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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Zantac The Right Medicine For Heartburn?

Hello. I ve had heartburn for the past two days and have been taking Zantac for it. Today it is slightly worse and accompanied by intermittnat belching that has lasted for several hours as well as mild nausea. I just used the restroom and had some stool that was very dark/black in color. I realize black stool is a sign of a GI bleed, but I m also aware that certain antacids lead to dark stool. Is the ranatadine a likely cause of the black stool, or is an ulcer more likely? If an ulcer is likely and I have recently been prescribed prilosec, and am taking ranatadine, is it absolutely necessary to go to a physician, or can it wait for a few days to see if it resolves?
posted on Wed, 18 Mar 2015
Twitter Tue, 3 Nov 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 3 Nov 2015 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,
Looking to the history of burning pain in stomach, not responding with Zantac and passing dark black color stool indicates that you might be having acute gastritis or gastric ulcer.
Go for,
stool test for occult blood,
Abdominal ultra sound
or endoscopy to rule out ulcer or underlying pathology in Gastro-intestinal tract.
Meanwhile continue with Zantac or Prilosec.
Take milk diet.
avoid fried, chilies and junk food.
Ok and take care.
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Is Zantac The Right Medicine For Heartburn?

Hi, Looking to the history of burning pain in stomach, not responding with Zantac and passing dark black color stool indicates that you might be having acute gastritis or gastric ulcer. Go for, stool test for occult blood, Abdominal ultra sound or endoscopy to rule out ulcer or underlying pathology in Gastro-intestinal tract. Meanwhile continue with Zantac or Prilosec. Take milk diet. avoid fried, chilies and junk food. Ok and take care.