nizatidine: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Exclude gastric malignancy where clinically indicated; symptom improvement does not rule it out.
• Review renal function because nizatidine is principally cleared by the kidneys.
• Use cautiously in hepatic or renal impairment.
• Safety and efficacy have not been established in children.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to nizatidine, another H2-receptor antagonist or any product excipient.

Monitoring

• Assess renal function when impairment is known or suspected.
• Investigate persistent, recurrent or alarm gastrointestinal symptoms rather than relying on symptomatic response.
• Check liver function or blood counts if symptoms suggest hepatic injury or a blood-cell disorder.

Clinical pharmacology

Nizatidine is a selective, competitive and reversible H2-receptor antagonist. Oral absorption is rapid, bioavailability is high, hepatic first-pass metabolism is limited and elimination is predominantly renal, mostly as unchanged medicine.

Formulation and product differences

• The selected product is a hard gelatin capsule.
• The capsule contains Allura red, which can cause allergic reactions, along with quinoline yellow and other colourants.
• It is supplied in blister packs or plastic bottles; not every pack size may be marketed.

Capsule

Route: Oral

Strengths: 150 mg, 300 mg