Adults:

Rantag Injection is indicated for the treatment of duodenal ulcer, benign gastric ulcer, post - operative ulcer, reflux oesophagitis, Zollinger - Ellison Syndrome and the following conditions where reduction of gastric secretion and acid output is desirable:

The prophylaxis of gastrointestinal haemorrhage from stress ulceration in seriously ill patients, the prophylaxis of recurrent haemorrhage in patients with bleeding peptic ulcers and before general anaesthesia in patients considered to be at risk of acid aspiration (Mendelson's Syndrome), particularly obstetric patients during labour. For appropriate cases, Rantag tablets are also available.

Children (6 months to 18 years):

Rantag Injection is indicated for the short term treatment of peptic ulcer and the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux, including reflux oesophagitis and symptomatic relief of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

(See section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties – Other special - populations)

Posology

Adults (including elderly) / Adolescents (12 years and over)

Rantag Injection may be given either as a slow (over 2 minutes) intravenous injection up to a maximum of 50 mg, after dilution to a volume of 20 ml per 50 mg dose, which may be repeated every 6 to 8 hours; or as an intermittent intravenous infusion at a rate of 25 mg per hour for two hours; the infusion may be repeated at 6 to 8 hour intervals, or as an intramuscular injection of 50 mg (2 ml) every 6 to 8 hours.

Prophylaxis of haemorrhage from stress ulceration or recurrent haemorrhage:

In the prophylaxis of haemorrhage from stress ulceration in seriously ill patients or the prophylaxis of recurrent haemorrhage in patients bleeding from peptic ulceration, parenteral administration may be continued until oral feeding commences. Patients considered to be still at risk may then be treated with Rantag tablets 150 mg twice daily.

In the prophylaxis of upper gastro-intestinal haemorrhage from stress ulceration in seriously ill patients a priming dose of 50 mg as a slow intravenous injection followed by a continuous intravenous infusion of 0.125 - 0.250 mg/kg/hr may be preferred.

Prophylaxis of Mendleson's syndrome:

In patients considered to be at risk of developing acid aspiration syndrome, ranitidine Injection 50 mg may be given intramuscularly or by slow intravenous injection 45 to 60 minutes before induction of general anaesthesia.

Children / Infants (6 months to 11 years)

(See section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties) – Other special populations

Rantag injection may be given as a slow (over 2 minutes) i.v. injection up to a maximum of 50 mg every 6 to 8 hours.

Peptic Ulcer Acute Treatment and Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux

Intravenous therapy in children with peptic ulcer disease is indicated only when oral therapy is not possible.

For acute treatment of peptic ulcer disease and gastro-oesophageal reflux in paediatric patients, ranitidine injection may be administered at doses that have been shown to be effective for these diseases in adults and effective for acid suppression in critically ill children. The initial dose (2.0 mg/kg or 2.5 mg/kg, maximum 50 mg) may be administered as a slow intravenous infusion over 10 minutes, either with a syringe pump followed by a 3 mL flush with normal saline over 5 min, or following dilution with normal saline to 20 mL. Maintenance of pH > 4.0 can be achieved by intermittent infusion of 1.5 mg/kg every 6 h to 8 h. Alternatively treatment can be continuous, administering a loading dose of 0.45 mg/kg followed by a continuous infusion of 0.15 mg/kg/hr.

Neonates (under 1 month)

(See section 5.2 – Pharmacokinetic properties – Other special populations)

Patients over 50 years of age

See section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties - Other special populations

Patients with renal impairment

Accumulation of ranitidine with resulting elevated plasma concentrations will occur in patients with renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 50 ml/min). Accordingly, it is recommended in such patients that ranitidine be administered in doses of 25 mg.

Method of administration

Intravenous or intramuscular injection

Malignancy

The possibility of malignancy should be excluded before commencement of therapy in patients with gastric ulcer as treatment with ranitidine may mask symptoms of gastric carcinoma.

Renal Disease

Ranitidine is excreted via the kidney and so plasma levels of the drug are increased in patients with renal impairment. The dosage should be adjusted as detailed in section 4.2 Patients with renal impairment.

Bradycardia in association with rapid administration of ranitidine injection has been reported rarely, usually in patients with factors predisposing to cardiac rhythm disturbances. Recommended rates of administration should not be exceeded.

It has been reported that the use of higher than recommended doses of intravenous H₂-antagonists has been associated with rises in liver enzymes when treatment has been extended beyond five days.

Rare clinical reports suggest that ranitidine may precipitate acute porphyric attacks. Ranitidine should therefore be avoided in patients with a history of acute porphyria.

In patients such as the elderly, persons with chronic lung disease, diabetes or the immunocompromised, there may be an increased risk of developing community acquired pneumonia. A large epidemiological study showed an increased risk of developing community acquired pneumonia in current users of ranitidine alone versus those who had stopped treatment, with an observed adjusted relative risk increase of 1.82 (95% CI 1.26-2.64).. Post-marketing data indicate reversible mental confusion, depression, and hallucinations have been reported most frequently in severely ill and elderly patients (see section 4.8).

Ranitidine has the potential to affect the absorption, metabolism or renal excretion of other drugs. The altered pharmacokinetics may necessitate dosage adjustment of the affected drug or discontinuation of treatment

Interactions occur by several mechanisms including:

1.      Inhibition of cytochrome P450-linked mixed function oxygenase system:

Ranitidine at usual therapeutic doses does not potentiate the actions of drugs which are inactivated by this enzyme system such as diazepam, lidocaine, phenytoin, propanolol and theophylline.

There have been reports of altered prothrombin time with coumarin anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin). Due to the narrow therapeutic index, close monitoring of increased or decreased prothrombin time is recommended during concurrent treatment with ranitidine.

