SUMMARY OF PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS
1.
NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
Ranitidin Actavis 150 mg film-coated tablets
Ranitidin Actavis 300 mg film-coated tablets
2.
QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
Each tablet contains 150 mg or 300 mg ranitidine (as ranitidine hydrochloride).
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3.
PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Film-coated tablets
150 mg: Circular, convex, white to yellowish, film-coated tablets, scored on one side. Diameter:
10 mm.
300 mg: Oblong, convex, white to yellowish, film-coated tablets, scored on one side. Tablet size: 8.2 x
17 mm.
The score line is only to facilitate breaking for ease of swallowing and not to divide into equal doses.
4.
CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1
Therapeutic indications
Adults
Duodenal ulcer, benign gastric ulcer, reflux oesophagitis, Zollinger-Ellison's syndrome. Symptomatic
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Prophylactic treatment of chronic recurrent duodenal ulcer.
Children (3 to 18 years)
Short term treatment of peptic ulcer.
Treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux, including reflux oesophagitis and symptomatic relief of
gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.
4.2
Posology and method of administration
Posology
Adults/adolescents (12 years and older)
Duodenal ulcer, benign gastric ulcer
300 mg/24 hours, either 300 mg at night or 150 mg in the morning and evening. The duration of
treatment is generally 4 weeks. In those patients whose ulcer has not completely healed after 4 weeks
of treatment, the treatment should be continued for a further 4 weeks. If required, the dose may be
increased to 300 mg in the morning and evening for 4 weeks.
Prophylactic treatment of chronic recurrent duodenal ulcer
150 mg in the evening.
Reflux oesophagitis
150 mg in the morning and evening, alternatively 300 mg at night, for 4-8 weeks, but the dose and
duration of treatment should be individualised in accordance with the severity of the condition. In
severe cases, the 24-hour dose may be increased to 600 mg in divided doses for up to 12 weeks. For
maintenance treatment the recommended dose is 150 mg in the morning and evening.
Symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
150 mg in the morning and evening for 2-4 weeks.
Zollinger-Ellison's syndrome
150 mg 3 times a day, but the dose may be increased, if necessary. Doses up to 6 g of ranitidine have
been prescribed.
The dose should be reduced in the presence of impaired renal and/or liver function and in elderly
patients.
Paediatric population
Children 12 years and over
For children 12 years and over the adult dosage is given.
Children from 3 to 11 years and over 30 kg of weight
See section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties – Special patient populations.
Peptic ulcer acute treatment
The recommended oral dose for the treatment of peptic ulcer in children is 4 mg/kg/day to
8 mg/kg/day administered as two divided doses to a maximum of 300 mg ranitidine per day for a
duration of 4 weeks. For those patients with incomplete healing, another 4 weeks of therapy is
indicated, as healing usually occurs after eight weeks of treatment.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux
The recommended oral dose for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux in children is 5 mg/kg/day
to 10 mg/kg/day administered as two divided doses in a maximum dose of 600 mg (the maximum dose
is likely to apply to heavier children or adolescents with severe symptoms).
Neonates
Safety and efficacy in new-born patients has not been established.
Patients with impaired renal function
The plasma half-life is prolonged and the plasma concentrations are increased in the presence of
impaired renal function. Therefore, in the case of markedly impaired renal function, the dose should be
halved at least, in accordance with the following table. An appropriate dose for oral therapy would
thus be 150 mg at night.
Creatinine clearance Serum creatinine 24-hour dose of ranitidine
ml/min
micromol/L
Oral dosage
> 50
< 200
150 mg x 2
5-50
200-900
150 mg x 1
Ranitidine is eliminated from the body by haemodialysis. Patients on dialysis should therefore take
ranitidine after each dialysis.
Method of administration
As the absorption of ranitidine is not affected by food, the tablets can be taken during or between
meals.
The tablets can be swallowed whole, divided or crushed.
4.3
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
.
4.4
Special warnings and precautions for use
Suspected ulcer disease must be objectively verified at an early stage by x-ray or endoscopy in order
to avoid inadequate treatment. In the treatment of gastric ulcer, malignancy must be excluded as
treatment may mask symtoms of stomach carcinoma.
Ranitidine is excreted via the kidney and so plasma levels of the drug are increased in patients with
severe renal impairment. The dosage should be adjusted in renal impairment as detailed in section 4.2.
A lower dose is recommended for patients with impaired liver function and for elderly patients.
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).
