04/29/2020
WARNING!! There has been reports that a common ingredient in an H2 anti-histamine stomach acid reducer, called FAMOTIDINE may have some benefits for COVID-19. Now it is sold out in the stores. Unlike toilet paper and paper towel, this hoarding can be dangerous.
First of all, this study is preliminary. Initial results are not impressive at all. And it was first a Chinese trial. Do I have to say more?
If it does live up to its promise, it must be administered in a mega dose via IV. This level can not be achieved by the over the counter 10mg tablets. Oral administrations has a limit of 20mg/day. Exceeding that can cause abdominal pain and severe diarrhea and cholestasis. So you just wasted your money, and you can not return tablets for a refund.If you try to take the equivalent dose orally of the IV dose, you will cause what you are trying to prevent. A trip to the ER and possibly contracting COVID-19.
If you contract COVID-19 , and are given this large dose via IV for a short period of time, there should be no harm. But if you thinking of taking the tablets prophylactically for an extended period of time, think twice.If you take it for COVID-19, and you have no GERD or acid reflux, you may cause HYPOCHLORHYDRIA of the stomach(lack of stomach acid) OR BONE LOSS. Creating a low acid environment in the stomach, prevents calcium absorption in the intestines. When this happens, the body will use the calcium reserves in the bones to buffer the body's pH. If you already have osteopenia or osteoporosis, this can create a more serious bone loss. May be almost impossible to reverse with drugs like Fosamax in a timely manner before stress fractures occur. Now some are suggesting, when an emergency of any kind is pending like this or a hurricane, that the stores trigger limits on pharmaceutical products like 1 per address in a week.