Can you take Zantac with Tums

What is Zantac? What is Zantac used for?

Zantac is a Brand name for a medicine which active ingredient is ranitidine. It is available as a prescription and OTC product. Ranitidine belongs to the group of antihistamines H2- antagonists that works by decreasing stomach acid production. Zantac is prescribed for stomach and intestinal ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

It can be also used for the management of acid-related damage of esophagus lining. It can be also used to treat hyperacidity in stomach, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a very rare condition. It is sometimes used as a prevention of stress ulcers, that can be caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspiration of stomach acid during anesthesia.

Zantac is available in the form of   capsules in doses of 150 and 300 mg, film coated tablet in doses of 150 and 300 mg, oral solution in dose of 15 mg, and intramuscular/intravenous solution in dose of 25mg/ml. Zantac OTC is also available in the form of tablet in dose of 75 mg.  Ranitidin is approved by FDA in 1984.

What are Tums? What are Tums used for?

Tums are a Brand name for OTC product that contains calcium carbonate as an active ingredient. Calcium carbonate belongs to the group of antacids drugs which work by neutralizing stomach acid in the body. It is used for symptomatic relieve of stomach upset due to acid reflux also known as heartburn or to relieve gas.

Because of containing calcium, Tums can be taken to help increase calcium levels in women with osteopenia who have not yet developed osteoporosis. It can be also prescribed for patients on dialysis in order to lower high phosphate levels in their blood. Tums are available in the form of sugar-free chewable tablets in doses of 500 mg, 750 mg, 1000 mg and 1250 mg.

How Zantac and Tums work in the body?

Ranitidine from Zantac is antagonist of histamine H2-receptors. It works as a competitive inhibitor of histamine of the parietal cell in gastrointestinal tract. Ranitidine inhibits normal acid secretion by parietal cells and also the secretion of acid during meals.

It does that by two mechanisms: ECL release of histamine in the stomach is antagonized from binding on H2 receptors of parietal cells which stimulate acid secretion, and also hormones that promote acid secretion such as acetylcholine and gastrin have a reduced effect on parietal cells when the H2 receptors are blocked.

Calcium carbonate from Tums is an inorganic salt that works by neutralizing stomach hydrochloric acid in gastric secretions. It also inhibits pepsin actions by increasing the pH of stomach.

It also has cytoprotective effects that occur by increasing bicarbonate ion (HCO3-) and prostaglandins. Neutralization of stomach acid results in the calcium chloride, carbon dioxide and water formation. About 90% of calcium chloride is converted to insoluble calcium salts.

Can you take Zantac and Tums together?

Since there are no major interactions between Zantac and Tums, these drugs can be taken together, and this combination should work fine in decreasing stomach acid and treating heartburn, high stomach acid production and esophageal reflux disease.

The best option is to take them 1 to 2 hours one after another. However, patients always need to consult their doctor first before they take anything on their own, because they may have serious disorders which can’t be treated with this combination.

can you take ranitidine and tums at the same time

Tums and Zantac side effects

Common side effects that Zantac may cause include:

  • Headache (3%)
  • Abdominal pain
  • Agitation
  • Alopecia
  • Confusion
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Hypersensitivity reaction
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Frequency Not Defined

Very rare Zantac’s side effects:

  • Pancreatitis (rare)
  • Thrombocytopenia (rare)
  • Pancytopenia (rare)
  • Agranulocytosis (rare)
  • Acquired immune hemolytic anemia (rare)
  • Arthralgia (rare)
  • Myalgia (rare)
  • Anemia
  • Necrotizing enterocolitis in fetus or newborn

There are little incidence of Tums side effects. Some of them can be:

  • Anorexia
  • Constipation
  • Flatulence
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hypophosphatemia
  • Milk-alkali syndrome

Precautions and warning during Zantac and Tums use

  • Calcium carbonate is classified in FDA Pregnancy Category C list of drugs, which means that it’s not clear whether it could harm an unborn baby.
  • Calcium carbonate can pass into breast milk, but it is considered safe for breastfeeding mothers.
  • People who are allergic to Tums should not take it.
  • Patients who have kidney stones, high levels of calcium in their urine, or low levels of phosphate in the blood should not take Tums.
  • Patients on digoxin (Lanoxin, Cardoxin,  Lanoxicaps, Digitek) therapy and those that might have abnormally high levels of digoxin in the blood should not take Tums.
  • Before taking Tums, patients should tell their doctor if they have the following conditions: some pancreas disease, heart disease, problems with absorbing nutrients from food, problems with low levels of stomach acid known as achlohydria.
  • Zantac may increase the risk of developing pneumonia. Patients should call their doctor immediately if they experience shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, or other signs of pneumonia.
  • Heartburn symptoms are often confused with heart attack symptoms. Patients should seek emergency medical care if they experience chest pain, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, a heavy feeling in the chest, sweating, or any other signs of heart trouble.
  • Before taking Zantac, patients should tell their doctor if they have or have ever had: porphyria, phenylketonuria, kidney or liver disease.
  • Patients should tell their doctor and laboratory personnel if they are taking Zantac before having any lab work, as this medicine can impact the results of certain laboratory tests.
  • OTC Zantac should not be taken for longer than two weeks unless doctor prescribes otherwise.
  • If Zantac is taken for stomach ulcers, it might take up to 8 weeks before an ulcer heals. Keep using the medication as your doctor prescribes and tell your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve after six weeks.

Tums and Zantac interactions with other drugs

  • Zantac may interact with anticoagulants (blood thinners) drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin) and with Triazolam (Halcion).
  • Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Zantac or Tums. Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach damage.
  • Tums should never be taken with antibiotic drug ceftriaxone (Rocephin)
  • Tums should be also avoided in combination with following drugs:
  • K-Phos (potassium acid phosphate)
  • Sodium phosphate
  • Sodium acid phosphate
  • Aczone (dapsone)
  • Kionex, Kayexalate (sodium polystyrene sulfonate)
  • Sprycel (dasatinib)
  • Antifungal medications like Sporanox (itraconazole) and Kolegel, Extena, or Nizoral (ketoconazole)
  • Nimotop (nimodipline)
  • Medications for HIV/AIDS such as Reyataz (atanazavir) and Rescriptor (delavirdine)
  • Antibiotics like Declomycin (demeclocyclin), Terramycin (oxytetracycline), tetracycline and  Solodyn, Arestin (minocycline).

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