Clinical Use
H2-antagonists are used by clinicians in the treatment of acid-related Gastrointestinal conditions. To be specific, these indications may include:
- Peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD/GORD)
- Dyspepsia
- Prevention of stress ulcer (a specific indication of ranitidine)
People who suffer from infrequent heartburn may take either antacids or H2-receptor antagonists for treatment. The H2-antagonists offer several advantages over antacids, including longer duration of action (6–10 hours vs 1–2 hours for antacids), greater efficacy, and ability to be used prophylactically before meals to reduce the chance of heartburn occurring. Proton pump inhibitors, however, are the preferred treatment for erosive esophagitis since they have been shown to promote healing better than H2-antagonists.
Histamine H2 receptor blockers may have therapeutic benefits for CHF by blocking the action of histamine in the heart.
The H2 antagonist Ranitidine is prescribed by some urologists for patients with interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis (IC) patients have been found to have significantly more mast cells than non-IC individuals. Mast cells explode with histamine. Studies have suggested that antihistamines improve IC-related pelvic pain.
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