PREPARATIONS:
Oral Suspension: is a smooth, mobile, off-white, homogeneous suspension
with a cherry-banana-mint flavor, containing 40 mg of famotidine per 5 ml
(8mg/ml)
Chewable Tablet: not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 12
years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been
confirmed.
Tablet: 10, 20, 40mg
Capsule: 10mg
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF:
- Famotidine is a histamine H2 antagonist. It works by reducing acid
in the stomach by blocking one of the chemicals (histamine) that
stimulates the production of stomach acid.
- If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to
Famotidine, or a comparable H2 blocker, you should not take Famotidine.
Make sure your doctor is aware of any drug reactions experienced.
- Do not take antacids within 1 hour of taking famotidine. Antacids
may decrease the effectiveness of famotidine, more so than ranitidine.
- Suspension should be prepared at the time of dispensing, and lasts
30 days.
- Shake the Pepcid suspension vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds before
measuring a dose. To ensure that you get the correct dose, use a
dose-measuring cup or spoon, not a regular table spoon to measure a dose
of the suspension. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your
pharmacist for one.
- Famotidine is very weight sensitive and should be adjusted regularly
with weight gain.
- It is best to space this med an hour either side of a PPI i.e.
prevacid or prilosec, as it may interfere with absorption but also be
too hard on a child’s stomach all that once.
- May be
taken with or without food, though most prefer to administer it 30mins
before feeding
STORAGE:
Store famotidine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and
light. Do not store in the bathroom. Discard any unused Pepcid Suspension
after 30 days.
PEDIATRIC DOSING:
Famotidine 40mg/5ml (or 8mg/ml)
Patients less than 3months of age 0.5mg/kg once per day
Patients over 3 months of age 0.5mg/kg twice per day
OTHER USES:
Treatment of erosive esophagitis, duodenal ulcers and gastric ulcers.
Also maintenance of healing of duodenal and gastric ulcers.
DRUG INTERACTIONS:
Do not take antacids within 1 hour of taking famotidine. Antacids may
decrease the effectiveness of famotidine.
Anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin), beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol),
bupivacaine, ethanol, hydantoins (e.g., phenytoin), nifedipine,
procainamide, sulfonylureas (e.g., glipizide), theophylline, or triazolam
because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased.
Sucralfate, (carafete) Nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (e.g., vecuronium)
because the effectiveness of famotidine may be decreased.
SIDE EFFECTS:
Constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; headache; nausea;
sleeplessness; stomach pain; vomiting
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