Details

Famotidine a histamine-2 blockers. Famotidine works by decreasing the amount of acid the stomach produces. Famotidine is used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines. It also treats conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Famotidine also treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions in which acid backs up from the stomach into the oesophagus, causing heartburn. Ask a doctor if it is safe for you to use famotidine if you have kidney disease liver disease cancer stomach or a personal or family history of Long QT syndrome. Do not use famotidine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.

Typical Uses

Famotidine is used to treat ulcers of the stomach and intestines and to prevent intestinal ulcers from coming back after they have healed. This medication is also used to treat certain stomach and throat (oesophagus) problems (such as erosive oesophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease-GERD, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). It works by decreasing the amount of acid your stomach makes. It relieves symptoms such as cough that doesn't go away, stomach pain, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing. Famotidine belongs to a class of drugs known as H2 blockers. This medicine is used to prevent and treat heartburn and other symptoms caused by too much acid in the stomach (acid indigestion).

Side Effects

Stop using famotidine and inform your doctor immediately if you have fast or pounding heartbeats with severe dizziness or unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark coloured urine. Other side effects of famotidine include headache dizziness or constipation or diarrhoea.

Drug Interactions

• Famotidine+atazanavir- Talk to your doctor before using atazanavir together with famotidine. Combining these medications may interfere with the absorption of atazanavir and reduce its effectiveness. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Famotidine+tizanidine- Using tizanidine together with famotidine is generally not recommended. Combining these medications may significantly increase the blood levels and effects of tizanidine. This may cause blood pressure to fall excessively, especially when you rise from a sitting or lying position. The risk of other side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting may also increase.

Mechanism of action

Famotidine belongs to a class of medication call H2 blockers. It acts by preventing release of excess acid by the stomach thus treating the above mentioned conditions.

Pregnancy Category : B