Ulcifuard

Description

Ulcifuard Tablet (Ranitidine)

Ulcifuard Tablet contains Ranitidine, a medication that helps reduce stomach acid by blocking histamine at the H2-receptors in the stomach lining.

Indications

Ulcifuard Tablet is used to treat and prevent various stomach and esophageal conditions, including:

• Acid-Related Conditions:
  • Dyspepsia (indigestion)
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Erosive Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus due to acid)
  • Benign Gastric and Duodenal Ulceration (non-cancerous stomach and intestinal ulcers)
  • Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (a condition causing excessive stomach acid production)
• Prophylaxis (Prevention):
  • Acid Aspiration during general anesthesia
  • NSAID-associated Ulceration (ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
  • Stress Ulceration of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• Infection:
  • H. pylori infection (as part of a combination therapy)

Dosage and Administration

Ulcifuard can be taken with or without food.

Adult Oral Dose

• Benign Gastric and Duodenal Ulceration:
  • Initial: 300 mg once daily at bedtime OR 150 mg twice daily for 4-8 weeks. For duodenal ulcers, 300 mg twice daily for 4 weeks may enhance 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, adjusted as needed.
  • Maximum: 6 grams daily.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):
  • 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg at bedtime for up to 8 weeks.
  • Severe Cases: May be increased to 150 mg four times daily for up to 12 weeks.
• Dyspepsia:
  • Chronic Episodic: 150 mg twice daily for up to 6 weeks.
  • Short-term Symptomatic Relief: 75 mg, repeated if necessary up to 4 doses daily.
  • Maximum Duration for Continuous Use: 2 weeks at one time.
• Erosive Esophagitis:
  • 150 mg four times daily.
  • Maintenance: 150 mg twice daily.
• NSAID-associated Ulceration:
  • Treatment: 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg at bedtime for 8-12 weeks.
  • Prevention: 150 mg twice daily.

Child Oral Dose (1 month to 16 years)

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

Renal Impairment

• Oral: If your creatinine clearance (CrCl) is less than 50 mL/min, the recommended dose is 150 mg once daily at bedtime. Adjust the dose cautiously if necessary.
• Parenteral (IV): Individual doses may be reduced to 25 mg.

Hepatic Impairment

• No dosage adjustment is typically needed for liver impairment.

Intravenous (IV) Administration

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

Contraindications

• Porphyria

Precautions

• Exclusion of Malignancy: Before starting treatment, especially for gastric ulcers, your doctor should rule out the possibility of cancer, as Ulcifuard may hide symptoms and delay diagnosis.
• Swallowing Difficulties: Use with caution if you have trouble swallowing.
• Kidney and Liver Impairment: Use with caution, especially if you have kidney or liver problems.
• Pregnancy and Lactation: Use with caution during pregnancy. Ranitidine passes into breast milk; consider discontinuing the drug or consulting your doctor about alternatives if you are breastfeeding.

Interactions

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

Adverse Effects

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

Mechanism of Action

Ranitidine works by competitively blocking histamine at the H2-receptors found on the parietal cells in the stomach. This action effectively inhibits the secretion of gastric acid. It does not significantly impact pepsin secretion, pentagastrin-stimulated intrinsic factor secretion, or serum gastrin levels.

Note

Ulcifuard 150mg Tablet is manufactured by Saga Laboratories, with its generic name being Ranitidine. Ulcifuard is available in Nepal. This information from Farmaco Nepal’s drug index is for general knowledge and is not intended for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical judgment.