OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence for histamine2 (H2)-antagonists in the treatment of common warts. DATA SOURCES: Relevant publications were identified through a systematic search of PubMed English-language literature using the MeSH terms and key words cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, nizatidine, histamine H2-antagonists, and warts. 1. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2001 Sep;15(5):495-6. Ranitidine therapy for recalcitrant warts in adults: a preliminary study. Karaman G, Sendur N, Sevk E. However, treatment for warts can be challenging, and there is no single method of treatment that is universally effective. Conventional therapies involve the physical destruction of lesions. Ranitidine is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Ranitidine passes into breast milk. Do not take this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. The investigation results suggested that ‘cimetidine is an effective treatment for viral warts… that cimetidine activates Th1 cells to produce IL-2 and IFN-c and that their expression correlates with wart remission’, as shown below. Cutaneous warts are known to be recurrent and often resistant to therapy. Resistant warts may reflect a localized or systemic cell mediated immune (CMI) deficiency to HPV. Many modalities of treatment are in use; most of the provider-administered therapies are destructive and cause scarring, such as Molluscum contagiosum (MC) and warts are benign epidermal eruptions that result from viral infections of the skin. They are frequently encountered in the primary care setting. I have not heard of using zantac (ranitidine) in this manner. Doctors give unbiased, trusted information on the benefits and side effects of Ranitidine to treat Warts: Dr. Seck on zantac for warts: Tagamet (cimetidine) has been used with some positive benefits for difficult warts on the foot. If the warts persist without improvement after one month, I prescribe ranitidine 150 mg twice daily. At the initial and at monthly visits, I pare the warts (as tolerated by the patient) using a. Because plantar warts can be painful, it might be advisable to use another treatment along with the Tagamet, such as hydrogen peroxide, to ensure more rapid results. You can learn how to use hydrogen peroxide for warts by reading here.