Regular supervision of patients who are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs concomitantly
with ranitidine is recommended, especially in the elderly and in those with a history of peptic ulcer.
4.5
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
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) 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).
There is no evidence of an interaction between ranitidine and amoxicillin.
If antacids or high doses (2 g) of sucralfate are co-administered with ranitidine the absorption of the
latter may be reduced. Ranitidine should be taken about two hours before these medicinal products.
2) 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 (CYP2C19), lidocaine, and propranolol.
There have been reports of altered prothrombin time with coumarin anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin)
when treatment with ranitidine was initiated. Due to the narrow therapeutic index, close monitoring of
increased or decreased prothrombin time is recommended during concurrent treatment with ranitidine.
There are several case reports of increased plasma concentrations of theophylline. Although, the
interaction has not been observed in a number of clinical studies, available information cannot
preclude that an interaction may occur in some individuals.
There have also been reports of increased plasma concentrations of phenytoin.
3) Competition for renal tubular secretion
Since ranitidine is partially eliminated by active secretion via the cationic transporter system (OCT) in
the kidney, 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 levels of these drugs.
The effect of alcohol may increase by taking ranitidine.
4.6
Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Ranitidine crosses the placenta. Like other drugs ranitidine should only be used during pregnancy if
considered essential.
Breastfeeding
Ranitidine is excreted in human breast milk in such amounts that there is a risk of effects in the infant,
even with therapeutic doses. Like other drugs ranitidine should only be used during nursing 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).
4.7
Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Taking ranitidine may increase the effect of alcohol, furthermore side-effects as e.g. headache,
dizziness, tiredness, confusion and hallucinations may possibly occur. Under these circumstances the
ability to react as well as the power of judgement may be reduced, thus impairing the ability to drive
and the ability to operate machinery.
4.8
Undesirable effects
Frequencies are defined as follows: common (>1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare
(≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available
data). Adverse event frequencies have been estimated from spontaneous reports from post-marketing
data.
Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
Common
Blood and
lymphatic
system
disorders
Immune system
disorders
Uncommon
Rare
Haemolytic
anemia.
Hypersensitivity
reactions
(urticaria,
Very rare
Blood count
changes
(leucopenia,
thrombocytopenia).
These are usually
reversible.
Agranulocytosis or
pancytopenia,
sometimes with
marrow hypoplasia
or marrow aplasia.
Anaphylactic shock
(reported after a
single dose)
Unknown
Dyspnoea
Common
Uncommon
Very rare
Reversible mental
confusion,
depression and
hallucinations.
These adverse
reactions have been
reported
predominantly in
severely ill patients,
in the elderly and in
nephropathic
patients.
Headache
(sometimes severe),
dizziness and
reversible
involuntary
movement
disorders.
Reversible blurred
vision, suggestive of
accommodation
disturbances.
As with other H2
receptor antagonists
bradycardia, A-V
block, tachycardia
Vasculitis
Psychiatric
disorders
Nervous system
disorders
Eye disorders
Cardiac
disorders
Vascular
disorders
Gastrointestinal
disorders
Rare
angioneurotic
oedema, fever,
dyspnoea, throat
tightness,
bronchospasm,
hypotension and
chest pain).
These events
have been
reported after a
single dose.
Drug
hypersensitivity
hepatitis.
Abdominal
pain,
diarrhoea,
constipation,
nausea (these
symptoms
mostly
improved
during
continued
treatment).
Acute pancreatitis.
Unknown
Common
Hepatobiliary
disorders
Non-specific
Skin and
skin
subcutaneous
tissue disorders reactions
Musculoskeletal
and connective
tissue disorders
Renal and
urinary
disorder
Reproductive
system and
breast
disorders
General
disorders and
administration
site conditions
Tiredness.
Uncommon
Rare
Liver failure,
sometimes fatal,
transient and
reversible
changes in liver
function tests.
Skin rash
Elevation of
plasma
creatinine
(usually slight;
normalised
during continued
treatment)
Erectile
dysfunction.
Very rare
Hepatitis
(hepatocellular,
hepatocanalicular or
mixed) with or
without jaundice,
these were usually
reversible.
Erythema
multiforme,
alopecia
Arthralgia, myalgia.
Unknown
Acute interstitial
nephritis.
Reversible
impotence, breast
symptoms and
breast conditions
(such as
gynaecomastia and
galactorrhoea)
Fever.
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.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It
allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare
professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system
listed in Appendix V.
