Famotidine

[prunus]

Just before Christmas I was in hospital twice. I had a shortage of sodium and had two falls. My doctor was not happy about the sodium though. When I came home I found I had been given this but not a word said about it. I found out it was intended to replace my Omeprazole which I had taken on and off for twelve years. So I took it. Next I was itching all over. So I re-read the leaflet in it. Apparently one in ten have this problem. So I stopped taking it.

What do I do now? Where do I go from here?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

What do I do now? Where do I go from here?

The only realistic thing you can do is back to doctor, tell them the problem and see what they suggest.

[prunus in reply to DorsetLady]

What puts me off doing that is experience. The last time I did it I got one I read about which I was not prepared to take.

[SnazzyD in reply to prunus]

Can you tell the doctor what you don’t want? If that’s out of the question you could talk to a pharmacist, making sure you mention the low sodium.

[prunus in reply to SnazzyD]

I can tell my doctor but he is not the easiest. He had me taken to hospital on my Birthday!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You need to tell the doctor and tell them the details. You don't just stop taking a medication because it caused a rash without making sure the doctor knows - there is a reason it was given you and equally there was a reason you have stopped but if you don't tell the GP they will never know.

[prunus in reply to PMRpro]

That is true. This practice is so busy.

[Pixix]

I’ve just started taking famotidine & so far (3 days) no problem. But if I did I would go directly to my GP surgery & talk to a Dr. I’m taking it instead if Peptac for nighttime reflux problems. I also take lansoprazole, which I changed to when omeprazole stopped working. Mine is not linked to PMR, it’s linked to issues I have had for a long time. As others say, contact your Dr!

[MrsPractical in reply to Pixix]

Hi I had a seizure which was caused by low sodium. The hospital stopped my Lanzoprozole and also so anti depressants I had just been given. The only treatment was to change to 20mg Famotidine to replace Lanzoprazole and stop anti depressants and to restrict my water intake for a week to 1.5 litres of water. It worked. Within a few days the depressed feeling disappeared and two weeks after my sodium was up from dangerously low to normal. I was not told to increase salt intake at all. I dropped the 20mg famotidine to 15 mg pretty quickly and as far as I am aware I’ve had no side effects. I do find though that they are not as effective as Lanzoprazole at keeping reflux under control so I sometimes need to supplement with Gaviscon. Hope you are successful returning to your GP.

[Pixix in reply to MrsPractical]

You’ve replied to me, & my comment, but I think you wanted to reply to Prunus. If you copy & repaste in the ‘reply to Prunus’ bit it will solve it…but maybe Prunus will see it anyway?!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Pixix]

As the author, yes they will.

[Pixix in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you,

[prunus in reply to MrsPractical]

I did not realise I had any blood problems until the results came back. I thought I felt alright but I had been ill with flu.

[prunus in reply to Pixix]

Your problems and mine are different. Good luck to you with it.