FAMOTIDINE

(fam OH ti deen) Brand: Heartburn Relief, Leader Acid Reducer, Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Pepcid AC Maximum Strength

What is the most significant information I must know about famotidine?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to famotidine or similar medications such as ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), or nizatidine (Axid).

• Till taking famotidine, speak your doctor if you have kidney or liver malady, a history of Long QT syndrome, stomach cancer or another problems, or asthma, COPD, or another breathing problems.

• Avoid taking cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), or nizatidine (Axid) while you are taking famotidine, unless your doctor has told you to.

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Famotidine may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes changes in diet or lifestyle habits. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

• Heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart onslaught. Search abnormal medical attention if you have chest pain or hard feeling, pain spreading to the hand or shoulder, nausea, sweating, and a common ill feeling.

What is famotidine?

• 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 many acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Famotidine also treats gastroesophageal reflux malady (GERD) and another conditions in which acid backs up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

• Famotidine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking famotidine?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to famotidine or similar medications such as ranitidine (Zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet), or nizatidine (Axid).

• Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safety for you to take famotidine if you have:

· kidney malady;

· liver disease;

· a private or family history of Long QT syndrome;

· stomach cancer or another problems; or

· asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary malady (COPD), or another breathing problems.

• FDA pregnancy category B. This medicine is not expected to be deleterious to an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Famotidine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take famotidine?

• Use exactly as directed on the label, or as predesigned by your doctor. Do not use in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• The chewable tablet should be chewed thoroughly till swallowing.

• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) for 5 to 10 seconds till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Although most ulcers heal within 4 weeks of famotidine treatment, it may take up to 8 weeks of using this medication till your ulcer heals. For excellent results, hold using the medicine as directed. Conversation with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 6 weeks of treatment.

• Famotidine may be only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes changes in diet or lifestyle habits. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and easy.

• Throw away any unused famotidine liquid that is older than 30 days.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, quick heart course, or fainting.

What must I avoid while taking famotidine?

• Avoid drinking alcohol. It can magnify the risk of hurt to your stomach.

• Avoid taking cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), or nizatidine (Axid) while you are taking famotidine, unless your doctor has told you to.

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What are the possible side effects of famotidine?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Stop using famotidine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· light bruising or bleeding;

· quick or pounding heartbeat;

· confusion, hallucinations, seizure;

· numbness or tingly feeling; or

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;

· dry mouth;

· dizziness, weakness, mood changes;

· headache; or

· muscle cramps, joint pain.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect famotidine?

• Speak your doctor about all another medications you use, especially:

· atazanavir (Reyataz);

· itraconazole (Sporanox);

· ketoconazole (Nizoral); or

· aspirin or another 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.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with famotidine. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about famotidine.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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