Hiloc

Description

Hiloc Tablet, which contains the active ingredient Ranitidine, is a medication primarily used to reduce stomach acid production. It works by blocking histamine at specific receptors in the stomach lining, which in turn decreases the amount of acid produced.

What Hiloc Tablet is Used For

Hiloc Tablet is prescribed for a variety of conditions related to excess stomach acid, including:

• Dyspepsia (indigestion)
• H. pylori infection (a common cause of ulcers)
• Benign gastric and duodenal ulcers
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux
• Acid aspiration during general anesthesia (to prevent lung irritation from stomach acid)
• Prevention of ulcers when taking NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
• Stress ulceration in the upper gastrointestinal tract
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (a condition causing excessive acid production)
• Erosive esophagitis (inflammation and damage to the esophagus from stomach acid)

Dosage Instructions

The appropriate dose of Hiloc depends on the patient’s age, the condition being treated, and kidney function.

Adult Oral Doses:

• Benign Gastric and Duodenal Ulceration:
  • Initial: 300 mg once daily at bedtime or 150 mg twice daily for 4 to 8 weeks. For duodenal ulcers, 300 mg twice daily for 4 weeks may improve healing.
  • Maintenance: 150 mg once daily at bedtime.
  • Maximum: 300 mg twice daily.
• Hypersecretory Conditions (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome):
  • Initial: 150 mg two or three times daily, increasing if necessary.
  • Maximum: 6 grams daily.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):
  • 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg at bedtime for up to 8 weeks.
  • In severe cases, the dose may be increased to 150 mg four times daily for 12 weeks.
• Dyspepsia:
  • Chronic Episodic: 150 mg twice daily for up to 6 weeks.
  • Short-term Symptomatic Relief: 75 mg, which can be repeated up to 4 doses daily if needed. Do not use continuously for more than 2 weeks at a time.
• Erosive Esophagitis:
  • Treatment: 150 mg four times daily.
  • Maintenance: 150 mg twice daily.
• NSAID-Associated Ulceration:
  • Treatment: 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg at bedtime for 8 to 12 weeks.
  • Prevention: 150 mg twice daily.

Child Oral Doses (1 month to 16 years):

• Benign Gastric and Duodenal Ulceration:
  • 4-8 mg/kg daily in two divided doses.
  • Maximum: 300 mg/day.
  • Treatment Duration: 4-8 weeks.
  • Maintenance: 2-4 mg/kg once daily.
  • Maximum: 150 mg/day.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):
  • 5-10 mg/kg daily in two divided doses.
  • Maximum: 300 mg/day.
• Erosive Esophagitis:
  • 5-10 mg/kg daily in two divided doses.
  • Maximum: 600 mg/day.

Dosage in Kidney Impairment:

• Oral (Creatinine Clearance <50 mL/min): 150 mg once daily at bedtime. Your doctor may adjust the dose cautiously if necessary.
• Parenteral (Injectable): Individual doses may be reduced to 25 mg.

Dosage in Liver Impairment: No dosage adjustment is typically needed for patients with liver impairment.

How to Take Hiloc Tablet

Hiloc tablets can be taken with or without food.

Intravenous (IV) Administration (for healthcare professionals):

• Direct Injection: 50 mg should be diluted to at least 20 mL with a compatible IV infusion fluid and injected slowly over at least 5 minutes (at a rate of 4 mL/min).
• Intermittent Infusion: 50 mg should be added to at least 100 mL of a compatible IV solution and infused over 15-20 minutes.
• Continuous Infusion: 150 mg should be diluted in 250 mL of IV fluid and infused at a rate of 6.25 mg/hr for 24 hours.

Important Warnings and Precautions

Do Not Use If: You have Porphyria.

Take Caution If:

• Your doctor needs to rule out the possibility of malignancy (cancer) before you start treatment, as Hiloc might mask symptoms and delay diagnosis.
• You have difficulty swallowing.
• You have kidney or liver impairment.
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding. Ranitidine can pass into breast milk, so your doctor will advise whether to discontinue the drug or use caution.

Drug Interactions

Hiloc can interact with other medications:

• Propantheline bromide may delay Hiloc’s absorption and increase its levels in the blood.
• Ranitidine minimally affects the liver’s metabolism of certain drugs, including coumarin anticoagulants, theophylline, diazepam, and propranolol.
• It may change how your body absorbs pH-dependent drugs (e.g., ketoconazole, midazolam, glipizide).
• Antacids may reduce the amount of Hiloc absorbed into your body.

Possible Side Effects

Like all medications, Hiloc can cause side effects.

• Common (1-10% of users): Headache (reported in 3%).
• Less Common (<1% of users): Abdominal pain, agitation, hair loss (alopecia), confusion, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, allergic reactions (hypersensitivity), nausea, and vomiting.
• Rare (Frequency Not Defined): Anemia, necrotizing enterocolitis (in fetus or newborn), pancreatitis, low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), low levels of all blood cells (pancytopenia), low white blood cell count (agranulocytosis), acquired immune hemolytic anemia, joint pain (arthralgia), and muscle pain (myalgia).
• Potentially Fatal: Severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis and other serious hypersensitivity reactions.

How it Works (Mechanism of Action)

Ranitidine, the active ingredient in Hiloc, works by competitively blocking histamine at the H2-receptors located on the surface of the gastric parietal cells in your stomach. This action directly inhibits the secretion of gastric acid. Interestingly, it does not impact the secretion of pepsin, intrinsic factor (which is essential for Vitamin B12 absorption), or the levels of serum gastrin (another hormone involved in digestion).

Additional Information

Hiloc 150mg Tablet is manufactured by Chemidrug Industries Pvt. Ltd. and is available in Nepal.

Please remember that this information is for general knowledge and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for any health concerns or before starting any new medication.