The increased acidity of the gastric juice contributes not only to the appearance of discomfort, but also to the development of serious diseases such as erosion and an ulcer of the mucous membrane. Therefore, at the first signs of such a deviation, you should immediately consult a gastroenterologist.
Fortunately, many different drugs are released today that suppress the secretion of hydrochloric acid. The most inexpensive and affordable means include the Famotidine medication. Reviews of doctors about the mentioned medicine will be presented later.
Release form, packaging, description and composition
The drug "Famotidine" is available in the form of small tablets. They have a round and biconvex shape, as well as a yellow or brown shell.
The active substance of this agent is famotidine. In addition to it, the composition of the drug includes auxiliary components in the form of magnesium stearate, corn starch, microcrystalline cellulose, silicon dioxide, talc and sodium croscarmellose.
As for the shell, it consists of hypromellose, talc, macrogol 6000, titanium dioxide (E171) and brown iron dye.
The drug "Famotidine", the photo of which is presented in this article, is available in blisters that are contained in packs of cardboard.
Pharmacology of antiulcer drug
What is the medicine Famotidine remarkable for? Reviews report that it is a competitive histamine antagonist. By acting on the H2-histamine receptors of parietal cells, it reduces the secretion of hydrochloric acid caused by various irritants. Its basal production also decreases. In this case, to a lesser extent, inhibition of secretion caused by pepsinogen occurs.
Taking the drug in question does not change the level of gastrin in the blood. The duration of its action with a single use depends on the dosage and is 12-25 hours.
Drug kinetics
Where does the absorption of Famotidine take place? Reviews say that after oral administration, the drug is rapidly absorbed from the digestive tract. In this case, the peak of its concentration is achieved in the blood within 1-3 hours.
Communication with plasma proteins is 17-20%. The drug is excreted in breast milk and crosses the placental barrier.
About 30-37% of famotidine is metabolized in the liver. Its elimination from the body is via the kidneys.
Indications
Why is the drug Famotidine indicated? The use of this tool has a positive effect on the state of the digestive tract with:
- erosive gastroduodenitis;
- ulcer and prevention of its relapses;
- functional dyspepsia ;
- symptomatic and stressful ulcer;
- reflux esophagitis;
- polyendocrine adenomatosis;
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome;
- systemic mastocytosis;
- prevention of recurrence of bleeding in the postoperative period;
- prevention of aspiration of gastric juice in people undergoing surgery under general anesthesia (with Mendelssohn syndrome) ;
- prevention of aspiration pneumonitis;
- dyspepsia with sternal or epigastric pain that occurs at night or after eating.
Contraindications for taking antiulcer tablets
When should you not use Famotidine tablets? Reviews say that the following conditions are contraindications to this drug:
- breast-feeding;
- pregnancy;
- age up to three years and body weight up to 20 kg;
- hypersensitivity to famotidine and other H2-histamine receptor blockers.
With extreme caution, this medicine is prescribed for immunodeficiency, liver or kidney failure, in childhood, and cirrhosis with encephalopathy (portosystemic).
How should I take Famotidine tablets?
Reviews report that this medicine is taken orally without chewing.
Adults with a gastrointestinal ulcer and erosive gastroduodenitis are prescribed 20 mg of the drug twice a day. If required, the daily dosage may be increased to 80 or 160 mg. Such therapy should last at least 4-8 weeks.
In the presence of dyspepsia, which is associated with increased secretory work of the stomach, patients are prescribed 20 mg of the drug once a day.
For the prevention of recurrence of ulcers, the drug is used at 20 mg per day before bedtime.
With Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the dosage of the drug and the duration of the course of therapy are set individually. The initial dose of the medication with this diagnosis is usually 20 mg. It is taken every 6 hours. If necessary, it can be increased to 160 mg.
With reflux-esophagitis, the drug is used 20-40 mg twice a day for six to twelve weeks.
For children older than three years with an ulcer and reflux esophagitis, the medication is prescribed at a rate of 2 mg / kg per day.
Side effects
What side effects are inherent in the drug "Famotidine"? Reviews of doctors indicate the following reactions:
- dry mouth, increased fatigue, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal pain, drowsiness, constipation, loss of appetite, nervousness, increased activity of liver enzymes, skin rash, acute pancreatitis;
- confusion, bradycardia, hallucinations, vasculitis, hyperthermia;
- arrhythmia, dry skin, decreased blood pressure, AV block;
- alopecia, leukopenia, acne vulgaris, blurred visual perception, anti-neurotic edema, itching, agranulocytosis, bronchospasm;
- headache, nausea, insomnia, restlessness, flatulence, tinnitus, diarrhea, depression, hepatitis, psychosis, paresis of accommodation;
- anaphylactic shock, hypoplasia, manifestations of hypersensitivity;
- thrombocytopenia, amenorrhea, pancytopenia, hyperprolactinemia, bone marrow aplasia;
- gynecomastia, impotence, fever, joint pain;
- decreased libido, muscle pain, increased urea in the blood.
Reviews
Experts say that Famotidine is not the most effective anti-ulcer drug. Despite this, it is very often used in the complex treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.
As for patients, they argue that in the first days of treatment, this drug works very well. Subsequently, its action is terminated.