Pepcid

Pepcid’s generic name is Famotidine. Famotide is called Histamine H2 receptor antagonist. Moreover, Pepcid belongs as well to the anti-ulcer agents, gastric acid secretion inhibitor and urticaria therapy adjunct group of medicines.

Pepcid is a drug used to treat and prevent recurrence of duodenal ulcers. It is also used as a treatment for Zollinger-Ellison disease, overproduction of acid in the stomach and gastric ulcer. In some cases, other H2 blockers are used to treat acid indigestion, souring stomach and heartburn. This drug is also given to patients who are about to undergo surgical operation to avoid nausea after the operation.

There are different forms of this drug. There is a Pepcid AC, Pepcid Injection, Pepcid Oral Suspension and Pepcid tablets. OTC or over the counter Pepcids are also available but it is more recommended to have an official prescription in order to be safe. Merck & Company was the first to develop Famotidine drugs. As compared to cimetidine, another H2 blocker, Famotidine drugs like Pepcid are thirty times more effective and active.

1985 was the year of first Famotidine release. In 1999, Pepcid was marketed as oral disintegrating tablet. The FDA defines oral disintegrating tablets as those tablets that do not need to be swallowed. These drugs are often placed in the tongue and break up in seconds. Later in 2001, another popular form of Pepcid was the chewable tablet that combined antacid and Famotidine.

Certain conditions must be checked first before the patient is given an official prescription. It is proper to discuss with the doctor if you have an allergic reaction to food, dyes, preservatives, certain drugs and H2 blockers like cimetidine, nizatidine, Famotidine and ranitidine.

Talk about your medical conditions with your doctor. The doctor must be informed of your kidney disease, liver disease, phenylketonuria, weak immune system and porphyria. Taking Pepcid with this medical condtions may affect your food digestion, cause risk of stomach infection, low levels of acid in the stomach and worsen the side effects of the drug in your body.

Discuss with the doctor of your pregnancy state or plan to get pregnant. Several studies and animal tests have been conducted regarding the effect of Pepcid in pregnant patients. Human tests however were not yet made. Interestingly, a laboratory test of H2 blockers on rats showed an undesirable effect on the male rat’s sexual development. A separate study with rabbits also showed the harmful effects of H2 blockers causing minimal birth weight and miscarriage. Make it a point to discuss this important matter clearly with your doctor.

When breast-feeding, the doctor may adjust or disqualify you from taking Pepcid. So make sure to tell the doctor if you are currently nursing your baby. H2 blockers may have negative effects on the mother’s milk and may result to low production of acid in the stomach and heightened excitement.

Adult patients may have a larger sensitivity to the H2 blockers as compared to young patients. Make sure to discuss this matter clearly with your doctor and be oriented with the benefits and risks of using Pepcid with your age.

Drugs interactions are common with Pepcid. But certain drugs can cause harmful effects on the body. It may be a side effect or allergic reaction to the ingredients of Pepcid so make sure to tell your doctor about the medicines that you are taking. Drugs that interact with Pepcid include: aminophylline, caffeine, anticoagulants, metoprolol, Phenytoin, oxtriphylline, propranolol, tricyclic antidepressant, theophylline, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, doxepin, nortriptyline, protriptyline, trimipramine, ketoconazole and itraconazole.

Once given a prescription, be informed of the Pepcid side effects. You may develop a Pepcid allergy along the medication, so make sure to contact your doctor if you begin to experience troublesome side effects. Always follow the directions on the use of Pepcid to reap its treating benefits for your condition.