C(NC)NCCSCc1ccc(o1)CN(C)C | StdInChI_Ref = | StdInChI = 1S/C13H22N4O3S/c1-14-13(9-17(18)19)15-6-7-21-10-12-5-4-11(20-12)8-16(2)3/h4-5,9,14-15H,6-8,10H2,1-3H3 | StdInChI_comment = | StdInChIKey_Ref = | StdInChIKey = VMXUWOKSQNHOCA-UHFFFAOYSA-N | density = | density_notes = | melting_point = | melting_high = | melting_notes = | boiling_point = | boiling_notes = | solubility = | sol_units = | specific_rotation = }}Ranitidine was once a common medication used to decrease stomach acid production and was sold under the brand name Zantac, among others. It was used in treatment of peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Zollinger–Ellison syndrome. It was given by mouth, injection into a muscle, or injection into a vein. In September 2019, the probable carcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) was discovered in ranitidine products from a number of manufacturers, resulting in recalls. In April 2020, ranitidine was withdrawn from the United States market and suspended in the European Union and Australia due to these concerns. In 2022, these concerns were confirmed; in a nationwide population study "ranitidine increased the risk of liver", lung, gastric and pancreatic cancer by 22%,17%, 26% and 35%, respectively. It increased overall cancer risk 10%, p < 0.001. A 2023 Bloomberg Businessweek investigative report by Anna Edney, Susan Berfield and Jef Feeley reported and presented documentary evidence that back in a 1982 study, the manufacturer, Glaxo, had detected very high levels of the potent carcinogen NDMA developed from Zantac (ranitidine) in the presence of processed meat preservatives (nitrates). Court documents under seal show Glaxo kept the study secret, Bloomberg reported. Common side effects have included headaches and pain or burning if given by injection. Serious side effects have included cancer, liver problems, a slow heart rate, pneumonia, and the potential of masking stomach cancer. It is also linked to an increased risk of Clostridium difficile colitis. Ranitidine is an H2 histamine receptor antagonist that works by blocking histamine, thus decreasing the amount of acid released by cells of the stomach. Ranitidine was discovered in England in 1976, and came into commercial use in 1981. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is still available as a generic medication via the internet. It has been withdrawn at regulator request from most markets, including the United States; it has been discontinued globally, according to the NHS. By 2020, it was the 177th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with some 3million prescriptions, vs some 19 million 2 years earlier. Former medical uses Relief