Back to H2 Antagonists

Name: Famotidine

Pregnancy Category B

Drug classes

Histamine2 (H2) antagonist

Therapeutic actions

Competitively blocks the action of histamine at the histamine (H2) receptors of the parietal cells of the stomach; inhibits basal gastric acid secretion and chemically induced gastric acid secretion.

Indications

Short-term treatment and maintenance of duodenal ulcer
Short-term treatment of benign gastric ulcer
Treatment of pathologic hypersecretory conditions
Short-term treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), esophagitis due to GERD

Contraindications/cautions

Allergy to famotidine; renal failure; pregnancy; lactation.

Adverse effects

CNS: Headache, malaise, dizziness, somnolence, insomnia
GI: Diarrhea, constipation, anorexia, abdominal pain
Dermatologic: Skin rash
Other: Muscle cramp, increase in total bilirubin, sexual impotence

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