Introduction
Famotid 40 is an antacid. It reduces the amount of acid produced by your stomach. It is used to treat and prevent heartburn, indigestion and other symptoms caused by too much acid in the stomach. It is also used to treat and prevent stomach ulcers, reflux disease and some other rare conditions. Famotid 40 is also commonly prescribed to prevent stomach ulcers and heartburn caused due to the use of painkillers. It must be swallowed whole with water before or after a meal. The medicine must be taken in the dose and duration advised by the doctor. This medicine should relieve indigestion and heartburn within a few hours. If the symptoms persist or get worse even after 14 days of treatment, you should consult your doctor immediately. It is not recommended to take this medicine in severe stomach disease. You can help the medicine work better by eating smaller meals more often and avoiding spicy or oily foods. Most people who take Famotid 40 do not have any side effects but the most common ones include headache, dizziness, drowsiness, diarrhea and constipation. If you do get a side effect, it is usually mild and will go away when you stop taking this medicine or as you adjust to it. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects bother you or do not go away. Before taking it, you should tell your doctor if you have any kidney or liver diseases so that your doctor can prescribe a suitable dose for you. Also, tell your doctor if you are taking other medications. This medicine is usually considered safe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding if it has been prescribed by a doctor. Avoid drinking alcohol as this can increase the amount of acid in your stomach and make your symptoms worse.
Uses of Famotid 40
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Acid reflux)
- Peptic ulcer disease
Side effects of Famotid 40
Common
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
How to use Famotid 40
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Famotid 40 is to be taken with food.
How Famotid 40 works
Famotid 40 is a histamine H2 receptor antagonist. It works by reducing the acid produced in the stomach. This helps to relieve acid-related indigestion and heartburn.
What if you forget to take Famotid 40?
If you miss a dose of Famotid 40, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Indication
Heartburn, Peptic ulcer, Dyspepsia, Urticaria, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Administration
May be taken with or without food. Reconstitution: For IV inj: Famotidine 20 mg is diluted to a total of 5 or 10 mL w/ NaCl 0.9% inj or dextrose 5% or 10% inj, lactated Ringer's, water for inj soln to provide a soln containing approx 4 or 2 mg/mL, respectively. For intermittent IV infusion: Famotidine 20 mg is added to dextrose 5% inj 100 mL or NaCl 0.9% inj, lactated Ringer's soln, water for inj soln to provide a soln containing approximately 0.2 mg/mL. IV Administration Infuse at rate no faster than 10 mg/min
Adult Dose
Oral Benign gastric and duodenal ulceration Adult: 40 mg daily at bedtime for 4-8 wk or 20 mg bid. Maintenance: 20 mg at bedtime to prevent recurrence of duodenal ulceration. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease Adult: 20 mg bid for 6-12 wk or up to 40 mg bid if there is oesophageal ulceration. Maintenance: 20 mg bid to prevent recurrence. Zollinger-Ellison syndrome Adult: Initially, 20 mg 6 hrly, up to 800 mg/day if necessary. Non-ulcer dyspepsia ; Heartburn Adult: 10-20 mg once or bid.
Child Dose
Peptic Ulcer 1-16 years: 0.5 mg/kg PO at bedtime; not to exceed 40 mg/day Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease <3 months: 0.5 mg/kg PO once daily for up to 8 weeks 3-12 months: 0.5 mg/kg PO q12hr for up to 8 weeks 1-16 years: 1 mg/kg/day PO divided q12hr; individual dose not to exceed 40 mg Heartburn <12 years: Not established >12 years: 10-20 mg q12 hr; may take 15-60 min before eating foods that could cause heartburn
Renal Dose
Renal impairment: CrCl (ml/min) Dosage Recommendation <50 Reduce the dose by half or increase dosing interval to 36-48 hr.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity.
Mode of Action
Famotidine competitively blocks histamine at H2-receptors thus reducing basal, nocturnal and stimulated gastric acid secretion. Pepsin secretion is reduced resulting in decreased peptic activity.
Precaution
Impaired renal function. Long term treatment should be avoided. Lactation: Drug enters breast milk; use not recommended
Side Effect
1-10% Headache (4.7%),Diarrhea (1.7%),Dizziness (1.3%),Constipation (1.2%) Frequency Not Defined Body as a whole: Fever, asthenia, fatigue Cardiovascular: Arrhythmia, AV block, palpitation; prolonged QT interval in patients with impaired renal function, has been reported very rarely Gastrointestinal: Cholestatic jaundice, hepatitis, liver enzyme abnormalities, vomiting, nausea, abdominal discomfort, anorexia, dry mouth Hematologic: Rare cases of agranulocytosis, pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis, angioedema, orbital or facial edema, urticaria, rash, conjunctival injection Musculoskeletal: Rhabdomyolysis, musculoskeletal pain including muscle cramps, arthralgia Nervous system/psychiatric: Grand mal seizure; psychic disturbances, which were reversible in cases for which follow-up was obtained, including hallucinations, confusion, agitation, depression, anxiety, decreased libido; paresthesia; insomnia; somnolence; convulsions, in patients with impaired renal function, have been reported very rarely Respiratory: Bronchospasm, interstitial pneumonia Skin: Toxic epidermal necrolysis/Stevens-Johnson syndrome (very rare), alopecia, acne, pruritus, dry skin, flushing Special senses: Tinnitus, taste disorder Rare cases of impotence and rare cases of gynecomastia
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy Available data in pregnant women are insufficient to establish a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes Animal data Animal reproduction studies have shown no adverse development effects at doses up to approximately 243 times, the recommended human dose of 80 mg per day for treatment of erosive esophagitis Lactation There are limited data available on presence in human breast milk; there were no effects on breastfed infant; there are no data on famotidine effects on milk production; drug reported present in milk of lactating rats; developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with mother’s clinical need for famotidine and any potential adverse effects on breastfed child or from underlying maternal condition
Interaction
Antacids slightly decrease the bioavailability of famotidine. May reduce serum concentration of ketoconazole and itraconazole.