dana asked
I started to take Zantac a few days ago. I am not feeling any relief. I was told I have GERD. How long does it usually take to start working?
At a glance
- Zantac (ranitidine) works 30 to 60 minutes after dosing. Symptom relief from conditions like GERD can take longer, from a few days to a few weeks.
Answer
Zantac (ranitidine) will begin to work and provide symptom relief 30 to 60 minutes after taking a dose by mouth.
However, if you are taking Zantac for conditions other than heartburn or indigestion (e.g. treatment of ulcers or GERD), studies suggest that it can take a few days to a few weeks of treatment before symptoms begin to improve as it generally takes long-term acid suppression for these conditions to heal and resolve.
So in your situation, as you are treating GERD, it isn't uncommon to feel as though it isn't working after only a few days.
If your condition doesn't begin to improve, or symptoms are intolerable, you should speak with your doctor about possible alternative or add-on treatments for your situation. One option is to try another class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors.
While Zantac is effective for less severe GERD, studies show that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) offer more rapid symptom relief and better healing.
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease state the following:
"...but it is clear that while some patients may have relief of symptoms and improvement or healing of esophagitis on H2RAs [H2-receptor antagonists], PPIs eliminate symptoms and heal esophagitis more frequently and more rapidly than the other agents. Both higher doses and more frequent dosing of H2RAs appear to improve results in the treatment of reflux, but are still inferior to PPIs
There are numerous considerations for PPI therapy, so it is important to speak with your doctor regarding whether or not it is appropriate for your situation.
