Two medicines, side by side
Lansoprazole vs ranitidine
Lansoprazole and ranitidine are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of lansoprazole since 1995 and of ranitidine since 1983. In FDA's classes, lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and ranitidine a histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the lansoprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 24, 2025); the ranitidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 1, 2026).
Highlights of the lansoprazole record
Lansoprazole (Prevacid) · label of June 24, 2025
Used for
From the label: indications• treats frequent heartburn (occurs 2 or more days a week) • not intended for immediate relief of heartburn; this drug may take 1 to 4 days for full effect
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 10, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 59 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.106 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 15
Highlights of the ranitidine record
Ranitidine (Zantac) · label of May 1, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsRanitidine Tablets, USP are indicated in: Short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer. Most patients heal within 4 weeks. Studies available to date have not assessed the safety of ranitidine in uncomplicated duodenal ulcer for periods of more than 8 weeks. Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of acute ulcers. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 9, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 47
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Lansoprazole label of June 24, 2025, Ranitidine label of May 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do lansoprazole and ranitidine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and ranitidine a histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Generics: lansoprazole since 2009; ranitidine since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Lansoprazole | Ranitidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Proton Pump Inhibitor | Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life is 2.5 to 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 10, 1995 | June 9, 1983 |
| First generic approved | November 10, 2009 | July 31, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 59 labelers | 8 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.106 per capsule (Lansoprazole DR 30 mg capsule) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | +0.7% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 15 | 47 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 177,061 | 230,803 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to lansoprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions