From the Guidelines
Famotidine is not a primary treatment for asthma, but it may be used as an adjunct therapy in patients with both asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to help control GERD symptoms and improve asthma control. The use of famotidine in asthma is based on the understanding that GERD can exacerbate asthma symptoms through mechanisms such as acid-induced bronchoconstriction or microaspiration of gastric contents into the airways 1. By reducing stomach acid production, famotidine may help alleviate GERD symptoms, which in turn can lead to improved asthma control in patients with both conditions.
Some key points to consider when using famotidine as an adjunct therapy in asthma patients with GERD include:
- The typical dosage for adults is 20-40 mg once or twice daily
- Famotidine does not directly treat the underlying inflammation or bronchoconstriction of asthma itself
- It should not replace standard asthma medications such as inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators
- Any use of famotidine for asthma should be under medical supervision as part of a comprehensive treatment plan addressing both conditions
It's also important to note that the primary treatment for asthma involves medications such as inhaled corticosteroids, which are the most potent and consistently effective long-term control medication for asthma, as recommended by the NAEPP guidelines 1. Long-acting beta2 agonists may also be used as an adjunct to inhaled corticosteroid therapy for providing long-term control of symptoms. However, for patients with both asthma and GERD, the addition of famotidine may be beneficial in managing GERD symptoms and improving overall asthma control.
From the Research
Use of Famotidine in Asthma
- Famotidine is a histamine H2-receptor antagonist, primarily used to treat peptic ulcer disease and other allied diseases 2, 3.
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that famotidine is used to treat asthma.
- However, famotidine may be used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is often associated with asthma 4.
- In patients with asthma, treating symptomatic GERD with famotidine or other medications may help improve asthma symptoms 4.
- Famotidine is not mentioned as a treatment for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), a condition characterized by asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and a respiratory reaction to aspirin and other cyclooxygenase-1 inhibitors 5, 6.
Mechanism of Action
- Famotidine works by inhibiting gastric acid secretion, which may help reduce symptoms of GERD and subsequently improve asthma symptoms 2, 3.
- The exact mechanism of how famotidine affects asthma symptoms is not well understood and requires further research.