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Famotidine Intravenous for Adults
Who can administer
May be administered by registered competent doctor or nurse/midwife
Important information
- Unlicensed preparation
Available preparations
Famotidine 20mg per 2ml vial
Reconstitution
Already in solution
Dilute further prior to administration
Infusion fluids
Sodium chloride 0.9% or Glucose 5%
Methods of intravenous administration
Intermittent intravenous infusion (preferred route)
- Dilute 20mg with 100ml infusion fluid, and administer over 15 to 30 minutess
Slow intravenous injection
- Dilute each 20mg to a volume of 5 to 10ml with infusion fluid and administer over at least two minutes
Dose in adults
Usual dose
- Give 20mg every 12 hours until oral therapy can be introduced
Premedication of infusion reactions (ref 2)
- Give 20mg thirty to sixty minutes prior to infusion
- Usually given in conjunction with an H1 antihistamine and glucocorticoid
Prophylaxis of acid aspiration (Mendelson's) syndrome (ref 2)
- Give 20mg forty to ninety minutes before induction of general anaesthesia
Prophylaxis of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage from stress ulceration in seriously ill patients (ref 2)
- Give 20mg twice daily
Renal impairment
- Complete atrioventricular block has been reported in association with administration of famotidine injection
- Prolonged QT interval has been reported in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment (ref 2)
- The manufacturers advise that CNS adverse effects have been reported in patients with moderate and severe renal insufficiency
- For patients with CrCl <50 mL/minute: advise increase the dosing interval to 36-48 hours (ref 2,3)
Storage
Storage in a refrigerator at 2-80C
References
1: SPC for Famotidine IV (APP Pharmaceuticals) revised July 2011
2: UpToDate, accessed 22nd July 2020
3: Renal Drugs Handbook, accessed 22nd July 2020
4: Complete Atrioventricular Block and Cardiac Arrest following Intravenous Famotidine Administration Anesthesiology 2 1999, Vol.90, 623-626. doi:
Therapeutic classification
H2-receptor antagonists