2.      Competition for renal tubular secretion:

Since ranitidine is partially eliminated by the cationic system, it 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) may reduce the excretion of procainamide and N-acetylprocainamide resulting in increased plasma level of these drugs.

3.      Alteration of gastric pH:

The bioavailability of certain drugs may be affected. This can result in either an increase in absorption (e.g. triazolam, midazolam, glipizide) or a decrease in absorption (e.g. ketoconazole, atazanavir, delaviridine, gefitnib).

Pregnancy

Ranitidine crosses the placenta but therapeutic doses administered to obstetric patients in labour or undergoing caesarean section have been without any adverse effect on labour, delivery or subsequent neonatal progress. Like other drugs, ranitidine should only be used during pregnancy if considered essential.

Breast-feeding

ranitidine is also excreted in human breast milk. Like other drugs, ranitidine should only be used during breast-feeding if considered essential.

Fertility

There are no data on the effects of ranitidine on human fertility. There were no effects on male and female fertility in animal studies (see section 5.3).

None reported.

The following convention has been utilised for the classification of undesirable effects: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100, <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1000, ≤1/100), rare (≥1/10,000, ≤1/1000), very rare (≤1/10,000). Adverse event frequencies have been estimated from spontaneous reports from post-marketing data.

Paediatric population

The safety of ranitidine has been assessed in children aged 0 to 16 years with acid-related disease and was generally well tolerated with an adverse event profile resembling that in adults. There are limited long term safety data available, in particular regarding growth and development.

To report any side effect(s):

The National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Centre (NPC)

Fax: +966-11-205-7662

Call NPC at +966-11-2038222, Exts: 2317-2356-2353-2354-2334-2340.

Toll free phone: 8002490000

E-mail: npc.drug@sfda.gov.sa

Website: www.sfda.gov.sa/npc

Symptoms and signs

Ranitidine is very specific in action and accordingly, no particular problems are expected following overdosage with the drug.

Treatment

Symptomatic and supportive therapy should be given as appropriate.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: H2-receptor antagonists

ATC code: A02BA02

Mechanism of action

Ranitidine is a specific, rapidly acting histamine H₂-antagonist. It inhibits basal and stimulated secretion of gastric acid, reducing both the volume and the acid and pepsin content of the secretion.

The clinical data available mentions the use of ranitidine in children to prevent stress ulcers. No direct evidence for prevention of stress ulcers is available. Treatment for these patients is based on the observation that pH is above 4 after administration of ranitidine. The value of this surrogate parameter in children with stress ulcers remains to be established.

Absorption

Absorption of ranitidine after intramuscular injection is rapid and peak plasma concentrations are usually achieved within 15 minutes of administration.

Distribution

Ranitidine is not extensively bound to plasma proteins (15%), but exhibits a large volume of distribution ranging from 96 to 142 L.

Metabolism

Ranitidine is not extensively metabolised. The fraction of the dose recovered as metabolites is similar after both oral and i.v. dosing; and includes 6% of the dose in urine as the N-oxide, 2& as the S-oxide, 2% as desmethylranitidine and 1 to 2% as the furoic acid analogue.

Elimination

Plasma concentrations decline bi-exponentially, with a terminal half-life of 2-3 hours. The major route of elimination is renal. After IV administration of 150 mg 3H-ranitidine, 98% of the dose was recovered, including 5% in faeces and 93% in urine, of which 70% was unchanged parent drug. After oral administration of 150 mg 3H-ranitidine, 96% of the dose was recovered, 26% in faeces and 70% in urine of which 35% was unchanged parent drug. Less than 3% of the dose is excreted in bile. Renal clearance is approximately 500 mL/min, which exceeds glomerular filtration indicating net renal tubular secretion.

Other special populations

Children/infants (6 months and above)

Limited pharmacokinetic data show that there were no significant differences in half-life (range for children 3 years and above: 1.7 - 2.2 h) and plasma clearance (range for children 3 years and above: 9 - 22 ml/min/kg) between children and healthy adults receiving intravenous ranitidine when correction is made for body weight. Pharmacokinetic data in infants is extremely limited but appears to be in line with that for older children.

Patients over 50 years of age

In patients over 50 years of age, half-life is prolonged (3-4 h) and clearance is reduced, consistent with the age-related decline of renal function. However, systemic exposure and accumulation are 50% higher. This difference exceeds the effect of declining renal function, and indicates increased bioavailability in older patients.

Neonates (under 1 month)

Limited pharmacokinetic data from term babies undergoing treatment with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (EMCO) suggests that plasma clearance following iv administration may be reduced (1.5-8.2 ml/min/kg) and the half-life increased in the new-born. Clearance of ranitidine appeared to be related to the estimated glomerular filtration rate in the neonates.

Non-clinical data revealed no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of safety pharmacology, repeated-dose toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenic potential and toxicity to reproduction and development.

Inactive Ingredients

1.      Sodium phosphate dibasic

2.      Potassium phosphate monobasic

3.      Phenol

4.      Water for injection

This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.

Store below 30°C. Protect from light and heat.

§ 5 Labelled ampoules (2ml, glass ampoule, type 1, USP) in a tray, packed in a printed box along with a leaflet.

§ 50 Labelled ampoules (2ml, glass ampoule, type 1, USP) packed in a printed box using honey comb partition along with a leaflet.

Rantag Injection has been shown to be compatible with the following intravenous infusion fluids:

§ 0.9% Sodium Chloride BP

§ 5% Dextrose BP

§ 0.18% Sodium Chloride and 4% Dextrose BP

§ 4.2% Sodium Bicarbonate BP

§ Hartmann's Solution.

All unused mixtures of Rantag Injection with infusion fluids should be discarded 24 hours after preparation.