Famotidine
Generic name: Famotidine
Brand Name: Pepcid
Indications:
Famotidine is indicated for the treatment of ulcers in the stomach and intestines. It is also indicated for conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid and conditions in which acid comes up into the esophagus and causes heartburn, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Dosage and Administration:
Pepcid is available for oral administration as 20mg and 40mg tablets.
Normal Dosage
The recommended adult oral dosage for ulcer is 40 mg once a day at bedtime. Most patients heal within 4 weeks; there is rarely reason to use Pepcid at full dosage for longer than 6 to 8 weeks. A regimen of 20 mg b.i.d. is also effective.
The recommended oral dosage for treatment of adult patients with symptoms of GERD is 20 mg b.i.d. for up to 6 weeks. The recommended oral dosage for the treatment of adult patients with esophagitis including erosions and ulcerations and accompanying symptoms due to GERD is 20 or 40 mg b.i.d. for up to 12 weeks
Overdose: Symptoms of an overdose include nausea, diarrhea, increased saliva production, difficulty in breathing, and a fast heartbeat.
Drug Description:
The active ingredient in PEPCID* (famotidine) is a histamine H2-receptor antagonist. Famotidine is N'- (aminosulfonyl)-3-[[[2-[(diaminomethylene)amino]-4-thiazolyl]methyl]thio]propanimidamide. The empirical formula of famotidine is C8H15N7O2S3 and its molecular weight is 337.43. Its structural formula is:
Famotidine is a white to pale yellow crystalline compound that is freely soluble in glacial acetic acid, slightly soluble in methanol, very slightly soluble in water, and practically insoluble in ethanol.
Side Effects:
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking this medication and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
- an allergic reaction
- bleeding gums
- irregular heartbeat
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Consult your doctor if the side effect persists.
Precautions:
- Avoid drinking alcohol. It can reduce the effectiveness of the drug and can damage the liver.
- Avoid taking cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), or nizatidine (Axid) while you are taking famotidine.
- Famotidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
- You should not use this medication if you are allergic to famotidine or similar medications such as ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), or nizatidine (Axid).
- Before taking famotidine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, stomach cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other breathing problems.
- The famotidine orally disintegrating tablet may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of ranitidine if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
- This drug belongs to the FDA pregnancy category B and this means that taking this drug during pregnancy may not affect the foetus. You are advised to talk to your doctor about your health conditions in detail.
Drug Interactions
Before taking this drug you are advised to consult your doctor if you are using the following drugs:
- atazanavir (Reyataz);
- itraconazole (Sporanox);
- ketoconazole (Nizoral); or
- aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), piroxicam (Feldene), and others.
