Famotidine Prevents GI Damage in Patients Who Take Low-Dose Aspirin

The growing popularity of low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular prophylaxis is associated with a rising incidence of upper gastrointestinal complications. Proton-pump inhibitors are useful for preventing and treating aspirin-related ulcers, but they can have adverse effects and might reduce the effectiveness of clopidogrel. Famotidine (Pepcid) is effective for preventing and treating nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related ulcers but has not been studied in patients who use low-dose aspirin.

With manufacturer support, U.K. researchers randomized 404 adults who took low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular prophylaxis to receive twice-daily famotidine (20 mg) or placebo for 12 weeks. Baseline upper GI endoscopies were normal for all patients; no…