While many college students have not heard of Tagamet HB200, as a nurse it will help when assessing elderly patients, since many elderly use it in the treatment of stomach ulcers. If mixing and misusing OTC drugs is common for the average young adult, think of how common misuse may be in the elderly patient consuming 12 medications a day that are prescription, and topping those off with several OTC medications.
Since the elderly may have developed the condition of hyper acidity, this medication is wonderful for treating the discomfort that comes with the condition. The elderly patient also does not have to make a doctors appointment to get a prescription, which allows them to go to the store conveniently on their own time. It is also a great over-the-counter medication to treat and prevent stomach ulcers which can lead to even bigger problems in an elderly patient.
Although effective for solving gastric conditions, misuse can result in increased levels of other drugs in the blood and decreased absorption of other drugs (which is a problem for an elderly patient since they are taking so many medications at once). Over-the-counter Tagamet HB200 is only for occasional use to prevent heartburn, acid indigestion, and sour stomach.
Tagamet HB200 is often seen and used by the elderly, and if uninformed, can have dangerous side effects when misused. Many elderly are guilty of polypharmacy and overusing medications. Left unaware of major side effects and consequences of mixing medications such as blood thinners, oral asthma medication, seizure medications, calcium channel blockers (heart medications), or even mixing antacids with this drug may be devastating and have toxic side effects.
Tagamet HB200 affects the cytochrome P450 drug metabolism in the liver of other medications and can increase the level of these drugs in the blood to toxic levels. The consequences could be deadly if unaware of the effects on the body. There are also many drugs that are absorbed in an acidic stomach, which ultimately become ineffective in acidic conditions of the stomach. This can lead to the worsening of their conditions the individual may have from lack of medication, which the individual may not understand and wouldn't know how to reverse the effects.
Tagamet HB200 can be greatly misused by the public if left uneducated of its effects on other drugs. Its uses may be effective but dangerous unless used properly and informing a physician of all drugs being taken at that time.
Points for the public to take home, provided by rxlist.com:
- "Do not take tagamet if you are taking any sort of cancer drugs
- Do not take tagamet if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast feeding
- Do not take tagamet if you have liver or kidney issues" (Rxlist.com, http://www.rxlist.com/tagamet-drug.htm#at)
- "Remember not to mix anticoagulants with this medication
- Teach your patient that this medication is for hyper acidity, but should only be taken occasionally
- Keep in mind that this medication comes in both a suspension, and tablet. Make sure that if your patient is currently needing this medication, that they can swallow a tablet safely, or else suggest the suspension (tell them to shake the medication before every use)" (Rxlist.com, http://www.rxlist.com/tagamet-drug.htm#at)
Would you bring this up to your grandparent next time you see Tagamet in their medicine cabinet?
Sources: www.tagamethb.com, www.medicimnet.com/ametidine/article.htm
Sources: www.tagamethb.com, www.medicimnet.com/ametidine/article.htm
This will no doubt become of greater concern in the near future as the baby boomer generation is now starting to enter the age where this drug is necessary. Through reading your post I understand that certain drugs should be avoided but what are some of the most common symptoms of Tagamet misuse.
ReplyDeleteCommon symptoms of cimetidine overdose can range from trouble breathing(shortness of breath)and rapid heart rate(tachycardia) to coma and loss of life. As you can see these symptoms are very extreme from each other, which is why informing your physician of medications taken while on Tagamet and educating yourself on how these drugs interact is important. Always inform your physician on ALL drugs being taken, OTC and prescription, because even OTC drugs like Tagamet HB200 can have severe drug interactions that can lead to a fatality.
ReplyDeleteNote: Other side effects could be drug toxicity of another drug being taken. Tagamet inhibits cytochrome P450 in your liver which alters the amount of other drugs in your blood stream.