Does Zantac Affect H. Pylori Breath Test?

Posted on Thu, 8 Jun 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 8 Jun 2017 Answered on

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hey doctor,

My local doctor wanted me to do a breath test for h.pylori test before I started on Nexium again. One of the requirments was no ppis 2 weeks before the test, which I haven't had but I did have a Zantac 150mg tablet 2 days ago would that count and not able me to do the test? The doc who does the test told me to come back in a week is that really neccessary for taking Zantac?

Kind Regards,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Correct advice is given by your doctor.

Detailed Answer:
Hi There,
Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query.
Have gone through your details and i appreciate your concerns.

As per your wuery answers are-
Ranitidine is a H2 antagonist.H₂ antagonists, also called H₂ blockers, are a class of medications that block the action of histamine at the histamine H₂ receptors of the parietal cells in the stomach. This decreases the production of stomach acid.
Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor.Proton pump inhibitors are a group of drugs whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production unlike H2 blockers which are a short acting and a bit weaker agents.

So definitely Ranitidine is going to effect the results because more or less they are the same things.
Your Doctor have given you correct advice.

Thanks!!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana