Axcel Famotidine-20

Uses

What is axcel famotidine used for?

Axcel famotidine is commonly used for

• Treatment of ulcers of the stomach or intestines.
• Prevention of intestinal ulcers from returning after treatment.
• Treatment of certain stomach and throat problems caused by too much acid (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, erosive esophagitis) or a backward flow of stomach acid into  the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux disease-GERD).

Dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for any medical advice. You should ALWAYS consult with your doctor or pharmacist before using axcel famotidine.

What is the dose of axcel famotidine for an adult?

Usual adult dose for duodenal ulcer:

Initial dose is recommended to be 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime or 20 mg orally twice a day. Maintenance dose is recommended to be 20 mg orally or IV once a day at bedtime.

Usual adult dose for peptic ulcer:

Initial dose is recommended to be 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime or 20 mg orally twice a day. Maintenance dose is recommended to be 20 mg orally or IV once a day at bedtime.

Usual adult dose for duodenal ulcer prophylaxis:

20 mg orally, once a day.

Usual adult dose for gastric ulcer:

40 mg orally once a day at bedtime or 20 mg orally twice a day.

Usual adult dose for gastroesophageal reflux disease:

 20 mg orally twice a day for up to 6 weeks.

Usual adult dose for erosive esophagitis:

20 to 40 mg orally twice a day for up to 12 weeks.

Usual adult dose for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome:

Initial dose is recommended to be 20 mg orally every 6 hours. Dosage adjustments are made to control gastric acid secretion. Doses up to 160 mg every 6 hours have been used.

Usual adult dose for pathological hypersecretory conditions:

Initial dose is recommended to be 20 mg orally every 6 hours. Dosage adjustments are made to control gastric acid secretion. Doses up to 160 mg every 6 hours have been used.

Usual adult dose for dyspepsia:

10 mg orally once or twice daily.

What is the dose of axcel famotidine for a child?

Peptic ulcer disease:

For children from 1 to 16 years: the recommended dose is 0.5 mg/kg/day once daily at bedtime or divided twice daily. The recommended maximum daily dose: 40 mg/day.

Hypersecretory conditions:

Initial: 20 mg every 6 hours. The recommended maximum daily dose: 160 mg every 6 hours.

Usual pediatric dose for gastroesophageal reflux disease

• Infants 1 to 3 months: oral for treatment of GERD: 0.5 mg/kg/dose once daily for up to 8 weeks.
• Infants 3 months to 1 year: oral for treatment of GERD: 0.5 mg/kg/dose twice daily for up to 8 weeks.
• Children 1 to 16 years: oral for treatment of GERD: 0.5 mg/kg/dose 2 times a day (doses up to 1 mg/kg/dose 2 times a day have been reported).
• Maximum: 40 mg/dose.

The dosage has not been established in pediatric patients. It may be unsafe for your child. It is always important to fully understand the safety of the drug before using. Please consult with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Directions

How should I take axcel famotidine?

Take famotidine by mouth with or without food, usually once or twice daily or as directed by your doctor. If you are taking famotidine once daily, it is usually taken at bedtime.

What should I do in case of an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or an overdose, call your local emergency services or go to your nearest emergency room.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of axcel famotidine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your regular dose as scheduled. Do not take a double dose.

Side effects

What side effects can occur from axcel famotidine?

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Side effects are not common, but some may include:

• Constipation;
• Diarrhea;
• Fatigue;
• Headache;
• Insomnia;
• Muscle pain;
• Nausea and vomiting;
• Dry mouth;
• Dizziness;
• Weakness;
• Mood changes;
• Joint pain.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using famotidine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• Easy bruising or bleeding;
• Fast or pounding heartbeat;
• Confusion;
• Hallucinations;
• Seizure;
• Numbness or tingly feeling;
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Not everyone experiences these side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have any concerns about a side effect, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions/Warnings

What should I know before using axcel famotidine?

Before taking famotidine,

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to famotidine, cimetidine (Tagamet), nizatidine (Axid), ranitidine (Zantac), or any other medicines containing axcel famotidine.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription axcel famotidine, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any other medicines containing axcel famotidine for heartburn. Do not take over-the-counter famotidine with any other prescription or nonprescription axcel famotidine for heartburn unless a doctor tells you that you should.
• Tell your doctor if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inborn disease in which mental retardation develops if a specific diet is not followed), and if you have or have ever had trouble swallowing or kidney disease.

Is it safe in specific conditions (e.g. pregnancy, breastfeeding, or surgery)?

There are no adequate studies in women for determining risk when using famotidine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Please always consult with your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before taking famotidine. Famotidine is pregnancy risk category B, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FDA pregnancy risk category reference below:

• A=No risk;
• B=No risk in some studies;
• C=There may be some risk;
• D=Positive evidence of risk;
• X=Contraindicated;
• N=Unknown.

Interactions

What drugs may interact with axcel famotidine?

Axcel famotidine may interact with other drugs that you are currently taking, which can change how your drug works or increase your risk for serious side effects. To avoid any potential drug interactions, you should keep a list of all the drugs you are using (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. For your safety, do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any drugs without your doctor’s approval.

• Using this medicine with Amifampridine, Piperaquine is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with famotidine or change some of the other medicines you take.
• Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Using this medicine with Cefditoren Pivoxil, Cefpodoxime Proxetil, Cyclosporine may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Does food or alcohol interact with axcel famotidine?

Axcel famotidine may interact with food or alcohol by altering the way the drug works or increase the risk for serious side effects. Please discuss with your doctor or pharmacist any potential food or alcohol interactions before using this drug.

How do I store axcel famotidine?

Axcel famotidine is best stored at room temperature away from direct light and moisture. To prevent drug damage, you should not store axcel famotidine in the bathroom or the freezer. There may be different brands of axcel famotidine that may have different storage needs. It is important to always check the product package for instructions on storage, or ask your pharmacist. For safety, you should keep all medicines away from children and pets.

You should not flush axcel famotidine down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. It is important to properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist for more details about how to safely discard your product.

How is axcel famotidine available?

Axcel famotidine is available in the following dosage forms and strengths:

• Capsule 20 mg.