The effect of famotidine on neuromuscular transmission

We have investigated the effects of the H2 receptor antagonist famotidine on the neuromuscular transmission by using the sciatic nerve--gastrocnemius muscle preparation of rat in vitro. Famotidine, administered by I.V. injection, potentiates the neuromuscular blockade induced by d-tubocurarine, pancuronium and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Moreover, the drug alone is capable of producing a blockade on the preparation stimulated at high frequency. The neuromuscular blockade induced by famotidine is reversed by 4-aminopyridine but not by dimaprit. Similar results have previously been obtained with cimetidine.