Medicine
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Factors Affect a Sufficient Ranitidine Infant Dosage?

Lee Johnson
Lee Johnson

A sufficient ranitidine infant dosage is affected by the weight of the infant, the infant’s response to the treatment, the condition being treated, and the method of administration of the drug. Both the oral and injectable doses of the drug for all conditions are expressed as a range, and the precise dosage is to be determined by the patient’s doctor. The infant’s weight also affects the amount of drug that should be administered, and dosages are listed as milligrams per kilogram (mg per kg) to account for this. The recommended ranitidine infant dosage for erosive esophagitis is between 2 and 4 mg per kg per day when the drug is administered as an injection and between 5 and 10 mg per kg per day when the drug is administered as an oral tablet.

One of the most important factors in determining what constitutes a sufficient ranitidine infant dosage is the weight of the child being treated. To account for the importance of this, all dosages for infants are expressed per kg. This means that a 20 kg infant will receive twice the dose that a 10 kg infant will. Larger infants generally need more of the drug for it to have an effect on their body, but this isn’t necessarily the case.

Ranitidine is used to treat gastric ulcers.
Ranitidine is used to treat gastric ulcers.

Different patients can react to drugs differently, and as a result, the sufficient ranitidine infant dosage can be different for different children. For example, if two infants of equal weight have a gastric ulcer, one may have a positive reaction to a 2 mg per kg dose, but the other may not. The dosage would then be increased for the infant who showed no reaction to the lower dose. The sufficient ranitidine infant dosage can double in size as a result of the infant’s response to the treatment. The decision to raise the dosage should only be made by the infant’s doctor.

Weight is a common guide when assessing the proper dose of ranitidine for a baby.
Weight is a common guide when assessing the proper dose of ranitidine for a baby.

Ranitidine can be administered either as an oral tablet or as an injection, and the method used affects the dosage required. For example, if an infant is taking the treatment for a duodenal ulcer, the recommended dosage when the drug is injected is between 2 and 4 mg per kg per day. When the drug is administered orally, the recommended dosage doubles, to 2 to 4 mg per kg administered twice daily.

Babies may become fatigued following a dose of ranitidine.
Babies may become fatigued following a dose of ranitidine.

The specific condition being treated can also be a factor in determining sufficient ranitidine infant dosage. For example, an infant taking the drug orally for gastroesophageal reflux disease would receive between 5 and 10 mg per kg per day. The oral dosage for duodenal ulcer prophylaxis is between 2 and 4 mg per kg per day.

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Ranitidine is used to treat gastric ulcers.
      By: p6m5
      Ranitidine is used to treat gastric ulcers.
    • Weight is a common guide when assessing the proper dose of ranitidine for a baby.
      By: Adam Borkowski
      Weight is a common guide when assessing the proper dose of ranitidine for a baby.
    • Babies may become fatigued following a dose of ranitidine.
      By: Dalia Drulia
      Babies may become fatigued following a dose of ranitidine.