Worst Pills, Best Pills

An expert, independent second opinion on more than 1,800 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements

famotidine (PEPCID)


DRUG AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENT PROFILES

A comprehensive review of the safety and effectiveness of this drug. If the drug is not a Do Not Use product, information on adverse effects, drug interactions and how to use the medication are included.
Search results below include Drug and Dietary Supplement Profiles where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.


WORST PILLS, BEST PILLS NEWSLETTER ARTICLES

Search results below include Worst Pills, Best Pills Newsletter Articles where your selected drug is a secondary subject of discussion.

Long-Term Risks with the Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors
February 2024
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the amount of stomach acid. They are available by prescription and over the counter, and their use has increased in recent years. Although PPIs are generally safe for short-term use, they have serious long-term risks.
Review of the Gastrointestinal Drug Metoclopramide (GIMOTI, REGLAN)
April 2022
Learn about the serious adverse effects caused by the gastrointestinal drug metoclopramide, which we have designated as a Limited Use drug.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Associated With Increased Risks of Fractures and Asthma in Children
June 2021
Results of recently published studies suggest that use of the potent stomach-acid–suppressing proton inhibitor medications in children may lead to small increases in the risks of fractures and asthma.
Nitrosamine Impurities in Medications
November 2020
Since 2018, the FDA has found that certain commonly used medications contained unacceptable levels of nitrosamine impurities (contaminants) that are considered probable human carcinogens. Learn about the risks of nitrosamines and specific drugs that have been found to be contaminated with these compounds.
News Brief: FDA Announces Discovery of Cancer-Causing Contaminant in Heartburn Medication
November 2019
In this month’s news brief, we report actions taken by the FDA and regulators in other countries in response to the discovery of a probable human carcinogen in a widely used medication that suppresses stomach acid.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Linked to Dementia in the Elderly
August 2016
In this article, we review new research linking use of the heartburn and ulcer medications known as proton pump inhibitors to an increased risk of dementia.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Might Cause Chronic Kidney Disease
July 2016
Public Citizen's Health Research Group has long warned about the serious risks of the commonly used group of heartburn drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. In this article, we discuss new research suggesting that chronic kidney disease is another potential side effect of these drugs.
Avoiding Overuse of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)
March 2008
This article reviews evidence for the international epidemic of overuse of proton pump inhibitors (PPI), drugs used to treat ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There were 70 million prescriptions filled in U.S. pharmacies in 2006 for the four leading PPI drugs: esomeprazole (NEXIUM), lansoprazole (PREVACID), pantoprazole (PROTONIX) and rabeprazole (ACIPHIX). Find out about several serious side effects of these drugs such as increased community-acquired pneumonia, increased hip fractures and acute kidney inflammation. Learn about alternatives to using PPIs.
REMINDER —The Heartburn Drug Metoclopramide (REGLAN) Can Cause Drug-Induced Movement Disorders
May 2005
The use of the heartburn drug metoclopramide (REGLAN) is increasing and that this fact may result in more cases of drug-induced movement disorders from metoclopramide (Reglan)that in some cases mimic Parkinson. If you or a family member are taking metoclopramide and uncontrollable movements develop, contact the prescribing physician immediately.
Cutting Your Drug Bill While Reducing Your Risk Of Avoidable Adverse Drug Reactions: Six Examples
February 2005
This article will look at the potential savings for the individual consumer if the alternative treatments recommended in Worst Pills, Best Pills were used for six DO NOT USE drugs. All six are listed in the Drug Topics Magazine Top 200 selling drugs in U.S. in 2003. The drugs are: celecoxib (CELEBREX) used for arthritis and pain; the Alzheimer’s disease drug donepezil (ARICEPT); drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol (YASMIN 28), an oral contraceptive; esomeprazole (NEXIUM) the “new purple pill” for heartburn; montelukast (SINGULAIR), a drug approved for both asthma and hay fever; and valdecoxib (BEXTRA), an arthritis drug very similar to celecoxib.The combined sales of these six DO NOT USE drugs was $8.1 billion with more that 75 million prescriptions dispensed in 2003.
Over-The-Counter Omeprazole (PRILOSEC OTC) — There Are Better Choices For Heartburn
October 2003
You should try the non-pharmacologic interventions listed in the box below before trying antacids, histamine-2 blockers, or, as a last resort, proton pump inhibitors. If you classify yourself as a person with frequent heartburn, that is heartburn more than two days per week, and the interventions recommended above have failed, you should be under the care of a physician
Merck’s Promotion Of Its Arthritis Drug Rofecoxib (VIOXX) Crosses Legal Lines And Poses Public Danger
November 2001
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 17, 2001 made public a Warning Letter it had issued to Merck & Co. about a false and misleading promotional campaign that the pharmaceutical giant had been conducting on behalf of its blockbuster arthritis drug rofecoxib (VIOXX).The FDA said, "Specifically, your promotional campaign discounts the fact that in the VIGOR study, patients on Vioxx were observed to have a four to five fold increase in myocardial infarctions (MIs) compared to patients on the comparator nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), Naprosyn (naproxen)."