Two medicines, side by side
Rabeprazole vs ranitidine
Rabeprazole and ranitidine are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of rabeprazole since 1999 and of ranitidine since 1983. In FDA's classes, rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and ranitidine a histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the rabeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 27, 2026); the ranitidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 1, 2026).
Highlights of the rabeprazole record
Rabeprazole (Aciphex) · label of January 27, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsACIPHEX delayed-release tablets is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated in adults for: Healing of Erosive or Ulcerative Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) ( 1.1 ). Maintenance of Healing of Erosive or Ulcerative GERD ( 1.2 ). Treatment of Symptomatic GERD ( 1.3 ). Healing of Duodenal Ulcers ( 1.4 ). Helicobacter pylori Eradication to Reduce Risk of Duodenal Ulcer Recurrence ( 1.5 ). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 19, 1999
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.224 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
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 (Rabeprazole label of January 27, 2026, Ranitidine label of May 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do rabeprazole and ranitidine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, rabeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and ranitidine a histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Half-life, in each label's words: Rabeprazole, “This relatively prolonged pharmacodynamic action compared to the short pharmacokinetic half-life (1 to 2 hours) …”; Ranitidine, “The elimination half-life is 2.5 to 3 hours.”
Generics: rabeprazole since 2013; ranitidine since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Rabeprazole | Ranitidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Proton Pump Inhibitor | Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | Rabeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds (substituted benzimidazole proton-pump inhibitors) that do not exhibit anticholinergic or histamine H 2 -receptor antagonist properties, but suppress gastric acid secretion by … | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | This relatively prolonged pharmacodynamic action compared to the short pharmacokinetic half-life (1 to 2 hours) reflects the sustained inactivation of the H + , K + ATPase. | The elimination half-life is 2.5 to 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | August 19, 1999 | June 9, 1983 |
| First generic approved | November 8, 2013 | July 31, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 20 labelers | 8 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.224 per tablet (Rabeprazole sod DR 20 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | -0.4% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 47 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 38,147 | 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 rabeprazole
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions