Why should omeprazole, ranitidine be taken before or after meals.?

Question: Why is omeprazole taken before a meal and why is ranitidine taken after a meal?

Answer: Omeprazole is one medicine of the group of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), it have alkaline properties, not tolerate acidic conditions. The drug is dissolved in an alkaline condition. So it is necessary to take this medicine at least 30 minutes before meals, to make the drug dissolved before absorption later.

In addition, mechanism of action of drug is inhibition of the enzyme H + / K + -ATPase in the active form, which occurs after taking meals.

Therefore, the group of PPIs drugs should be taken 30-60 minutes before a meal, in order to prepare the drug ready to inhibit the enzyme.

It is not different between taking ranitidine before or after meals. Moreover, food does not affect the absorption of ranitidine, ranitidine can be administered after a meal. Ranitidine dispensing to patients depended on the time that patients often have symptoms.

For example, if a patient has symptoms after eating the food, ranitidine may be administered at least 1 hour before meals, to reduce too much acid secretion during of taking meal.

References:

1. Brunton LL, Lazo JS, Parker KL, eds. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006 and 11e (online edition).

2. McEvoy G K. Ranitidine hydrochloride. AHFS Drug Information [serial online] 2008;: [42 screens]. Available from: URL: http: //online.statref.com/Document/Document.aspx? DocId = 928 & FxId = 1 & Scroll = 302 & Index = 0 & SessionId = C61A90CQQMZXVLQO.

3. Dana WJ, Fuller MA, Goldman MP, Golembiewski JA, Gonzales JP, Lowe JF, et al. Drug Information Handbook, 21st ed. Hudson, Ohio, Lexi-Comp, Inc .; 2012: 1080-2.