Zantac Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Zantac, including details on ranitidine, side-effects, allergic reactions, information.

Fatal injection of ranitidine: a case report.

Oliva A, Partemi S, Arena V, De Giorgio F, Colecchi C, Fucci N, Pascali VL

Institute of Legal Medicine, Catholic University, School of Medicine, Rome, Italy. antonio.oliva@rm.unicatt.it.

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac(R)), a histamine-2-receptor antagonist, is a widely used medication with an excellent safety record. Anaphylactic reaction to ranitidine is an extremely rare event and a related death has never been described in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the clinical history, histological and toxicological data of a 51-year-old man with negative anamnesis for allergic events, who died suddenly after the intravenous administration of one phial of Zantac(R) 50 mg prescribed as a routine post-surgical prophylaxis for stress ulcer. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of anaphylactic reactions related to ranitidine is low, caution needs to be exercised on administration of this drug. In addition, further study is needed to define strategies for the prevention of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients.

Published 29 July 2008 in J Med Case Reports, 2: 232.
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