Famotidine is a gastric medicine.
It is used to treat conditions caused by excessive acidity in your stomach, such as ulcers in the stomach or duodenum (upper portion of the small intestine) and reflux disease (also known as "heartburn", in which there is a backward flow of food or acid from your stomach into your mouth, leaving a sour or bitter taste).
This medicine treats these conditions by reducing the amount of acid your stomach makes.
This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as decided by your doctor.
Take Famotidine exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
This medicine may be taken with or without food. Try to take it at the same time each day.
This medicine is available as tablet or oral suspension.
If you are taking an oral suspension, shake the bottle well before you take it to ensure that the liquid is evenly mixed. Use the measuring spoon or cup provided to measure your dose.
You may need to take Famotidine for some time before the full benefits can be felt. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- lung disease
- weak immune system due to a disease
- other serious stomach disease
- kidney disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving Famotidine to a child.
For as long as you are taking this medicine, you may need to have blood tests to check your body’s response to the medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
Famotidine may cause dizziness, headache or confusion. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: tiredness, fever, muscle and joint pain, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach discomfort, taste disturbance, muscle cramps, numbness or tingling sensation, dry skin, rash, itching, acne, redness on the face or neck, loss of appetite, low libido, swelling around the eyes, face, arms or legs; red eyes, sudden urge to fall asleep, ringing in the ears, difficulty sleeping, wheezing or whistling sound when inhaling, coughing, and tightness in the chest and back.
This medicine may cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Alert your doctor if you have a fever, or a cough or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Alert your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicine for fungal infection e.g. ketoconazole
- medicines for HIV infection e.g. delavirdine, atazanavir, fosamprenavir
- dasatinib (medicine for cancer)
- cefditoren (antibiotic)
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Famotidine.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.