What is pepcid good for

Questions or comments? Call toll-free or collect. Our Products. Understanding Heartburn. Compare Heartburn Treatments. Compare H2 Blockers VS. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Do not let anyone else take your medicine.

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Generic alternatives may be available. Famotidine pronounced as fa moe' ti deen. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? Keep in mind that you will be switched to the oral version of Pepcid once you can start taking medication by mouth. The recommended dosage for IV Pepcid in adult patients is 20 mg intravenously every 12 hours.

Doses used for famotidine are adjusted for elderly adults, people who have kidney disease, and for children who weigh less than 40 kilograms 88 pounds. Keep in mind that dosing adjustments are important for both the prescription strength and the OTC formulations. Be sure to discuss any adjustments in OTC dosing with your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

All dosages discussed are recommended by the manufacturer. Children : Children who weigh less than 40 kilograms kg should not use the 20 mg or 40 mg tablets, and should use an oral suspension instead.

The recommended dose is between 0. This total dose per day is generally divided into two doses per day—one in the morning and one at bedtime.

According to the manufacturer, using Pepcid for young children under the age of 1 year should only be considered along with other conservative measures, such as thickened feedings. Elderly adults : The manufacturer recommends using the lowest possible effective dose for elderly adults who do not have kidney disease.

Adjustments for kidney disease need to be made for elderly adults who have kidney disease. Kidney disease : Your healthcare provider may recommend a dosage adjustment if you have kidney disease with a low creatinine clearance.

This measurement provides some insight into how quickly your body metabolizes and removes substances such as medications. A low creatinine clearance suggests that famotidine may remain in your body for a prolonged period of time. Store Pepcid it in its original container, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture. Do not allow liquid to freeze. Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.

Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication. In general, Pepcid is well tolerated. Long term use can diminish gastric motility and decrease secretion of gastric acid, potentially causing digestive issues, such as constipation.

Common side effects include:. Other side effects include agitation, and a susceptibility to infections such as gastroenteritis stomach or intestinal infection or community acquired pneumonia.

While serious side effects of famotidine are rare when it's used as recommended, some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these side effects, be sure to get medical attention promptly. These symptoms can rapidly worsen, potentially causing difficulty breathing. Pepcid can decrease your body's absorption of other medications due to it's impact on gastric motility and gastric acid secretion. The following medications should not be used concurrently with famotidine: cefuroxime, dasatinib, delavirdine, neratinib, pazopanib, and risedronate.

This medication is specifically noted to interact with Tizanidine, a muscle relaxant, causing effects such as low blood pressure and slow heart rate. Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. FDA Label. Famotidine also comes as an over-the-counter OTC drug. This article focuses on the prescription oral tablet. Famotidine is used to relieve symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn.

It does this by reducing the amount of acid in your stomach. It treats the following conditions:. This drug may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications. Famotidine belongs to a class of drugs called histamine-2 receptor blockers. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.

These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. Famotidine works by blocking the histamine 2 H2 receptor in your stomach. This receptor helps release acid in your stomach. By blocking this receptor, this drug lowers the amount of acid released in your stomach. Famotidine oral tablet can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking famotidine. This list does not include all possible side effects. For more information on the possible side effects of famotidine, or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The more common adult side effects for this drug are slightly different from the more common side effects for children. If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. Famotidine oral tablet can interact with several other medications. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects. Before taking famotidine, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.

Also tell them about any vitamins , herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you.