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Pronunciation | /fəˈmɒtɪdiːn/ |
Trade names | Pepcid, Zantac 360, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a687011 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous |
Drug class | Histamine H2 receptor antagonist |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 40–45% (by mouth)[2] |
Protein binding | 15–20%[2] |
Onset of action | 90 minutes |
Elimination half-life | 2.5–3.5 hours[2] |
Duration of action | 9 hours |
Excretion | Kidney (25–30% unchanged [Oral])[2] |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.116.793 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C8H15N7O2S3 |
Molar mass | 337.44 g·mol−1 |
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Famotidine, sold under the brand name Pepcid among others, is a histamine H2 receptor antagonist medication that decreases stomach acid production.[4] It is used to treat peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.[4] It is taken by mouth or by injection into a vein.[4] It begins working within an hour.[4]
Common side effects include headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, and dizziness.[4] Serious side effects may include pneumonia and seizures.[4][5] Use in pregnancy appears safe but has not been well studied, while use during breastfeeding is not recommended.[1]
Famotidine was patented in 1979 and came into medical use in 1985.[6] It is available as a generic medication.[5] In 2022, it was the 49th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 13 million prescriptions.[7][8]