Contents:
- Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Balancing Proton Pump Inhibitor Risks and Benefits
- What are the differences between ranitidine and omeprazole?
- Judging from the way it works
- Viewed from side effects
- Judging from the warning before taking medicine
- Can ranitidine and omeprazole be used together?
Medical Video: Mayo Clinic Minute: Balancing Proton Pump Inhibitor Risks and Benefits
Ranitidine and omeprazole, both of which are drugs that can both be used to treat gastritis (ulcers) or other diseases associated with stomach acid, such as gastric ulcers and GERD. However, both of them turned out to have many differences.
What are the differences between ranitidine and omeprazole?
Some of the differences possessed by ranitidine and omeprazole are:
Judging from the way it works
Ranitidine works by reducing the production of stomach acid. So that stomach acid released into your digestive system is reduced. This can then cure gastritis or other diseases related to stomach acid. Ranitidine is a class of drugs known as histamine (H2) blockers.
Meanwhile, omeprazole works by blocking the production of stomach acid, so that it can help treat gastritis and other diseases associated with stomach acid. This is done by omeprazole by blocking the work of the parts of the cell that produce acid.
Viewed from side effects
Just like other drugs, ranitidine and omeprazole also have side effects. Common side effects caused by ranitidine and omeprazole are headaches, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, and drowsiness. However, both have serious different side effects.
Ranitidine can cause serious side effects, such as:
- Heart problem
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Thrombocytopenia (very low platelets)
Meanwhile, omeprazole can cause serious side effects, such as:
- Heart problem
- Upper respiratory infection
- Clostridium difficile infection
- Bone fracture
Judging from the warning before taking medicine
Before you take medicine, you are strongly advised to read the rules of use and warning drugs. Some medications can cause problems if you have certain health conditions.
When you want to use ranitidine, it's a good idea to consult your doctor first if you have medical conditions as follows:
- Liver disease
- Kidney illness
- Porphyria
Whereas, for the use of omeprazole, you should first speak with your doctor if you have:
- Liver disease
- Osteoporosis
- History of a heart attack
The dose and drug interactions of ranitidine and omeprazole with other drugs also have differences. For more details, you should read the rules for use of each drug or consult first with your doctor or pharmacist.
Can ranitidine and omeprazole be used together?
Ranitidine and omeprazole are two drugs that have the same function, namely to treat diseases related to stomach acid. However, both have different ways of working. If you want to combine these two drugs, it's actually safe to use. In fact, little evidence also shows that combining the two drugs can have a more effective effect than just one.
However, most doctors will only prescribe one of these drugs. This may be much safer for you. Remember, each drug has side effects. So, the more drugs you take, the more likely you experience side effects of the drug.
