Composition
- Antodine® 20 mg film coated tablets: Famotidine 20 mg.
- Antodine® 40 mg film coated tablets: Famotidine 40 mg.
Properties
Famotidine (Antodine®)inhibits HCL secretion through antagonism to histamine H2 receptors on the parietal cells; it is 160 times more potent than cimetidine and 20 times than ranitidine.
It does not affect cytochrome P450; therefore it has less drug interactions than other H2 receptor antagonists. Also, Famotidine has no antiandrogenic activity like other group members.
Pharmacokinetics
Famotidine (Antodine®) is well absorbed after oral administration and reaches its peak concentration in plasma in two hours.
Famotidine has the longest half life period and prolonged duration of action in comparision with other group members. It is weakly bound to plasma proteins, about 20%. A small proportion in metabolized in the liver; however it is mostly excreted in urine; about 30% is excreted unchanged.
Indications
- Peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal ulcers).
- Reflux œsophagitis.
- Persistent dyspepsia.
- Pathological hypersecretory state (e.g. Zollinger Ellison syndrome).
- Stress ulcers.
- Short bowel syndrome.
- In cases treated with cortisone and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for long periods of time.
Precautions
Antodine® crosses the placenta and is excreted in milk as other group members.Therefore it should be avoided with pregnant and lactating women, unless mandatory.
The dose should be reduced in patients with impaired renal functions according to creatinine clearance:
- 30-60 mL/min: 50% of the dose.
- Less than 30 mL/min: 25% of the dose.
Antodine® should be withdrawn gradually.
Adverse Effects
The drug is well tolerated by most patients. Yet it may rarely show some side effects such as: diarrhea, dizziness, headache, rash constipation, vomiting, or arthralgia; and very rarely may show reversible abnormalities in liver enzymes and blood dyscrasias as thrombocytopenia.
Dosage
Unless otherwise prescribed by the physician, the recommended dose is:
- Hyperacidity: 20 mg – 40 mg once daily at bed time for 4-6 weeks.
- Duodenal and gastric ulcers: Initial dose: 40 mg at bed time for 4-8 weeks. Maintenance dose: 20 mg at bed time.
- Gastroesophageal reflux: 40 mg at bed time for up to 6 weeks.
- Reflux oesophagitis: 40 mg twice daily for up to 12 weeks.
- Zollinger Ellision syndrome: 20 mg 4 times daily, higher doses up to 160 mg 4 times daily may be necessary for some patients.
How Supplied
Strips of 10 tablets in packs of 2 strips (20 mg) and 1 or 3 strips of (40 mg).
Keep all medicaments out of reach of children
Product of: AMOUN PHARMACEUTICAL CO. El-Obour City, Cairo, Egypt. ATC Code: A02BA03 .