Gaster 10 is a Japanese H2-blocker stomach medicine (Class 1 OTC drug) by Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare for stomach pain, heavy stomach, heartburn and nausea; it is a different type from antacid stomach medicines and controls excess stomach acid.
Each tablet contains famotidine 10 mg.
Form: sugar-coated tablets in blister (PTP) sheets.

Indications

Stomach pain, heavy stomach (indigestion), heartburn, nausea / queasy stomach. Contains an H2 blocker.
Do not take it for symptoms other than those listed.

Ingredients & form

Sugar-coated tablet. Each tablet contains:
- Famotidine 10 mg
Additives: calcium hydrogen phosphate, cellulose, lactose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, corn starch, light anhydrous silicic acid, calcium stearate, sucrose, calcium lactate, macrogol, titanium oxide, talc, carnauba wax.

Dosage

Take when stomach pain, heaviness, heartburn or nausea appear, with water or hot water.
Adults (15 to under 80 years): 1 tablet per dose, up to 2 times a day.
Children under 15 and elderly people aged 80 or over: do not use.
- If symptoms persist 8 hours or more after a dose, take one more tablet.
- Stop taking it once symptoms have settled.
- If symptoms do not improve after 3 days, stop and consult a doctor or pharmacist.
- Do not take continuously for more than 2 weeks.
It is taken when symptoms appear, not at set times; it can be taken before, after or between meals. One tablet controls acid for about 8 hours, so leave at least 8 hours between two doses.
Precautions related to dosage:
- Strictly follow the directions.
- Avoid alcoholic drinks while taking it.
- Push the tablet out through the foil of the blister; do not swallow the blister piece (it can injure the oesophagus).
A doctor's instructions prevail.

Warnings

Important:
- If symptoms do not improve after 3 days of use, stop taking it and consult a doctor or pharmacist, taking this leaflet with you.
- Do not take it continuously for more than 2 weeks (a serious digestive disease may be missed — see a doctor).
Do not use (not following this may worsen current symptoms or make side effects more likely):
1. Do not take this product if you:
(1) have ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rash/redness, itching, swelling of the throat, eyelids or lips) to famotidine or another H2-blocker;
(2) are being treated at a medical institution for, or are receiving medicines for, any of the following: blood disease, kidney or liver disease, heart disease, gastric/duodenal disease, immune diseases such as asthma or rheumatism, or are receiving steroids, antibiotics, anticancer drugs or azole antifungals
(white blood cell or platelet counts may fall; with kidney or liver disease the drug is excreted more slowly and acts more strongly; with heart disease such as myocardial infarction, valvular disease or cardiomyopathy, irregular pulse with ECG changes may appear; people treated for gastric/duodenal disease may already be prescribed famotidine or a similar drug, so take care not to double the dose; azole antifungals are absorbed less and work less well);
(3) have been told by a doctor that you have a blood disorder such as a low red blood cell count (anaemia), a low platelet count (blood does not clot easily, bleeding easily) or a low white blood cell count (this product may trigger the blood disorder again);
(4) are a child (under 15) or an elderly person (80 or over);
(5) are pregnant or may be pregnant.
2. While taking this product, do not take other stomach and intestinal medicines.
3. If breast-feeding, do not take this product, or avoid breast-feeding while taking it.
Consult a doctor or pharmacist before use if you:
(1) are under a doctor's treatment or taking other medicines;
(2) have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine or other substance;
(3) are elderly (65 or over) (body functions are generally reduced);
(4) have any of the following: sore throat, cough and high fever (these may point to a serious infection with low blood counts; taking this product may make the symptoms worse or make its side effects harder to notice); unexplained weight loss; persistent abdominal pain (another disease may be the cause).
Stop taking it at once and consult a doctor or pharmacist, taking this leaflet with you, if any of the following appear after taking it (possible side effects):
- skin: rash/redness, itching, swelling;
- circulation: irregular pulse;
- nervous system: feeling faint, convulsions;
- other: feeling unwell, tiredness, fever with sore throat or similar physical upset.
Rarely the following serious symptoms may occur — in that case see a doctor immediately:
- shock (anaphylaxis): soon after taking it, itching of the skin, hives, hoarseness, sneezing, itchy throat, breathing difficulty, palpitations, clouding of consciousness;
- mucocutaneous ocular syndrome (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), toxic epidermal necrolysis: high fever, red eyes, eye discharge, sore lips, sore throat, widespread rash/redness, persisting or rapidly worsening;
- rhabdomyolysis: pain, numbness, weakness or stiffness of the muscles of the limbs, shoulders or lower back, general malaise, reddish-brown urine;
- liver dysfunction: fever, itching, rash, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), dark brown urine, general malaise, loss of appetite;
- kidney damage: fever, rash, reduced urine volume, swelling of the whole body, general malaise, joint pain, diarrhoea;
- interstitial pneumonia: breathlessness or breathing difficulty on climbing stairs or slight exertion, dry cough, fever, appearing suddenly or persisting;
- blood disorders: sore throat, fever, general malaise, whitish inside of the face or eyelids, bleeding easily (bleeding gums, nosebleeds), bruises (that do not fade when pressed).
If you take more than the stated dose by mistake, stop at once and consult a doctor or pharmacist, taking this leaflet with you.
If constipation, loose stools, diarrhoea or dry mouth continue or get worse, stop taking it and consult a doctor or pharmacist, taking this leaflet with you.

Storage

Store in a cool place with little humidity, away from direct sunlight.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not transfer to another container (this may cause misuse or change the quality).
Do not use after the expiry date shown.