Do you love your stomach? – This is a question, which the manufacturers of popular heartburn medication Pepcid address to all of us, and to which the positive answer is obvious. According to people at Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co, who in cooperation with Johnson & Johnson, market Pepcid, stomach is a human “core” and the center of nourishment. So, we are all called to love our stomachs by eating right when we can or by taking PEPCID® when we can’t.
So, let us take a closer look at this easy but mighty solution to heartburn problem. Pepcid belongs to the group of medications, called acid reducers. It means that these medicines can help to reduce the amount of stomach acid, the reflux of which usually causes heartburn feelings, and the excessive amount of which may cause digestive tract damages, including ulcers.
Pepcid contains the active ingredient, called famotidine, which is histamine H2-receptor antagonist. This group of medications works by blocking the influence of hormone histamine on the specific cells in the stomach lining, called parietal cells, which are responsible for producing gastric acid. By the way, the discovery of H2 blockers was a significant breakthrough in the treatment of heartburn and ulcers, which took place in 1970th. It is interesting to note that the prototype of histamine H2-receptor antagonists was cimetidine, known under the trade mark Tagamet. Cimitedine is said to become the first blockbuster drug ever.
Famotidine was first marketed in 1975, and this drug was 30 times more potent than cimetidine. Furthermore, the discover of acid-reducers, such as cimitedine and famitidine, made possible the development of proton pipe inhibitors (PPIs), which now hold the leadership among medications, capable of suppressing stomach acid production. By the way, just like Pepcid, modern PPIs, such as Nexium or Prilosec, also affect parietal cells in the stomach, but instead of histamine receptors, these medicines affect specific enzyme system, called H+/K+ ATPase or simply proton pump.
In spite of the tough competition on the market of heartburn medications, Pepcid remains among the popular treatment options. There are several reasons for that. First of all, Pepcid can be used for relieving heartburn symptoms, and also to prevent them. In the first case, one is recommended to swallow one tablet with a glass of water once the symptoms occur. For preventive reasons, Pepcid is recommended to be taken 15-60 minutes before eating food or beverages that are known as heartburn triggers.
Another key benefit of Pepcid is that the medication is available over-the-counter. It means that one can get it at a variety of places, and the medical prescription of this drug is not required. Furthermore, there are several versions of Pepcid, designed to meet the requirements of different people. Along with Original Strength Pepcid AC, Maximum Strength Pepcid AC is available to target especially tough or rapid unexpected symptoms of heartburn. Besides, one can try Pepcid Complete – chewable tablets, which ensure quick and long-lasting relief of heartburn symptoms.
Speaking about the potential side effects of Pepcid, it should be noted that just like any other medication, Pepcid may also cause some undesired effects. The most common are nausea, headache, dry mouth, and some digestive disturbances like diarrhea or constipation. When taking Pepcid for the first time, one should be careful about the possible allergic reaction. The signs of allergy are hives, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, swelling of the face, tongue or throat. It is necessary to search for urgent medical help in case of allergic reaction.
So, to sum it all up I would paraphrase the question “Love you stomach?” into an imperative “Love you stomach!” Love it, first of all by sticking to a healthy, well-balanced diet, and by following it as carefully as it is possible… In the situations when it is not possible, and your stomach starts sending you warning signals, such as heartburn, – remember that there are options to fix the situation, and Pepcid is definitely one of them.
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