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Famotidine is a medication belonging to the competitive inhibitor of histamine H2-receptors family of drugs.
It’s indicated for use in a number of different scenarios, where reduction of gastric juice secretion could be a valuable part of a patient’s treatment plan.
The brand name for Famotidine is Pepcid, but you can also find it under the generic name Famotidine or Mylan-Famotidine. Regardless of its name, Famotidine and Mylan-Famotidine will include the same active ingredients.
If you’d like to learn more about uses for Famotidine, or how Famotidine is beneficial for GERD and acid reflux symptoms, you can click here for more information.
For those wondering, “how does Famotidine work?”, Famotidine dosages work by reducing the amount of acids that are produced by your stomach.
When you’re experiencing a condition that is being caused or worsened by excess stomach acid, Famotidine prescriptions may be suggested to help control these acid levels, as well as reduce symptoms.
What is Famotidine used to treat?
How long does Famotidine last after you take it?
Most of the side effects of Famotidine that are reported are mild, and in many cases, they may lessen or disappear as your body adjusts to your Famotidine medication.
With that in mind, when side effects of Famotidine do occur, the most frequently experienced include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
If any of these potential side effects of Famotidine begin to negatively impact your daily quality of life, you should contact your practitioner to see if they can suggest alternatives to Famotidine without interactions, or adjust your dosage of Famotidine to reduce side effects from occurring.
In addition, there are some less commonly occurring side effects of Famotidine to be mindful of, such as:
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Stomach discomfort
- Tiredness
- Rashes
- Hair loss
- Itching
- Muscle cramps
- Joint pain
- Mental disturbances
- Liver problems (causing symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, fatigue and/or jaundice)
Your practitioner may want to re-evaluate your dosage of Famotidine if you’re experiencing these side effects, or suggest an alternative treatment option to your Famotidine prescription that may work better for you.
There are a number of people who shouldn’t use Famotidine prescriptions, including:
- Anyone under the age of 18
- People allergic to Famotidine or any of its active ingredients
- People who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
- People who are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed
- People with confirmed kidney issues
- People with confirmed liver issues
Let your practitioner know if any of these conditions apply to you, as they may want to suggest an alternative to Famotidine without interactions.
What is Famotidine Generally Prescribed for?
If you’re curious about what Famotidine is used for, there are a few different conditions that dosages of Famotidine may be prescribed to treat, depending on the recommendations from your licensed healthcare practitioner.
Some of these uses for Famotidine include:
- Treating duodenal ulcers
- Treating stomach ulcers
- Treating pathological hypersecretory conditions (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome)
- Providing prophylactic protection for duodenal ulcers
- Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Providing maintenance for patents recovering from GERD
What Should I Avoid While Taking Famotidine?
As with any medication, Famotidine has other drugs that may interact with it negatively, which is why it’s vital that you let your practitioner know about any/all of the treatments that you’re currently using.
This will help them ensure that your Famotidine prescription won’t cause negative interactions with your other medications.
In addition, as it’s not recommended for use in pregnancy, you shouldn’t use Famotidine if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The same concerns apply to Famotidine medications passing through breast milk to a nursing child, so you should avoid using Famotidine while breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Drinking alcohol, especially more than 3 drinks in a day, isn’t recommended while taking Famotidine. One of the most common side effects of Famotidine is dizziness, which may be worsened by alcohol intake.
Also, alcohol intake can increase stomach acidity, which is counter-productive to the purpose of using a Famotidine prescription.
How Does Famotidine Treat GERD & Acid Reflux?
Both acid reflux and GERD symptoms are caused by excess stomach acid, which is why Famotidine is used to treat these two conditions.
Famotidine medications reduce the production of stomach acids, which can help reduce the severity and frequency of symptomatic flare-ups for those at high risk for acid reflux or diagnosed with GERD.
Can I Take Famotidine with Other Medications?
While you may be able to take other medications with your Famotidine, it’s vital that you let your practitioner know about any other treatments that you may be using, so that they can avoid potential interactions with your Famotidine prescription.
Additionally, there are some other medications that are known to cause negative interactions with Famotidine prescriptions, including:
- Warfarin
- Theophylline,
- Phenytoin
- Diazepam
- Aminopyrine
- Antipyrine
If you’re already using one of these pharmaceutical treatments, your practitioner will likely suggest alternatives to Famotidine without interactions that could cause harmful side effects.
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