4.9
Overdose
Symptoms of overdose
Bradycardia and dyspnoea have been described. Uncoordinated muscle activity, seizure.
Treatment of overdose
Symptomatic and supportive therapy should be given. Ranitidine may be removed from the plasma by
haemodialysis.
Toxicity
7.5 g to an adult caused no or mild intoxication; 2.5 mg 4 times/24 hours to a 3-month-old infant
caused opisthotonus; 100-150 mg to a 3-year-old produced no symptoms after charcoal had been
administered.
5.
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
5.1
Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: H2-receptor antagonists, ATC code: A02BA02.
Ranitidine, a chemically substituted amino alkyl furane, is an H2-receptor antagonist, which
competitively blocks the action of histamine on the H2-receptor. It thereby inhibits the basal and
stimulated secretion of gastric juice, both in volume and in percentage of hydrochloric acid. Through
the reduction in the volume of gastric juice, the secretion of total pepsinogen is also reduced.
5.2
Pharmacokinetic properties
After oral administration, ranitidine has a bioavailability of about 50%. The maximum plasma
concentration (300-500 ng/ml) is reached 2-3 hours after an oral dose of 150 mg. Large individual
variations occur.
Binding to plasma protein is about 15%. The volume of distribution constitutes 1.2-1.8 L/kg in adults
and 2.5 L/kg in children. Measurement of the total clearance showed an average of 570-710 ml/min in
adults. In children and adolescents, a total clearance of almost 800 ml/min/1.73 m2 occurred, with
large interindividual variations.
Ranitidine is metabolised in the liver to ranitidine-N-oxide, N-desmethyl ranitidine, ranitidine-Soxide, and the analogue, furanic acid. After oral administration, ranitidine is eliminated within
24 hours via the kidneys as about 30% unconverted ranitidine, 6% N-oxide, a small amount in
desmethylated and S-oxidated form, and as the analogue, furanic acid. In patients with healthy
kidneys, the renal excretion is effected for the most part through tubular secretion with a renal
clearance of about 490-520 ml/min. Ranitidine is also excreted via the bile.
After oral ingestion, the average half-life in patients with healthy kidneys is 2.3-3 hours. In patients
with renal insufficiency, the half-life is doubled or trebled.
Ranitidine crosses into the cerebrospinal fluid to a very low extent.
Ranitidine may cross the placental barrier. After an intravenous injection or an oral dose of ranitidine
during pregnancy, the concentration of ranitidine in the umbilical chord corresponds to the maternal
serum concentration. Twelve hours after delivery, the blood concentration of ranitidine was very low
in the infant.
Ranitidine crosses into breast milk. Two hours after ingestion, the proportion between the milk and
plasma concentration is 1.9 (range 0.6-20.9).
Special patient populations
Children (3 years and above)
Limited pharmacokinetic data have shown that there are 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 oral ranitidine when correction
is made for body weight.
5.3
Preclinical safety data
Animal studies do not indicate any special risks for humans in terms of acute toxicity, general toxic
effects, reproduction effects, genotoxicity, or carcinogenicity.
6.
PHARMACEUTICAL PARTICULARS
6.1
List of excipients
Tablet core:
Croscarmellose sodium
Magnesium stearate
Microcrystalline cellulose
Coating:
Polymethacrylate (Eudragit E 100)
Hypromellose
Macrogol 6000
Talc
Titanium dioxide (E 171)
6.2
Incompatibilities
Not applicable.
6.3
Shelf-life
3 years.
6.4
Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 25C.
6.5
Nature and content of container
Blister packs (oPA-Al-PVC/Al).
Pack sizes:
150 mg: 10, 20, 30, 60, 90.
300 mg: 10, 14, 20, 30, 60, 90.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
6.6
Special precaution for disposal and other handling
No special requirements.
Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local
requirements.
7.
MARKETING AUTHORISATION HOLDER
Actavis Group PTC ehf.
Reykjavikurvegi 76-78
IS-220 Hafnarfjordur
Island
8.
MARKETING AUTHORISATION NUMBER(S)
<[To be completed nationally]>
<Sweden:
14009
14010>
9.
DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION/RENEWAL OF THE AUTHORISATION
<Sweden:
1998-04-03/2008-04-03>
<Date of first authorisation: {DD month YYYY}>
<Date of latest renewal: {DD month YYYY}>
<[To be completed nationally]>
10.
DATE OF REVISION OF THE TEXT
2015-07-27
<{DD/MM/YYYY}>
<{DD month YYYY}>
<[To be completed nationally]>