Pepcid
Pepcid is the brand name for famotidine, a histamine‑2 (H2) receptor antagonist used primarily to reduce gastric acid secretion. Famotidine competitively inhibits the action of histamine at H2 receptors on gastric parietal cells, thereby decreasing the stimulus for acid production. This mechanism makes Pepcid effective for the treatment of gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, Zollinger‑Ellison syndrome, and acute ulcer bleeding. It is also employed for prophylaxis of stress‑induced ulcers in critically ill patients.
The drug is administered orally as tablets or in liquid form, and also available as a rapid‑infusion
Common adverse effects include headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea. Rare side effects may involve hypokalemia, metabolic
Pepcid was developed by Eli Lilly and Company and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration