Ranitidine 300mg - can pills be split in half?

[ZannyTac]

I wanted to know if it is safe / effective to split Ranitidine 300mg pills (made by Noumed)? My normal does is 2 x 150mg per day - in morning/evening. But as 150mg is no longer available, doctor has put me on 1 x 300mg per day instead - taken in evenings. However I don't find it works as well as the 2 x 150mg. So wondered about splitting the pill and taking one half in morning the other in evening. Thanks for any advice

[Heathwaite]

It's not advisable to spit the tablets as they are coated and spitting them could effect absorption. But I suggest you ask your pharmacist for advise on this.

Phil

[DavidP]

As Phil points out, splitting the tablet may affect absorption, and also the active ingredient may not be evenly distributed in each tablet. Your pharmacist might give some pointers but it's complex.

[ZannyTac]

Thanks for your replies. I actually found out the hard way by trying to use split pills and it just did not work at all well. Bad stomach acid. Though the surgery pharmacist had suggested it could work! I will now go back to 1 x 300mg per day and see how well that goes. I have a few weeks worth of 150mg left as back up. But if I cannot live with 300mg ultimately I’ll need to find a different product unless Ranitidine 150 comes back in supply. Best regards Ian

[Heathwaite in reply to ZannyTac]

I'm sure your GP would prescribe a standard dose of a PPI and that is much more effective over a 24hour period

Phil

[kiddy]

Hi I would say just take the one tablet at night.

Best wishes

Debbie

[ZannyTac]

Thanks all. I will try one R300 at night to see if that works any better. Many years ago I was prescribed a PPI Lansoprazole but I found it did not work well - eg stomach pain. So GP tried me on Ranitidine which worked much better. Recently due to stock issues in R150 the GP pharmacist suggested if R300 did not work to try next generation PPIs omeprazole. Regards Ian

[foxy62]

In Canada Ranitidine has been taken off the market,They have replaced it with CIMITIDINE.i TAKE 2 IN AM

[grandylynda]

My gp told me ranitidine has now been taken out in UK. I am on lanzoprazol but not sure it's as good

[ZannyTac]

Hi all - a quick update. It took me about a week to make the transition from 2xR150 to 1xR300. Now working fine supported by some minor dietary changes and an occasional Rennie in the late afternoon. (The split pill idea definitely did not work). So if your pharmacist can still get R300 it is a good alternative to R150. Best wishes Ian

[younginmind]

I was put on this after a bowel operation, read the leaflet + on-line & told my gp I wouldn't take it any more - a while later it was taken off the prescription list in the UK - I wouldn't touch it.

[foxy62]

IN CANADA THEY HAVE TAKEN RANITADINE OFF THE MARKET AND REPLACED IT WITH CIMITIDINE.NOT SURE WHERE YOU LIVE,JUST A SUGGESTION YOU CAN SEE IF YOU CAN GET IT CHANGED

[ZannyTac in reply to foxy62]

Thanks, I am in UK for now Ranitidine is available here in 300mg only. Will consider Cimitidine at next GP review. Regards Ian

[ZannyTac]

Hi all - a further update. In UK all Ranitidine is now unavailable in my area including 300mg. Doctor has suggested I move to Famotidine 20Mg twice daily. It is same H2 blocker class as Ranitidine. For now it is working well in fact better than Ranitidine. So this could be a viable alternative for anyone who like me doesn’t get on with PPIs.