what is ranitidine?
Ranitidine is an H2 histamine receptor antagonist that works by blocking histamine and thus decreasing the amount of acid released by cells of the stomach. Ranitidine was discovered in 1976 at Glaxo Pharmaceuticals, now a part of GlaxoSmithKline. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a basic health system.