Famotidine (Pepcid)

ATI-format individual drug card with NCLEX-focused assessment, safety, teaching, and source attribution.

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GI / Liver / PancreasRenal / Urinary / Electrolytesneeds review

Famotidine (Pepcid)

ATI class: H2 receptor antagonist / GI acid reducer

Action

  • Blocks H2 receptors in stomach parietal cells to decrease gastric acid secretion.

Therapeutic use

  • GERD
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Heartburn
  • Stress ulcer prophylaxis when ordered

Nursing assessment

  • Assess abdominal pain, reflux symptoms, GI bleeding cues, and response to therapy.
  • Review renal function because dose adjustment may be needed.
  • Monitor older adults for confusion or CNS effects.

Administration

  • PO
  • IV

Side effects

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea

Adverse effects

  • Confusion in older adults or renal impairment
  • Dysrhythmias with rapid IV administration
  • Hypersensitivity

Interactions

  • Drugs needing acidic gastric pH for absorption
  • Other acid suppressants when duplicated

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity

Precautions

  • Use caution with kidney impairment and older adult confusion risk.

Client teaching

  • Report black stools, vomiting blood, trouble swallowing, or unintentional weight loss.
  • Do not use OTC acid reducers long term without provider guidance.
  • Avoid trigger foods if they worsen reflux.

Medication outcomes

  • Reduced heartburn/reflux symptoms
  • Ulcer healing support
  • Reduced gastric acid secretion

Antidote / rescue

  • No specific antidote is seeded; overdose care is supportive.

NCLEX priority cues

  • GI bleeding cues outrank routine heartburn teaching.
  • Renal impairment increases dose-review importance.
  • Confusion in an older adult can be medication related.

Medication classes

GI acid reducers

Source attribution

Engage_MedTable_Famotidine (1).pdf
ati-pdf
Google Drive source topic: Over-the-counter meds
google-drive
Sentinel pharmacology API reference
sentinel-api
Manual ATI-format NCLEX normalization
manual-seed

Related study cards

Shows the medication class, ATI cues, source references, and connected study cards for this drug.

12 study links
Med classmedication class
GI acid reducers

Reduces stomach acid so irritated tissue can heal and reflux symptoms decrease.

ATI cueNursing Assessment
Assess abdominal pain, reflux symptoms, GI bleeding cues, and response to therapy.

ATI medication nursing assessment concept.

ATI cueClient Teaching
Avoid trigger foods if they worsen reflux.

ATI medication client teaching concept.

ATI cueMechanism of Action
Blocks H2 receptors in stomach parietal cells to decrease gastric acid secretion.

ATI medication mechanism of action concept.

ATI cueNCLEX Priority Cue
Confusion in an older adult can be medication related.

ATI medication nclex priority cue concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
Confusion in older adults or renal impairment

ATI medication adverse effect concept.

ATI cueSide Effect
Constipation

ATI medication side effect concept.

ATI cueSide Effect
Diarrhea

ATI medication side effect concept.

ATI cueSide Effect
Dizziness

ATI medication side effect concept.

ATI cueClient Teaching
Do not use OTC acid reducers long term without provider guidance.

ATI medication client teaching concept.

ATI cueInteraction
Drugs needing acidic gastric pH for absorption

ATI medication interaction concept.

ATI cueAdverse Effect
Dysrhythmias with rapid IV administration

ATI medication adverse effect concept.