Side Effects

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Famotidine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Seek medical advice immediately if you develop the following symptoms: • Allergic reactions: swelling of the face throat or tongue, difficulty in breathing or dizziness (anaphylaxis) • Difficulty in breathing or wheezing (bronchospasm) • Severe blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes and genitals (Stevens Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis) • Shortness of breath or dry cough due to inflammation of the lungs (interstitial pneumonia) • Swelling of the deeper layers of the skin caused by a build-up of fluid (angioneurotic oedema) Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people) • Headache • Dizziness • Constipation • Diarrhoea Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people) • Feeling and/or being sick (nausea/vomiting) • Abdominal pain • Excessive wind/feeling bloated (flatulence) • Tiredness (fatigue) • Dry mouth • Loss of appetite (anorexia) • Taste disorder • Severe itching (pruritus) • Rash • Skin rashes with the formation of wheals (urticaria) Rare side effects (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) • An increase in liver enzymes in the blood (detected through blood tests) Very rare side effects (may affect less than 1 in 10,000 people) • Reduction in blood platelets, which increases risk of bleeding or bruising (thrombocytopenia) • Reduction in white blood cells (leukopenia, neutropenia), • Reduction in white blood cells which may make infections more likely (agranulocytosis) • Reduction in blood cells which can cause weakness, bruising or make infections more likely (pancytopenia) • Reversible psychic disturbances including: o Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real) o Disorientation o Confusion o Anxiety disorders o Restlessness (agitation) o Depression o Disorders of sexual function (reduced libido) o Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia) • Inability to maintain an erection (impotence) • Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet (paraesthesia) • Sleepiness or drowsiness (somnolence) • Fits (convulsions), epileptic seizures including grand mal seizures (particularly in patients with kidney problems) • Hair loss (alopecia) • Chest tightness • Muscle cramps • Joint pain (arthralgia) • Inflammation of liver (hepatitis) • Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) • Abnormal liver function tests • Worsening of existing liver disease • Abnormal heart rhythm where the heart beats too slowly (AV block) • Disrupted heart rhythm/irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias) • Heart rhythm condition that may cause a fast heartbeat (QT prolongation) (especially in patients with impaired kidney function) Other side effects • Enlargement of breasts in men (gynaecomastia) (not known if caused by Famotidine) Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine