Does Famitadine take a while to work?

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

With my upcoming revision I was asking about the long term effects of PPi’s and my Dr told me that if I was really concerned we could try famotadine. So the past three days I took it twice a day as prescribed and it wasn’t bad all day but at night when I laid down the heartburn was enough to keep me awake. Does this mean it just doesn’t work for me or do I need to give it more time? The lady at the pharmacy said it took lile a week for her but I don’t know if she was on something before that. I literally took my Omeprazole the day before. Does it mayne just depend on what causing it?

[Arabesque 7,240]

I thought all PPIs started to work (reduce acid production) immediately (well within 30mins or so of taking the dose). Can understand it takes longer to feel the benefits if you’re taking it to heal ulcers, etc. but GERD… ???

Might be worth a call to your doctor to check. May be you need a higher dose. Or can you supplement it with over the counter antacids at night.

I was put on famotadine (Zantac) years ago when the thought I had ulcers which turned out to be only an over production of acid. I swear I experienced every side effect there is with it and they stated pretty much straight away.

[ShoppGirl 4,785]

8 hours ago, Arabesque said:

I thought all PPIs started to work (reduce acid production) immediately (well within 30mins or so of taking the dose). Can understand it takes longer to feel the benefits if you’re taking it to heal ulcers, etc. but GERD… ???

Might be worth a call to your doctor to check. May be you need a higher dose. Or can you supplement it with over the counter antacids at night.

I was put on famotadine (Zantac) years ago when the thought I had ulcers which turned out to be only an over production of acid. I swear I experienced every side effect there is with it and they stated pretty much straight away.

Hummm. Its weird how one person has all the side effects while the next person has none. I actually read that the famotodine loses effectiveness over time and you have to increase the dose which makes me think that eventually I would end up back on the PPI anyways so it doesn’t seem like much of a solution. Plus if they are the treatment for ulcers which I am more prone to maybe I want to save them for that issue.

Maybe I’m just overthinking this. i wish I knew how many people really have the scary side effects of long term PPi use and how many are just fine. I mean if someone is not obese they probably Just take the PPi if it controls their gerd instead of doing surgery, right? Plus they sell the over the counter and lots of people don’t even go to the Dr if they find a pill that works at the store. So there must be plenty of people who do take them for life and they are just fine. I’m on a low dose 20mg and he doesn’t seem to think its an issue.

I know that they have to list like every single side effect no matter how unlikely So maybe these are the kind of thing that only happened to like one person. I need to talk to him more about all of this. I thought I would try the over the counter stuff and see if a lower mg would work but I just checked and 20mg is what it comes in over the counter too. Anyways, thanks for your reply. I’m off to do more research. 🧐

[Arabesque 7,240]

Most over the counter versions of PPIs are 10mgs & people will swallow several of those a day regularly without thought. I’m on 20mg Nexium. Took that dose randomly for years before my surgery & now every morning since my surgery so 5 years. None of my doctors are worried so… It wears off some nights (around 10:30-12:30). Generally I just go to sleep but on odd times I’ll get up & chew a couple of Quick Ease 😁. I think if I had to start taking 40mg I’d worry.

I didn’t know what was wrong with me at first with the Zantac but a neighbour had one of those pharmacological books with every med with the brand names, uses & side effects listed & there they were. I agree they have to list the side effects just in case. You never know how any pre existing condition or other medication may react to the drug for you.