Famotidine

Famotidine belongs to a group of medicines called H2 receptor antagonist. It is used to treat gastrointestinal ailments such as heart burn and acidity. The medicine reduces the production of stomach acid to provide relief from acid indigestion and other gastrointestinal issues.

Histamine is natural body chemical that binds to H2 receptors and causes the cells to produce acid in the stomach. Famotidine blocks the histamine H2 receptors found in the stomach lining and prevents histamine from binding to them. This reduces the acid being produced in the stomach.

In addition to reducing the amount of acid in the stomach, Famotidine can also prevent excess acid from coming back into the food pipe. This relieves symptoms of heart burn and acid reflux. It is also used to heal peptic ulcers and can also relieve indigestion.

Other conditions which lead to excess production of acid in the stomach such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome can also be treated with Famotidine.

Famotidine needs to be taken orally with a glass of water. The tablets or capsules need to be swallowed without crushing or chewing. In case you use the chewable version, chew the tablet completely instead of swallowing whole. You can take famotidine with or without any food.

20 mg and 40 mg Famotidine tablets are usually recommended with a dosage of once at night or two times a day depending on the medical condition to be treated. The elderly or ones with abnormal kidney function might be recommended lower doses or lengthy intervals before multiple doses. Here are some dosage examples for common conditions:

Duodenal ulcer - One 40 mg tablet at bedtime for 4 to 8 weeks until healed. Dosage may continue after healing at 20 mg once a day up to 6 to 12 months.

Benign stomach ulcer - One 40 mg tablet at bedtime for 4 to 8 weeks or less.

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and similar conditions - Starts with 20 mg tablet every 6 hours or may vary according to patient.

GERD - Two 20 mg tablets a day.

Acid indigestion, heartburn, or sour or upset stomach - 10 mg or 20 mg for adults. In order to alleviate heartburn and acidity, take the medicine 15 minutes to 1 hour before eating indigestion-inducing food or drinks. Dosage is affected by many factors such as body weight, medical conditions and other medications being taken by the patient.

Follow the dosage your doctor recommends and use it according to how it is prescribed. If you miss a tablet, do not double dose within 24 hours unless advised by your physician.

Side Effects

While the medicine is not attributed to any serious side effects, some people may experience them due to their previous medical history, conditions or other factors. Contact your doctor if you notice the following persistent adverse effects from the medicine:

• Headache
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Bruising and bleeding
• Infection indicated by fever, sore throat and chills
• Depression, restlessness or mental side effects

Immediately seek medical help if you have some of the more serious effects such as irregular heartbeat, fainting, seizures, serious allergic reaction or dizziness.

Consult your pharmacist or physician in case you notice any other adverse effects.

Warnings

Here are some things to consider before starting your treatment with Famotidine:

• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to H2 blockers or have any other allergies.
• Do not use it if you are pregnant unless advised by your doctor.
• Children under 12 years of age should not be given Famotidine unless advised by a doctor.
• Consult your doctor before taking Famotidine if you have kidney and liver problems or stomach tumour.
• Stomach cancer has similar symptoms to ulcers and doctors may prescribe famotidine to heal ulcers. This can delay the diagnosis of stomach cancer. Ensure that your doctor has eliminated the possibility of cancer before starting your treatment.

Precautions    

Caution is advised for older people who may be more susceptible to side effects such as confusion, dizziness and fatigue. If you notice any serious symptoms such as heartburn paired with dizziness, arm pain and weight loss, contact your doctor right away.

High-Risk Groups

High-risk groups for famotidine include:

• People allergic to H2 blockers or other inactive ingredients in the medicine
• Elderly people
• People with liver problems, kidney diseases or tumours
• Pregnant women

Famotidine is used to treat:

• Peptic ulcers
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
• Indigestion and heart burn

You can buy Famotidine tablets online in UK from [this website] after filling out a prescription form. Ensure that you are following the prescribed dosage by your physician. Misuse of the drug in any way can have potentially harmful effects on your health.