Zantac (ranitidine): Buying heartburn medications online in the UK

Zantac is a branded medication used for the treatment of GORD, highly adept at efficiently providing relief from the characteristic symptoms including heartburn, acid reflux, and feelings of discomfort when swallowing food. Developed and manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Zantac is a prescription only medication that can be obtained in two forms – as a standard tablet or as mint-flavoured syrup. With a unique mechanism of action relying on the inhibition of H2 histamine receptors in the lining of the stomach, Zantac has achieved exceptional results and is prescribed by doctors throughout the UK.

What’s on this page?

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is a term denoting one of the most characteristic symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or GORD for short, a burning sensation in the chest and throat. This symptom is caused by the gastric acid rising from the stomach and reaching the oesophagus, causing certain amount of damage to the tissue there.

In healthy individuals, the rising of the stomach acid is prevented by the oesophageal sphincter, a circular group of muscles located between the food pipe and the stomach, tasked with acting as a kind of valve, allowing the food to reach the stomach and preventing the acid from rising into the oesophagus. However, when the function of these muscles is compromised for whatever reason (most commonly, because of a health condition or increased pressure on the stomach), they will fail to contract completely, allowing the gastric acid to rise up and cause the characteristic symptoms.

How does Zantac help with heartburn?

The active ingredient of Zantac is a pharmaceutical compound called ranitidine. It is classified as a H2-receptor agonist, meaning that its main mechanism of action is directly tied to its inhibitory effects on H2-receptors present within the lining of the stomach, similarly to, for example, Pantoprazole. One of the functions of these receptors is to send out a signal for producing and releasing gastric acid once histamine binds to them. With their activity blocked by Zantac, the production of stomach acid will be halted, causing its levels to rise and significantly decreasing the risk of it rising to the oesophagus, causing the characteristic heartburn.

Can I buy Zantac online?

Yes, it is possible to buy this medication online. However, if you are looking to buy Zantac in the UK, you should keep in mind that you can do so only with a valid prescription issued by a certified medical professional. This means that Zantac can’t be purchased over the counter, regardless of whether you are looking to buy it online or via the traditional route. If you are looking to simply renew your prescription, then you will have just to provide the proof that you already have a prescription. The doctor employed at the online clinic of your choice will probably ask you a couple of questions to confirm your suitability for the treatment and if everything checks out, the medicine will be sent to the address you provided.

If it is your first time buying Zantac, you will first have to obtain a prescription. In order to do so, the doctor employed at the online clinic will have to get familiar with your condition and obtain information about your medical profile and history in order to properly assess your suitability for Zantac treatment. This will usually be accomplished through a kind of a chat app or, much more commonly, through a detailed and customised medical questionnaire that you will be asked to fill in. If the doctor is assured that you can safely use Zantac and that it is the right medication for your condition, the prescription will be issued and used that same moment to have the medication sent to the address you provided.

How is Zantac used?

Prior to commencing Zantac treatment, you should be completely sure that you know all the details regarding how it is supposed to be used. Of course, the doctor will provide you with detailed instructions that should be your primary reference. If you have any remaining questions, be sure to pose them to the doctor before you begin the treatment course. And if the need arises for a quick review, you can always look for answers in the official patient information leaflet that is issued within every pack of Zantac.

Here we will provide you with some of the most general guidelines that should help you get a better idea of what Zantac treatment might involve. Please keep in mind that what follows is not intended to be used as a substitute for the official information on the topic, but just to serve as a general example.

• Always use as instructed
• If you are using tablet version, the usual starting dose will be one 150mg tablet twice per day over the period determined by your doctor
• Those with more severe symptoms might get prescribed with a higher dose
• You should try to keep the doses roughly 12 hours apart
• If you are using syrup, the usual recommended dose will be two 5ml spoons twice per day
• If Zantac is prescribed to be used in parallel with antibiotics, the recommended doses may vary significantly
• Never exceed the prescribed dose
• If you miss a dose, do not try to compensate – instead just skip it and continue with the treatment as usual

What are Zantac side effects?

Like all other prescription medications, Zantac also comes with an array of possible side effects. And while not everybody using this medicine will get affected, it is still important to get familiar with them prior to commencing treatment. That way, you will be able to act accordingly in any situation that might arise and most importantly, you will be able to distinguish between unpleasant, but harmless side effects and those which might require you to seek immediate medical attention.

The side effects that might lead to cessation of the treatment and that might require immediate medical attention include allergic reaction to the medicine, kidney problems, changes in heart rate or pancreatitis. Others, less dangerous ones include:

Please keep in mind that this is not a full list of all documented side effects. For a more comprehensive overview, please refer to the official patient information leaflet that you can find within your pack of Zantac.