Do you know what Famotidine helps from? Only a doctor can answer this question. If you do not have time for consultation with a doctor, then we will talk about this drug in this article.
You will learn about what properties the medication mentioned has, how much it costs, what diseases it is used for, what is included in its composition and so on.
The composition of the drug, packaging, description and form
In what form are the Famotidine medicines released? The instruction claims that this tool can be found in the form of tablets. They have a biconvex round shape, as well as a film membrane of pale brown or yellow color.
What are the ingredients of Famotidine? The composition of this medicine is simple: the main substance is famotidine. In addition to the main substance, this tool contains auxiliary substances, such as microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, magnesium stearate, talc, silicon dioxide and croscarmellose sodium.
As for the tablet shell, it consists of macrogol 6000, hypromellose, talc, titanium dioxide and dye of brown iron oxide.
The medication in question goes on sale in blisters that are packaged in paper packaging.
It should be especially noted that the Famotidine preparation, the instruction of which is presented below, is available in different dosages - 40 and 20 mg.
Features of the drug
Before answering the question of why Famotidine helps, it is necessary to tell how this drug works. According to the instructions, the drug in question is a blocker of H2-histamine receptors. It exhibits antiulcer properties.
The main substance of this medication helps to suppress the production of basal acid (hydrochloric) in the stomach. In addition, famotidine reduces the stimulation of histamine, acetylcholine and gastrin, and also increases the pH of the gastric juice, the activity of pepsin and reduces the production of HCL.
Due to the increased level of glycoproteins, this drug increases the formation of gastric mucus and stimulates the synthesis of prostaglandins. Thanks to the secretion of bicarbonate, the healing and protective properties of the drug are achieved.
The medication in question contributes to the cessation of bleeding from the stomach, the healing of damage to its mucosa and scarring of stress ulcers.
Drug properties
The drug "Famotidine" (analogues, the price of the drug are indicated below) has a weak expression of the effect on the system (oxidase) of the cytochrome P450 enzyme in the liver.
This medication begins its action after 65 minutes, it lasts about a day.
Drug kinetics
The medicine "Famotidine", the indications of which are presented below, after oral administration is absorbed from the intestine. Its concentration (maximum) in the blood is reached within three hours.
The relationship of the drug with plasma proteins is 15-20%. It is excreted in mother's milk and crosses the placental barrier.
About 30-35% of the active substance of the drug in question is metabolized in the liver. In this case, an S-oxide is formed.
The elimination of this drug occurs mainly through the kidneys. About 27-40% of the drug is excreted in the urine unchanged. The half-life of Famotidine is 3-4 hours. In people with CC less than 30 ml per minute, this indicator increases to 11-12 hours.
What helps Famotidine?
In what cases is the medication in question prescribed by doctors? According to the instructions, the indications for taking this drug are the following conditions:
- systemic mastocytosis;
- relapse prevention, gastrointestinal tract ulcer;
- reflux esophagitis;
- gastroduodenitis erosive;
- prevention of relapse associated with prolonged use of NSAIDs;
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome;
- functional dyspepsia, which is associated with increased work of the (secretory) stomach;
- gastrointestinal ulcers stressful and symptomatic;
- prevention of aspiration of gastric juice in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia (i.e., Mendelssohn syndrome);
- polyendocrine adenomatosis;
- prevention of recurrence of bleeding, including the postoperative period;
- prevention of aspiration pneumonitis;
- dyspepsia with pain in the sternum or epigastrium that occurs at night or is associated with the intake of certain foods.
Drug bans
Now you know how Famotidine helps. But before taking this medicine, you should familiarize yourself with its instructions. This medication is contraindicated for use with:
- lactation;
- in children under three years of age (with body weight less than 20 kg);
- bearing the fetus;
- hypersensitivity to famotidine, as well as other blockers of H2-histamine receptors.
With extreme caution, the mentioned drug is prescribed for hepatic or renal failure, immunodeficiency, cirrhosis with portosystemic encephalopathy and in childhood.
How to take Famotidine?
This medication is prescribed inside. The tablets are not chewed, but washed down with a sufficient amount of liquid.
For adults, only the doctor should prescribe the drug in question (depending on the indications).
With an ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the acute phase, as well as symptomatic ulcers and gastroduodenitis with erosive, this medication is recommended to take 20 mg twice a day or once in an amount of 40 mg (at night). If required, the daily dosage of this medication can be adjusted and increased to 80-160 mg.
The duration of treatment with this agent is 6-8 weeks.
For the prevention of relapse of the ulcer, the drug “Famotidine”, the contraindications of which were listed, is prescribed 20 mg once a day, at bedtime.
With dyspepsia, which is associated with increased secretory work of the stomach, it is recommended to take the medication in the same dosage.
In the presence of reflux esophagitis, the medicine is used twice a day for 20-40 mg for 6-12 weeks.
To prevent aspiration of gastric juice during general anesthesia, the medication is prescribed in an amount of 40 mg in the evening or immediately before surgery.
With Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the dosage of the drug and the duration of its use are established individually. Usually the initial dose of the drug is 20 mg. This remedy should be taken every six hours. If required, the amount of medication can be increased to 160 mg with the same frequency of administration.
In the presence of renal failure (for example, with CC less than 30 ml per minute), the daily dosage should be reduced to 20 mg.
Method of use in children
How does Famotidine help children? This remedy for babies is prescribed for the same indications as adults. With gastrointestinal ulcer in the exacerbation phase, as well as reflux esophagitis, this medicine is recommended to be taken according to the following scheme: 2 mg per 1 kg of weight per day. The specified amount of the drug is divided into two doses.
Side effects
The agent in question can cause side effects such as:
- dry mouth, arrhythmia, nausea, acne vulgaris, vomiting;
- alopecia, abdominal pain, dry skin, flatulence, decreased blood pressure, constipation;
- skin rash, diarrhea, AV block, loss of appetite, angioedema;
- hepatitis, itching, increased activity of liver enzymes, anaphylactic shock;
- acute pancreatitis, manifestations of hypersensitivity, headache;
- bronchospasm, dizziness, hyperthermia, insomnia, paresis of accommodation;
- bradycardia, anxiety, confusion, tinnitus, vasculitis;
- leukopenia, increased fatigue, increased blood urea, hallucinations, agranulocytosis, drowsiness;
- thrombocytopenia, depression, hypoplasia, nervousness, pancytopenia, psychosis;
- bone marrow aplasia, blurred visual perception, hyperprolactinemia;
- fever, decreased libido, joint pain, gynecomastia, impotence, amenorrhea, muscle pain.
Cost and analogues
The cost of a drug such as Famotidine is about 30-55 rubles. If necessary, it can be replaced by such analogues as Gastromax, Kvamatel, Gastrotid, Ulfamid, Famozol, Famodinghexal, Famosan.
Drug Reviews
The drug "Famotidine" is a very popular antiulcer drug. Patients claim that it effectively manifests itself in diseases associated with the gastrointestinal tract. Especially often it is prescribed for gastritis and ulcers.
Another advantage of this medicine is its relative cheapness.
As for negative reviews, in them very often there are complaints about the side effects of the medication.