Famotack 20 mg

Indication:

Famotack 20 mg is indicated for the treatment of-

• Benign Gastric and Duodenal Ulcers: Treatment of acute ulcers and maintenance therapy to prevent recurrence.
• Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD): Relief of symptoms like heartburn and acid regurgitation; treatment of erosive esophagitis.
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: Management of pathological hypersecretory conditions.
• Prevention of Acid Aspiration: In patients undergoing general anesthesia (Mendelson’s syndrome prophylaxis).

Dogase & Adminstration:

• Adults (Oral):
  • Benign Gastric/Duodenal Ulcers: 40 mg at night for 4–8 weeks. For maintenance, 20 mg at night.
  • GORD: 20 mg twice daily for 6–12 weeks. For severe esophagitis, 40 mg twice daily.
  • Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: Initially 20 mg every 6 hours, increased as necessary up to 800 mg daily in severe cases.
• Children (Oral – Based on BNFC):
  • For Peptic Ulcer & GORD (1 month to 18 years): 0.5 mg/kg (up to 20 mg) twice daily.
  • Maximum Dose: Usually 40 mg daily for children, unless specified by a specialist.

Administration: Can be taken with or without food. For nocturnal acid control, the dose is best taken at bedtime. Tablets should be swallowed with water.

”রেজিস্ট্রার চিকিৎসকের পরামর্শ অনুযায়ী ঔষধ সেবন করুন”

Pharmacology:

• Mechanism of Action: Famotidine is a competitive inhibitor of histamine at the H2-receptors of the gastric parietal cells. By blocking these receptors, it significantly reduces both the concentration and volume of gastric acid secretion.
• Pharmacodynamics: It suppresses basal, nocturnal, and stimulated gastric acid secretion (stimulated by food, caffeine, or insulin). Its potency is approximately 20 times that of cimetidine on a weight basis. It does not affect gastric emptying or pancreatic secretion.
• Pharmacokinetics: It is incompletely absorbed (40-45% bioavailability). It is 15-22% protein-bound. Elimination occurs primarily via the kidneys (65-70%) and metabolism in the liver. The elimination half-life is approximately 2.5–3.5 hours, but it is prolonged in patients with renal impairment.

Side Effects:

• Common: Headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea.
• Rare: Dry mouth, anorexia, fatigue, and hypersensitivity reactions (urticaria, anaphylaxis).

Drug Interaction:

• Famotidine does not inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzyme system; therefore, it has fewer drug interactions than cimetidine.
• It may reduce the absorption of drugs requiring acidic pH (e.g., Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Atazanavir).
• Use with Antacids may slightly decrease famotidine absorption

Pregnancy & Lactation:

• Pregnancy: Not recommended unless essential. Benefit must outweigh potential risk.
• Lactation: Famotidine is excreted in breast milk; breastfeeding should be discontinued or the drug avoided to prevent potential effects on the infant’s acid secretion.

Over Dosage:

Overdose symptoms are similar to regular side effects. Management involves gastric lavage, symptomatic treatment, and supportive clinical monitoring.

Therapeutic Class:

H2-Receptor Antagonist (H2RA); Anti-ulcerant.

Storage Conditions:

Store below at 30°C  temperature in a dry place. Away from light and out of reach of children. Do not use the medication after its expiration date.