From the Guidelines
Famotidine should be dosed at 1 mg/kg/d, divided in 2 doses, for pediatric patients with GERD, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and peptic ulcers, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1. The dosage of Famotidine varies by condition being treated and patient age.
- For pediatric patients, the recommended dose is 1 mg/kg/d, divided in 2 doses, as indicated by the Food and Drug Administration 1.
- It is essential to note that Famotidine is effective in reducing stomach acid production by blocking histamine H2 receptors on stomach cells.
- However, H2RAs, including Famotidine, have some limitations, such as the development of tachyphylaxis within 6 weeks of initiation of treatment, and are less effective than PPIs in symptom relief and healing rates of erosive esophagitis 1.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that H2RAs, including Famotidine, are generally safe in children, but caution is warranted due to potential associations with liver disease and gynecomastia, as seen with cimetidine 1.
- It is crucial to follow the healthcare provider's specific instructions, as they may adjust dosages based on the individual condition and response to treatment.
- Famotidine can be taken with or without food, but should be taken consistently at the same time each day.
- Common side effects of Famotidine include headache, dizziness, and constipation.
- Dosages should be reduced for patients with moderate to severe kidney impairment.
From the FDA Drug Label
- 1 Recommended Dosage Table 1 shows the recommended dosage of Famotidine 20 mg and 40 mg tablets in adults and pediatric patients weighing 40 kg or greater with normal renal function.
Indication Recommended Dosage Recommended Duration Active duodenal ulcer (DU) 40mg once daily; or 20mg twice daily a Up to 8 weeks b,c Active gastric ulcer 40mg once daily Up to 8 weeks Symptomatic non-erosive GERD 20mg twice daily Up to 6 weeks c Erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy 20mg twice daily; or 40mg twice daily a Up to 12 weeks Pathological hypersecretory conditions d Starting dosage: 20mg every 6 hours; adjust dosage to individual patient needs Maximum dosage 160mg every 6 hours As clinically indicated Reduction of the risk of DU recurrence d 20mg once daily 1 year c or as clinically indicated
The proper dosage of Famotidine for treating conditions like GERD, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and peptic ulcers is as follows:
- Active duodenal ulcer (DU): 40mg once daily or 20mg twice daily for up to 8 weeks
- Active gastric ulcer: 40mg once daily for up to 8 weeks
- Symptomatic non-erosive GERD: 20mg twice daily for up to 6 weeks
- Erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy: 20mg twice daily or 40mg twice daily for up to 12 weeks
- Pathological hypersecretory conditions: Starting dosage of 20mg every 6 hours, with a maximum dosage of 160mg every 6 hours, as clinically indicated
- Reduction of the risk of DU recurrence: 20mg once daily for 1 year or as clinically indicated 2
From the Research
Famotidine Dosage
The proper dosage of Famotidine for treating conditions like GERD, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and peptic ulcers is as follows:
- For peptic ulcer disease, Famotidine 20mg twice daily or 40mg at bedtime achieves healing rates and symptom relief similar or superior to those achieved by cimetidine 800mg daily or ranitidine 300mg daily 3, 4.
- For Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, individualized doses (mean 0.33 g/day) of Famotidine may be necessary to control acid secretion 3.
- For GERD, b.i.d. dosing of Famotidine is necessary for achieving adequate results, with healing rates superior to ranitidine in some comparative trials 5.
- The maximum daily dose of Famotidine can be up to 800 mg daily, and it is generally well tolerated in patients with cardiovascular, renal, or hepatic dysfunction or with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome 6.
Conditions and Dosage
Some specific conditions and their corresponding Famotidine dosages are: