed in patients with hepatic dysfunction since Ranitidine Tablets are metabolized in the liver. Rare reports suggest that Ranitidine Tablets may precipitate acute porphyric attacks in patients with acute porphyria.

Ranitidine

Tablets should therefore be avoided in patients with a history of acute porphyria. This product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic-type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible persons. Although the overall incidence of FD&C Yellow No 5 (tartrazine) sensitivity in the general population is low, it is frequently seen in patients who also have aspirin hypersensitivity.

Laboratory

Tests: False-positive tests for urine protein with MULTISTIX ® may occur during therapy with Ranitidine Tablets, and therefore testing with sulfosalicylic acid is recommended.

Drug

Interactions: Ranitidine has been reported to affect the bioavailability of other drugs through several different mechanisms such as competition for renal tubular secretion, alteration of gastric pH, and inhibition of cytochrome P 450 enzymes. Procainamide: Ranitidine, a substrate of the renal organic cation transport system, may affect the clearance of other drugs eliminated by this route. High doses of ranitidine (e.g., such as those used in the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) have been shown to reduce the renal excretion of procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide resulting in increased plasma levels of these drugs. Although this interaction is unlikely to be clinically relevant at usual ranitidine doses, it may prudent to monitor for procainamide toxicity when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose exceeding 300 mg per day. Warfarin: There have been reports of altered prothrombin time among patients on concomitant warfarin and ranitidine therapy. Due to the narrow therapeutic index, close monitoring of increased or decreased prothrombin time is recommended during concurrent treatment with ranitidine. Ranitidine may alter the absorption of drugs in which gastric pH is an important determinant of bio-availability. This can result in either an increase in absorption (e.g., triazolam, midazolam, glipizide) or a decrease in absorption (e.g., ketoconazole, Atazanavir, delavirdine, gefitinib). Appropriate clinical monitoring is recommended. Atazanavir: Atazanavir absorption may be impaired based on known interactions with other agents that increase gastric pH. Use with caution. See atazanavir label for specific recommendations. Delavirdine: Delavirdine absorption may be impaired based on known interactions with other agents that increase gastric pH. Chronic use of H 2 -receptor antagonists with delavirdine is not recommended. Gefitinib: Gefitinib exposure was reduced by 44% with the co-administration of ranitidine and sodium bicarbonate (dosed to maintain gastric pH above 5.0). Use with caution. Glipizide: In diabetic patients, glipizide exposure was increased by 34% following a single 150 mg dose of oral ranitidine. Use appropriate clinical monitoring when initiating or discontinuing ranitidine. Ketoconazole: Oral ketoconazole exposure was reduced by up to 95% when oral ranitidine was co-administered in a regimen to maintain a gastric pH of 6 or above. The degree of interaction with usual dose of ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) is unknown. Midazolam: Oral midazolam exposure in 5 healthy volunteers was increased by up to 65% when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose of 150 mg twice daily. However, in another interaction trail in 8 volunteers receiving IV midazolam, a 300 mg oral dose of ranitidine increased midazolam exposure by about 9%. Monitor patients for excessive or prolonged sedation when ranitidine is co-administered with oral midazolam. Triazolam: Triazolam exposure in healthy volunteers was increased by approximately 30% when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose of 150 mg twice daily. Monitor patients for excessive or prolonged sedation. Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Impairment of Fertility: There was no indication of tumorigenic or carcinogenic effects in life-span studies in mice and rats at dosages up to 2,000 mg/kg/day. Ranitidine was not mutagenic in standard bacterial tests (Salmonella, Escherichia coli) for mutagenecity at concentrations up to the maximum recommended for these assays. In a dominant lethal assay, a single oral dose of 1,000 mg/kg to male rats was without effect on the outcome of 2 matings per week for the next 9 weeks. Information for Patients: Keep Ranitidine Tablets in the original container (bottle) and protect from moisture. After the first opening of the bottle, discard unused tablets after 3 months (90 days), or by the expiration date on the bottle, whichever is sooner. If more than one bottle is dispensed, open only one bottle at a time. Store additional bottles without opening until needed for dosing. At the time of dosing, remove one tablet from the bottle. Immediately close the bottle, secure the cap, and keep the bottle tightly closed. Keep the desiccant in the bottle. Pregnancy: Teratogenic Effects: Reproduction studies have been performed in rats and rabbits at doses up to 160 times the human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to Ranitidine Tablets. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Nursing

Mothers: Ranitidine is secreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when Ranitidine Tablets are administered to a nursing mother.

