Ranitidine-induced chest pain.

A 45-year-old woman with no history of heart disease twice experienced chest pain after consuming a dose of ranitidine. The chest pain, which lasted about one hour, was substernal, left of midline, dull, and pounding. H2-receptors are present in cardiovascular tissues. Although several studies have not noted an effect of ranitidine on cardiac indices there have been case reports indicating a cardiac effect. There are no reports of chest pain associated with H2-blocker ingestion; however, both bradycardia and hypotension (reported effects) might cause chest pain. A discussion of the possible mechanisms is presented.