midazolam vs ranitidine
Side-by-side comparison of midazolam and ranitidine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Other Drug Interactions Caution is advised when midazolam is administered concomitantly with drugs that are known to inhibit the P450-3A4 enzyme system such as cimetidine (not ranitidine), erythromycin, diltiazem, verapamil, ketoconazole and itraconazole. The effect of single oral doses of 800 mg cimetidine and 300 mg ranitidine on steady-state concentrations of midazolam was examined in a randomized crossover study (n=8). Ranitidine increased the mean steady-state concentration to 62 ng/mL.
Recommendation: Use caution when taking these medicines together. Your doctor may need to watch you closely for extra sleepiness.
Versed
Zantac
Midazolam is a medicine that makes you feel calm, relaxed, and sleepy. It can also cause you to forget things that happen while you are taking it.
Ranitidine (Zantac) helps reduce stomach acid. It can relieve heartburn and sour stomach.
Midazolam is used to sedate you before a surgery or procedure to help you relax and feel less anxious. It can also be used to help you feel calm during procedures like bronchoscopies or endoscopies. Midazolam can also be used to start general anesthesia before you get other medicines.
This medicine treats heartburn caused by acid indigestion and sour stomach. You can also take it to prevent heartburn. It can prevent heartburn caused by eating or drinking certain foods and drinks.
Midazolam belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. It works by slowing down activity in your brain and nervous system. This helps to reduce anxiety, promote relaxation, and cause sleepiness.
Ranitidine is an H2 receptor antagonist. It works by blocking histamine. Blocking histamine reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes.
- • Decreased breathing rate
- • Tenderness at the injection site
- • Pain during injection
- • Headache
- Convulsions 1,373
- Low blood pressure 1,296
- Medicine affecting another medicine 1,088
- Poisoning from different substances 846
- Sudden kidney damage 845
- Breast cancer 24,853
- Prostate cancer 22,252
- Colon and rectal cancer 17,674
- Bladder cancer 16,746
- Kidney cancer 16,278
Midazolam can cause serious breathing problems, including slowed or stopped breathing. This is more likely to happen if you are also taking opioid pain medicines. You must be closely monitored by trained medical staff while receiving midazolam. Make sure the facility has the equipment and medicines needed to treat breathing problems immediately.
No specific warnings noted.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Midazolam may harm an unborn baby. It is not known if midazolam passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medicine while breastfeeding.
No pregnancy information available.
Also Compare, Nearby Drugs
Compare midazolam with
Compare ranitidine with
How to Read This midazolam vs ranitidine Comparison
midazolam is classified in the Benzodiazepine drug class, while ranitidine sits within the H2 Receptor Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, midazolam has 5,448 submissions while ranitidine has 97,803. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to ranitidine can cause midazolam levels to build up in your body. this happens because the drug is processed more slowly than usual.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between midazolam and ranitidine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.