Pediatric

Use: The safety and effectiveness of Ranitidine Tablets have been established in the age-group of 1 month to 16 years for the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease and erosive esophagitis, and the maintenance of healed duodenal and gastric ulcer. Use of Ranitidine Tablets in this age group is supported by adequate and well-controlled studies in adults, as well as additional pharmacokinetic data in pediatric patients and an analysis of the published literature (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pediatrics and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Pediatric Use ). Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients for the treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions or the maintenance of healing of erosive esophagitis have not been established. Safety and effectiveness in neonates (less than 1 month of age) have not been established (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pediatrics ).

Geriatric

Use: Of the total number of subjects enrolled in US and foreign controlled clinical trials of oral formulations of ranitidine for which there were subgroup analyses, 4,197 were 65 and over, while 899 were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out. This drug is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney and the risk of toxic reactions to this drug may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, caution should be exercised in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function. (See CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Pharmacokinetics: Geriatrics and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Dosage Adjustment for Patients with Impaired Renal Function ).

Drug Interactions Ranitidine has been reported to affect the bioavailability of other drugs through several different mechanisms such as competition for renal tubular secretion, alteration of gastric pH, and inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Procainamide: Ranitidine, a substrate of the renal organic cation transport system, may affect the clearance of other drugs eliminated by this route. High doses of ranitidine (e.g., such as those used in the treatment of Zollinger-Ellison syndrome) have been shown to reduce the renal excretion of procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide resulting in increased plasma levels of these drugs. Although this interaction is unlikely to be clinically relevant at usual ranitidine doses, it may be prudent to monitor for procainamide toxicity when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose exceeding 300 mg per day. Warfarin: There have been reports of altered prothrombin time among patients on concomitant warfarin and ranitidine therapy. Due to the narrow therapeutic index, close monitoring of increased or decreased prothrombin time is recommended during concurrent treatment with ranitidine. Ranitidine may alter the absorption of drugs in which gastric pH is an important determinant of bioavailability. This can result in either an increase in absorption (e.g., triazolam, midazolam, glipizide) or a decrease in absorption (e.g., ketoconazole, atazanavir, delavirdine, gefitinib). Appropriate clinical monitoring is recommended. Atazanavir: Atazanavir absorption may be impaired based on known interactions with other agents that increase gastric pH. Use with caution. See atazanavir label for specific recommendations. Delavirdine: Delavirdine absorption may be impaired based on known interactions with other agents that increase gastric pH. Chronic use of H 2 -receptor antagonists with delavirdine is not recommended. Gefitinib: Gefitinib exposure was reduced by 44% with the coadministration of ranitidine and sodium bicarbonate (dosed to maintain gastric pH above 5.0). Use with caution. Glipizide: In diabetic patients, glipizide exposure was increased by 34% following a single 150-mg dose of oral ranitidine. Use appropriate clinical monitoring when initiating or discontinuing ranitidine. Ketoconazole: Oral ketoconazole exposure was reduced by up to 95% when oral ranitidine was coadministered in a regimen to maintain a gastric pH of 6 or above. The degree of interaction with usual dose of ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) is unknown. Midazolam: Oral midazolam exposure in 5 healthy volunteers was increased by up to 65% when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose of 150 mg twice daily. However, in another interaction study in 8 volunteers receiving intravenous midazolam, a 300 mg oral dose of ranitidine increased midazolam exposure by about 9%. Monitor patients for excessive or prolonged sedation when ranitidine is coadministered with oral midazolam. Triazolam: Triazolam exposure in healthy volunteers was increased by approximately 30% when administered with oral ranitidine at a dose of 150 mg twice daily. Monitor patients for excessive or prolonged sedation.

Active ingredient (in each tablet)

Ranitidine

150 mg (as ranitidine hydrochloride USP, 168 mg)

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS For 150 mg: croscarmellose sodium, iron oxide red, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol,talcum, titanium dioxide For 150 mg cool mint: acacia, croscarmellose sodium, FD&C Blue No. 1,magnesium stearate, menthol, microcrystalline cellulose,polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talcum, titanium dioxide