Consumer Information for: ACID REDUCER

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for

ACID REDUCER is a commonly used acid reliever prescribed by doctors worldwide.

ACID REDUCER provides fast relief, treatment and prevention, day or night, from the burning and discomfort of the following symptoms caused by too much acid in the stomach:

  • Heartburn
  • Acid Indigestion
  • Upset or Sour stomach
What it does

ACID REDUCER works by reducing and controlling the amount of acid in your stomach for up to 12 hours, day or night. This is what makes ACID REDUCER different from antacids which only neutralize the acid in your stomach. Antacids do not reduce the production of excess stomach acid.

ACID REDUCER can also effectively prevent symptoms of heartburn and acid indigestion when taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating food and/or drinking beverages that cause heartburn.

When it should not be used

Do not use ACID REDUCER if you are allergic to any component of this product or have had an allergic reaction to another product that contains an acid reducer.

When you should contact your doctor

Contact your doctor if the following occur while taking or after taking ACID REDUCER as the following may be symptoms of a serious reaction/medical condition:

  • if you experience heartburn with light-headedness, sweating, dizziness, or frequent wheezing
  • if you have chest or shoulder pain with shortness of breath, sweating, pain spreading to neck, arms, or shoulders
What the medicinal ingredient is

Each tablet contains 75 mg of ranitidine, as ranitidine hydrochloride.

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Croscarmellose Sodium, Lecithin, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Red Iron Oxide, Talc, Titanium Dioxide and Xanthan Gum.

What dosage form it comes in

Tablets: 75 mg

Warnings and precautions

Avoid taking ACID REDUCER while breastfeeding.

BEFORE you use ACID REDUCER talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:

  • have a stomach or duodenal ulcer
  • are taking a prescription medicine for stomach ulcer or any other prescription drugs
  • have heart problems
  • have liver problems
  • have diabetes
  • have lung disease
  • have a weakened immune system
  • have kidney disease
  • have chest pain
  • have difficulty or pain on swallowing, experience choking or continuous stomach pain or discomfort
  • are nauseous, have severe vomiting, or have bloody or black stools
  • have heartburn that is frequent (> 3 times per week) and/or unusually severe
  • have had heartburn for over 3 months
  • suffer from porphyria (a rare blood disorder)
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • are taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), (because these medicines may be causing your symptoms) or other medications
  • experience unintended weight loss
  • are over 40 years of age and are experiencing new or recently changed symptoms of heartburn or acid indigestion
  • have any other illness, or are taking any prescription medicines, for which you are seeing a doctor regularly
  • are under 16 years of age

During the treatment if dizziness, drowsiness or vertigo occur then avoid driving motor vehicle or operating machinery or task requiring alertness.

Interactions with this medication

BEFORE you use ACID REDUCER talk to your doctor or pharmacist if: you are taking antacids, alendronate, aluminium, amoxicillin, atazanavir clavulanic acid, cefditoren, cefpodoxime, ceftibuten, cyanocobalamine, delavirdine, diltiazem, enoxacin, erlotinib, fluvastatin, fosphenytoin, triamterene, gefitinib, glyburide, itraconazole, ketoconazole, magnesium hydroxide, metformin, midazolam, pancreatin, pancuronium, pentoxifylline, posaconazole, procainamide, sucralfate, triazolam, tubocurarine and warfarin.

Do not take antacids within 30 minutes to 1 hour of taking ACID REDUCER.

Proper use of this medication

Usual Dose

Adults and children 16 years and older:
Swallow one tablet whole with a glass of water when symptoms appear, day or night. If symptoms persist for more than 1 hour or return after 1 hour, a second tablet may be taken.

For prevention of symptoms brought on by consuming food or beverages: One tablet should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating a meal or consuming beverages expected to cause symptoms.

Do not take more than 2 tablets during a 24-hour period. Stop use and consult your doctor if symptoms get worse or new symptoms develop or persist after 14 days of treatment.

ACID REDUCER and antacids should be taken 30 minutes to one hour apart.

What can you do to help avoid symptoms:

  • do not lie down or bend over soon after eating
  • if you are overweight, try to reduce excess weight
  • if you smoke, stop or cut down
  • avoid or limit foods such as: caffeine (coffee, tea, or cola drinks), chocolate, spicy or fatty fried foods and alcohol
  • try to reduce stress
  • do not eat large meals; eat late at night or before bedtime
  • raise the head of your bed
  • consider wearing loose fitting clothing around abdomen (stomach)

Overdose

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.
Side effects and what to do about them

Common side effects that have occurred with ranitidine include headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Other rare side effects observed with the use of ranitidine:

  • Different types of anemia and decrease in number of all types of blood cells;
  • Trouble sleeping or feeling sleepy
  • Blurred vision, involuntary eye movement and intraocular pressure change
  • Constipation, stomach pain, dry mouth, decrease in taste sensitivity and swelling of pancreas
  • Joint or muscle pain, tremor and uncontrolled movement
  • Weakness
  • Nervousness, feeling confused, depressed, or excited, or seeing or hearing things that are not really there (hallucinations),
  • Swelling of the spaces between renal tubes (in kidney)
  • Unable to get or maintain an erection (impotence), unusual secretion of breast milk or breast enlargement in men
  • Allergic reaction, skin itch, dermatitis and hair loss,
  • Swelling of blood vessels.

If you have any concerns about the side effects, tell your Doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk to your healthcare professional Only if severe Talk to your healthcare professional In all cases Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help
Rare
Hypersensitivity Reaction
Raised and itchy rash (hives), swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth (angioedema), chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained fever, wheezing or difficulty in breathing, feeling faint, especially when standing up, collapse 		    ✔
Very Rare
Serious Skin Reactions
Skin rash, which may blister, and look like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge) 		    ✔
Hepatitis Liver failure
Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark or tea colored urine, pale colored stools/ bowel movements, nausea/ vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, aching or tenderness on right side below the ribs 		    ✔
Cardiovascular
Slow, fast or irregular heartbeat 		    ✔
Central Nervous System
Vertigo, meningitis, dystonia (movement disorder) 		    ✔

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking ACID REDUCER, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

How to store

Keep in a safe place out of reach and sight of children.

Store between 15°C and 30°C.

Protect from light, excessive heat and moisture.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following 3 ways:

Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.

NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information

If you want more information about ACID REDUCER:

  • Talk to your healthcare professional
  • Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website; the manufacturer’s website www.labriva.com or by calling 1-800-363-7988

This leaflet was prepared by:

Laboratoire Riva Inc.
660 Boul. Industriel
Blainville, Québec
J7C 3V4

www.labriva.com

Last revised: February 11, 2019

Date modified: