It is usually taken once a day at bedtime or two to four times a day. Over-the-counter ranitidine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once or twice a day. To prevent symptoms, it is taken 30 to 60 minutes before eating or drinking foods that cause heartburn.

Should I take ranitidine in the morning or at night?

Ranitidine decreases stomach acid production. Like other functions, stomach acid production has a circadian rhythm. It's highest at night between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. When ranitidine is used for ulcers, the dose is once a day at bedtime or twice daily.

Why do you take ranitidine at night?

Bedtime ranitidine decreases gastric acid secretion and eliminates esophageal acid exposure overnight in a patient with Barrett's esophagus taking omeprazole 20 mg BID (abstr).