Famosan

Famosan is a drug from the pharmacological group of histamine H2 receptor blockers. Consider the indications for its use, dosage, possible side effects and other features.

The drug is an effective antiulcer drug. Before using it, the patient must undergo histological examination to exclude malignant lesions of the body. This is due to the fact that Famosan can mask the signs of carcinoma of the stomach. If the tablets are prescribed to patients with chronic renal failure, the physician individually selects the dosage. In adjusting the dose, people with impaired liver function are needed.

Indications Famosan

This drug, as well as any other drugs from the category of histamine receptor blockers is used for lesions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Let's consider the main indications for the application of Famosan:

• Gastric and duodenal ulcers
• Heartburn caused by hyperchlorhydria
• Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
• Giperacidnost gastric juice
• Systemic mastocytosis
• Exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis
• Reflux-esophagitis
• Erosive esophagitis
• NSAIDs-gastropathy
• Polyendocrine adenomatosis
• Aspiration pneumonitis
• Functional dyspepsia (associated with increased secretory function of the stomach)
• Stress and symptomatic ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract
• Dyspepsia with epigastric or chest pain (arising at night or when eating)
• Prevention of gastric bleeding in the postoperative period
• Prevention of aspiration of gastric juice.

Release form

Medicinal form of release of Famosana - tablets for oral intake, covered with enteric coating. Produced in a dosage of 20 mg and 40 mg with the active ingredient - famotodine. The tablets are covered with an enteric-coated membrane, have a lenticular shape, a brownish-pink color with a smooth surface, and on the fracture a light-colored core that is homogeneous in structure. In one cardboard bundle a blister for 10 tablets.

As auxiliary substances are: macrogol 6000, dimethicone emulsion, microcrystalline cellulose (granular), magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, lactose granular, iron oxide red / yellow and other components.

Pharmacodynamics

Medication refers to specific antagonists of H2 receptors, but has no antagonistic or agonistic effect on histamine H1, a-receptors, and b-receptors. Pharmacodynamics indicates a decrease in acid secretion of the stomach due to specific inhibition at the receptors. In this case, there is no clinically significant blockade of H2 receptors outside the gastrointestinal tract. The drug does not affect the level of prolactin, gonadotropin or testosterone. In peptic ulcer therapy, the effectiveness of reducing gastric acidity is 20-30 times higher than with cimetidine and 8-10 times greater than with ranitidine with a longer duration of action.

The main pharmacological properties include high efficiency, rapid action, long-term therapeutic effect and high specificity of binding to H2 receptors. The active substance reduces the night and daytime basal secretion of pepsin and hydrochloric acid in the stomach by 80%, as well as stimulated secretion. Also the volume of gastric juice decreases. In rare cases, inhibition of H2 receptors can cause malabsorption of vitamin B12.

The medication does not affect the basal level of gastrin in the blood, but increases at a pH above 5. It does not affect the secretion of the pancreas, the emptying of the stomach, does not change the level of stress of the lower sphincter of the esophagus. A single dose taken before bedtime, during several days, significantly improves the patient's condition.

Pharmacokinetics

The effectiveness of Famosan is largely determined by its effect after application. Pharmacokinetics indicates that the maximum concentration of the active substance in the blood comes in 1-4 hours, while after 40 mg the maximum reaches values of 0,070-0,100 mg / l. Biological activity is not dependent on food intake and is at the level of 43%. Binding to plasma proteins is weak.

About 40% of the orally taken dose is excreted unchanged in the urine. In urine appears a low concentration of the metabolite of S-oxide. With normal renal function, the elimination half-life takes 3-4 hours, and in patients with creatine clearance below 30ml / min, 10-12 hours. Famous is considered an effective means of preventing bleeding from places affected by ulcers. Can be used before anesthesia in patients prone to aspiration of acidic stomach contents. It is not used for the therapy of various clinical manifestations of functional gastric dyspepsia at a normal level of acidity and the absence of hypersecretion.

Dosing and administration

The effectiveness of the drug is largely dependent on the dosage used and the duration of therapy. Consider the method of application and dose of Famosan:

• With gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer - 40 mg once a day or 20 mg twice a day. If necessary, the daily dose is increased to 160 mg, the course of treatment is 4-8 weeks.
• With Zollinger-Ellison syndrome - 20-30 mg 3-4 times a day, the maximum dosage is 480 mg.
• When reflux-esophagitis - 20 mg twice a day, the duration of therapy is 5-6 weeks, if necessary, the dosage is increased to 40 mg, and the duration of treatment is up to 12 weeks.
• When recurring aspirations of gastric contents - 40 mg before surgery or on the morning of the day of surgery.  
• For the prevention of recurrences of ulcers - 20 mg 1 time per day before bedtime.

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Use Famosan during pregnancy

Future mothers who have any diseases, face the fact that the use of certain medications for them is prohibited. The use of Famosan during pregnancy and lactation is contraindicated. This is because the active substance passes through the blood-brain barrier, so it can be excreted into breast milk.

If you need to apply Famosan a, the expectant mother should understand all possible risks. But, as a rule, doctors choose safer medicines that do not adversely affect the development of the fetus and the body of a woman.

Contraindications

Many medications have contraindications to the use. This is due to the effect of active components on the human body. Femosan is forbidden to use for individual intolerance of its active ingredients, as well as during pregnancy and lactation.

Hypersensitivity to any other blockers of histamine H2 receptors is an absolute contraindication. Famusos are not prescribed to patients of childhood, patients with hepatic, renal insufficiency and cirrhosis of the liver with portosystemic encephalopathy.

Side effects Famosan

If the rules for the use of medicines are not complied with, adverse symptoms appear on the part of many organs and systems. Consider the main side effects of Famosan:

• From the side of the digestive system, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea most often appear. In addition, abdominal pain, exacerbation of pancreatitis, mixed hepatitis, flatulence, lack of appetite and dry mouth are possible.
• From the side of the central nervous system there are headaches, a feeling of fatigue, reversible mental disorders, sleep disorders, dizziness, a violation of taste sensations.
• In rare cases, there are such side effects as: leukopenia, lowering blood pressure, neutropenia, arrhythmia, vasculitis, bronchospasm, decreased potency and libido, impaired renal function and allergic skin reactions.

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Overdose

Exceeding the recommended dosage and duration of treatment leads to overdose symptoms. Most often, patients suffer from vomiting, tremors, low blood pressure, tachycardia, collapse and motor excitement.

To eliminate the above symptoms, it is necessary to stop the application of Famosan  and to perform gastric lavage. In the future, the patient is prescribed maintenance symptomatic therapy. Hemodialysis is effective.

Interactions with other drugs

As a rule, for the elimination of a disease, a patient is prescribed a number of medications, provided they are used simultaneously. Interactions with other drugs should be monitored by your doctor. Thus, with the use of a blocker of histamine H2 receptors with antacids that contain aluminum and magnesium, a decrease in the absorption of Famosan is observed. The break between the use of these drugs should be at least 1-2 hours.

The drug depresses the metabolism of diazepam, phenytoin, indirect anticoagulants, caffeine, phenazone in the liver. Increased absorption of clavulanic acid and amoxicillin. The drug is compatible with 0.18-0.9% NaCl solution, sodium bicarbonate solution and dextrose. When used with antacids with sucralfate, the absorption process slows down. 

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Storage conditions

Preservation of medicinal properties of tableted preparations depends on the conditions of their storage. So, the medicine should be kept in a dry place, protected from sunlight and inaccessible to children.

The recommended storage temperature is 15-25 ° C. If these conditions are not observed, the medicine deteriorates and loses its effectiveness.

Shelf life

Famosan, like any other medicinal product, has a certain shelf life. The medication is allowed to be stored for 48 months from the date of manufacture, subject to the recommendations given in the instructions. At the expiration of this time, tablets are forbidden to take and must be disposed of.