Famotidine, calcium, and magnesium

What is the most important information I should know about famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

Do not use more than two tablets in 24 hours.

Stop using famotidine, calcium, and magnesium if stomach pain continues or if you need to take this product for more than 14 days. You may have a more serious stomach condition that requires different treatment.

What is famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

Famotidine is in a class of drugs called histamine receptor antagonists. Famotidine works by decreasing the amount of acid your stomach produces.

Calcium and magnesium are naturally occurring minerals that neutralize acid in the stomach.

Together, famotidine, calcium, and magnesium are used to relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach.

Famotidine, calcium, and magnesium may also be used for conditions other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

Do not take famotidine, calcium, and magnesium if you

• are allergic to famotidine or other acid reducers;
• are taking another famotidine product (Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Pepcid RPD) or another acid reducer; or
• have trouble swallowing.

Before taking famotidine, calcium, and magnesium, talk to your doctor if you take any other prescription medicines. Famotidine, calcium, and magnesium may interact with other medicines and you may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Do not take famotidine, calcium, and magnesium without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Do not take famotidine, calcium, and magnesium without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not use this medication to treat a child younger than 12 years of age.

How should I take famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

Take famotidine, calcium, and magnesium exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

To relieve symptoms, chew one tablet thoroughly, then swallow. Do not swallow the tablets whole.

Famotidine, calcium, and magnesium can be used up to twice a day.

Do not use more than two tablets in 24 hours.

Stop using famotidine, calcium, and magnesium if stomach pain continues or if you need to take this product for more than 14 days. You may have a more serious stomach condition that requires different treatment.

In addition to taking this medication, other tips for managing heartburn include:

• Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating.
• Do not eat late at night, or just before bedtime.
• Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause heartburn, such as rich, spicy, fatty, and fried foods; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; and even some fruits and vegetables.
• Eat slowly and do not eat big meals.
• If you smoke, quit smoking.
• If you are overweight, lose weight.
• Raise the read of your bed.
• Wear loose fitting clothing around your stomach.

Store famotidine, calcium, and magnesium at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a famotidine, calcium, and magnesium overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased saliva production, difficulty breathing, and a fast heartbeat.

What should I avoid while taking famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

In addition to taking this medication, other tips for managing heartburn include:

• Do not lie flat or bend over soon after eating.
• Do not eat late at night, or just before bedtime.
• Certain foods or drinks are more likely to cause heartburn, such as rich, spicy, fatty, and fried foods; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; and even some fruits and vegetables.
• Eat slowly and do not eat big meals.
• If you smoke, quit smoking.
• If you are overweight, lose weight.
• Raise the read of your bed.
• Wear loose fitting clothing around your stomach.

What are the possible side effects of famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

Side effects are not expected to occur with the use of famotidine, calcium, and magnesium. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect famotidine, calcium, and magnesium?

Before taking famotidine, calcium, and magnesium, talk to your doctor if you take any other prescription medicines. Famotidine, calcium, and magnesium may interact with other medicines and you may not be able to take this medication, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has additional information about famotidine, calcium, and magnesium written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Famotidine, calcium, and magnesium is available over-the-counter under the brand name Pepcid Complete. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2003 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.03. Revision date: 2/13/04.