The effect of famotidine, a new H2 receptor antagonist, on antipyrine clearance in healthy volunteers

The salivary clearance of Antipyrine (15 mg/kg p.o.) has been measured in nine healthy volunteers (5 males, 4 females) before and after 7 days treatment with Famotidine (40 mg/day at bedtime). Samples of saliva were collected twenty four hours after each dose of Antipyrine. The post-treatment sample was taken 12 hours after the last dose of Famotidine. The clearance of Antipyrine was measured by Gas-Liquid Chromatography using the simplified formula proposed by Dossing et al. (1982). After treatment with Famotidine, a slight but significant (p < 0.01) increase of Antipyrine clearance was observed in eight out of the nine subjects, suggesting some interference of Famotidine with Antipyrine metabolism.