Nizatidine Health Dictionary

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Nizatidine: From 1 Different Sources

n. an H2-receptor antagonist (see antihistamine) used to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers and prevent their recurrence and to treat *gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Side-effects include diarrhoea, dizziness, sweating, and headache.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

H2 Receptor Antagonists

These are drugs that block the action of HISTAMINE at the H2 receptor (which mediates the gastric and some of the cardiovascular effects of histamine). By reducing the production of acid by the stomach, these drugs – chie?y cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and nizatidine – are valuable in the treatment of peptic ulcers (healing when used in high dose; preventing relapse when used as maintenance therapy in reduced dose), re?ux oesophagitis (see OESOPHAGUS, DISEASES OF), and the ZOLLINGERELLISON SYNDROME. These drugs are now being supplanted by PROTON-PUMP INHIBITORS and HELICOBACTER PYLORI eradication therapy. (See also DUODENAL ULCER.)... h2 receptor antagonists

Antihistamine

n. a drug that inhibits the action of *histamine by blocking specific histamine receptors. Four histamine receptors have been identified (H1 to H4). H1-receptor antagonists are used for symptomatic relief of allergic conditions, such as hay fever, pruritus (itching), and urticaria (nettle rash). Many H1-receptor antagonists, e.g. *cyclizine and *promethazine, also have a strong *antiemetic activity and are used to prevent motion sickness. The most common side-effect of these drugs, especially the older antihistamines (e.g. *alimemazine, promethazine), is drowsiness and because of this they are sometimes used for sedation. Newer antihistamines, e.g. cetirizine, loratidine, mizolastine, are less sedating. Other side-effects include dizziness, blurred vision, tremors, digestive upsets, and lack of muscular coordination.

H2 receptors are mainly found in the stomach, where stimulation by histamine causes secretion of acid gastric juice. H2-receptor antagonists (e.g. *cimetidine, *nizatidine, *ranitidine, and *famotidine) block these receptors and reduce gastric acid secretion; they are used in the treatment of functional dyspepsia, *peptic ulcers, and *gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. H3- and H4-receptor antagonists have yet to find a clinical role.... antihistamine


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