Administration of Undiluted Famotidine IV Push at a Large Pediatric Academic Medical Center

Famotidine is a commonly used agent in pediatric intensive care units. There is no data regarding the safety of undiluted intravenous push (IVP) administration in pediatrics; however, there are historical concerns for hemodynamic instability in the adult population. This study assesses the safety of famotidine administered undiluted IVP for doses ≥ 5 mg in pediatric patients.

We performed a retrospective, observational, medication use evaluation in pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) who received famotidine undiluted IVP from February to July 2022. Patients with arterial lines and continuous cardiac telemetry were included. Patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, receiving famotidine doses < 5 mg, or who had a change in vasoactive medication doses within 1 hour prior to famotidine IVP administration were excluded. The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension and bradycardia within 45 minutes of undiluted famotidine IVP administration.

A total of 59 patients were included. There were 8 patients (13.6%) with hypotension and 1 patient (1.7%) with bradycardia after famotidine administration in the full cohort. Of these 9 patients, 7 had hypotension and bradycardia at baseline. Two patients (3.4%) required adjustment of their vasoactive medication within 45 minutes after receiving famotidine, although these patients were also postoperative day zero from cardiac surgery. None of the patients required a fluid bolus for hypotension following famotidine administration. The percent change in hemodynamics from baseline were minimal across the various time intervals.

Famotidine administered undiluted IVP produced no clinically significant hemodynamic -adverse effects in critically ill pediatric patients.