For the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Famotidine binds competitively to H<sub>2</sub>-receptors located on the basolateral membrane of the parietal cell, blocking histamine affects. This competitive inhibition results in reduced basal and nocturnal gastric acid secretion and a reduction in gastric volume, acidity, and amount of gastric acid released in response to stimuli including food, caffeine, insulin, betazole, or pentagastrin.
Intravenous, mouse: LD<sub>50</sub> = 244.4mg/kg; Oral, mouse: LD<sub>50</sub> = 4686 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose include emesis, restlessness, pallor of mucous membranes or redness of mouth and ears, hypotension, tachycardia and collapse.
The bioavailability of oral doses is 40-45%.
2.5-3.5 hours
Renal clearance is 250-450 mL/min, indicating some tubular excretion.
* renal cl=250-450 mL/min