famotidine

Brand names: Famotidine

# Famotidine Overview Famotidine is a medication used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and stomach ulcers. It works by reducing the amount of acid your stomach produces, which helps relieve the burning feeling in your chest and throat caused by acid reflux. People also use it to prevent ulcers and to treat conditions where the stomach makes too much acid. You can buy famotidine over-the-counter at lower doses, or your doctor can prescribe stronger doses if you need them for more serious conditions. Before taking famotidine, it's important to tell your doctor about any other medicines you're taking, especially a muscle relaxer called tizanidine, because famotidine can make that drug build up dangerously in your body. Also, famotidine can change how your stomach absorbs certain other medications, so some drugs may not work as well when taken together. If you have kidney problems or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before using this medication. Most people tolerate famotidine well with few side effects, but always follow the dosage instructions on the package or from your doctor to use it safely.

Known Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Drugs Dependent on Gastric pH for Absorption: Systemic exposure of the concomitant drug may be significantly reduced leading to loss of efficacy. See full prescribing information for a list of interacting drugs. ( 7.1 ) • Tizanidine (CYP1A2) Substrate: Potential for substantial increases in blood concentrations of tizanidine resulting in hypotension, bradycardia or excessive drowsiness; avoid concomitant use, if possible. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Drugs Dependent on Gastric pH for Absorption Famotidine can reduce the absorption of other drugs, due to its effect on reducing intragastric acidity, leading to loss of efficacy of the concomitant drug. Concomitant administration of famotidine with dasatinib, delavirdine mesylate, cefditoren, and fosamprenavir is not recommended. See the prescribing information for other drugs dependent on gastric pH for absorption for administration instructions, including atazanavir, erlotinib, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, nilo

Source: FDA-approved drug labeling via openFDA

Most Reported Side Effects (FAERS)

  • NAUSEA7,344 reports
  • FATIGUE6,912 reports
  • CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE6,777 reports
  • DIARRHOEA6,522 reports
  • DRUG INEFFECTIVE6,444 reports
  • OFF LABEL USE5,317 reports
  • DYSPNOEA5,235 reports
  • HEADACHE4,970 reports
  • ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY4,734 reports
  • PAIN4,656 reports

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports do not establish causation.

Check interactions with famotidine:

SafeCheck provides drug interaction information from FDA-approved product labeling (openFDA). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.