Zantac, can't digest food?

Question

I have been through hell with health issues in the past year, and I've been getting much worse this past week. Had a lot of nausea going on and got prescribed Zantac (ranitidine). Took my first dose the night before last, was feeling a little better yesterday afternoon, then in the evening I ate a baked sweet potato and felt bloated, crampy, and tight all over my back and abdomen. I was also feeling lightheaded and weak while I was having these feelings. This sort of varied in severity throughout the evening but I was able to eat more and felt pretty decent by the time I went to bed. Then I took more Zantac, woke up crampy and nauseous, ate some cereal, now I am lightheaded and my stomach hurts and I need to eat something else but I'm afraid to. Could the Zantac be messing with my digestion and making me feel worse?

jemma116 · Answer

Keep a diary of what you eat (including ingredients in food) and drink to find a pattern to see if any particular food is making you worse so that you can then avoid it.

Avoid fatty and spicey foods and fizzy drinks and nothing fried.  Make sure you drink plenty of fluids.

Have you had tests carried out on your digestive tract to rule out ulcers and halibacter pilori?

Tests for halibacter are done initially by blood test (first time only) and then by breath tests.  If you have an ulcer, a biopsy would find out if this is caused by the Halibater Pilori bacteria and would have to be treated accordingly to get rid of the bacteria.

Best wishes

silverfox67 · Answer

There are so many antiacids on the market it's hard to say which one will work for you.  My doctor prescribed Omeprazole (Prilosec).  It worked for a couple of weeks and then the GERD, Reflux and heartburn came back.  I think I'll try apple cider vinegar and water next.  I hear it really works.

fiesty179 · Answer

I too was prescribed zantac (Ranitidine) and I began taking them last week for nausea and was having light chest pain.( Less serious Zantac side effects may include:headache (may be severe);drowsiness, dizziness;sleep problems (insomnia);decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm; or swollen or tender breasts (in men);nausea, vomiting, stomach pain; or diarrhea or constipation so yes those are some of the side effects your having. I have the chest pains, tender breasts and dizziness it ***** to.