Placental transfer and effects of famotidine on neonates.

The effect of famotidine on neonates was studied in 34 obstetric patients who underwent elective cesarean section. In the famotidine group, 20 mg of famotidine was intramuscularly injected at 60 min before induction of anesthesia, and 0.5 mg of atropine was injected at 30 min before induction. In the control group, only atropine was given. Ratio of famotidine concentration in the umbilical venous blood to that in the maternal venous blood was determined as 0.64 +/- 0.13 (mean +/- SD). No significant differences were noted in the Apgar scores, neonatal gastric acidity, and results of liver function tests between the two groups. No side effect, such as the development of gastrointestinal infections, was observed.