Drug of the week 4

Famotidine brand name

Pepcid

Famotidine classifiction

Antiulcer

Famotidine uses

Short term treatment for benign gastric ulcers/duodenal ulcer, GERD, to prevent heartburn

Famotidine route

P.O., I.V.

Famotidine CNS side effects

Headache, dizziness

Famotidine GI side effects

Constipation, diarrhea

Care considerations 1

Instruct patients to take prescription drug with a snack

Care considerations 2

Instruct patients to limit use of prescription drug to no longer than 8 weeks unless ordered by a physician and OTC drug to no longer than 2 weeks

Care considerations 3

Advise patient to report abdominal pain, blood in stools or vomit, black tarry stools or coffee-ground emesis

Care considerations 4

Urge patients to avoid cigarette smoking because it can increase gastric acid secretion and worsen the disease