Axid AR Side Effects

Generic name: nizatidine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 27, 2023.

Note: This document contains side effect information about nizatidine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Axid AR.

Applies to nizatidine: oral capsule, oral tablet.

Serious side effects of Axid AR

Along with its needed effects, nizatidine (the active ingredient contained in Axid AR) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking nizatidine:

More common

Headache

Less common

Chest pain
cough or hoarseness
fever or chills
lack or loss of strength
lower back or side pain
painful or difficult urination

Rare

Black, tarry stools
bloody nose
blood in the urine
chest tightness
clay-colored stools
diarrhea
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
heavier menstrual periods
hives, itching, skin rash
loss of appetite
mental confusion
nausea
pinpoint red spots on the skin
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
sore throat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
swollen glands
trouble breathing
unpleasant breath odor
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting of blood
yellow eyes or skin

Incidence not known

Bleeding gums
dark urine
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
general feeling of discomfort or illness
muscle aches and pains
pale skin
runny nose
sweating
swelling of the feet or lower legs
trouble sleeping
upper right abdominal or stomach pain

Other side effects of Axid AR

Some side effects of nizatidine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Diarrhea
irritability
sneezing
stuffy nose
vomiting

Less common

Anxiety
blurred vision
body aches or pain
change in vision
constipation
difficulty in moving
dizziness
dry mouth
impaired vision
joint pain
muscle cramps or stiffness
nervousness
swollen joints
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tooth disorder
trouble in swallowing
trouble sleeping
voice changes
weight loss

Rare

Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
inability to have or keep an erection
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to nizatidine: oral capsule, oral solution, oral tablet.

General

The most commonly reported side effects included headache, rhinitis, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 16.6%)

Common (1% to 10%): Dizziness, somnolence

Frequency not reported: Seizure^[Ref]

A pediatric patient given 2.5 mg/kg orally 2 times a day for 23 days experienced an EEG-diagnosed seizure during treatment.^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Common (1% to 10%): Constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal disorder, nausea, nausea and vomiting, tooth disorder, vomiting^[Ref]

Respiratory

Common (1% to 10%): Cough, cough increased, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis

Postmarketing reports: Bronchospasm, laryngeal edema^[Ref]

Other

Common (1% to 10%): Accident, asthenia, fever, injury, pain, pyrexia, surgical procedure^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Common (1% to 10%): Abnormal dreams, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, nervousness

Postmarketing reports: Decreased libido, reversible mental confusion^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, rash, sweating, urticaria

Postmarketing reports: Exfoliative dermatitis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain, myalgia

Postmarketing reports: Arthralgia^[Ref]

Immunologic

Common (1% to 10%): Infection

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Serum sickness, serum sickness-like reactions^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain

Frequency not reported: Short episodes of asymptomatic ventricular tachycardia

Postmarketing reports: Vasculitis^[Ref]

Metabolic

Common (1% to 10%): Anorexia

Postmarketing reports: Hyperuricemia unrelated to gout or nephrolithiasis^[Ref]

Ocular

Common (1% to 10%): Amblyopia^[Ref]

Hematologic

Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Anemia

Postmarketing reports: Agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, fatal thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura^[Ref]

Fatal thrombocytopenia was reported in a patient who experienced possible drug-related thrombocytopenia previously received this drug and another histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist.^[Ref]

Hepatic

Some patients developed ALT and/or AST elevations exceeding 500 international units/L, with a report of an ALT level exceeding 2000 international units/L.

Some patients 2 to 18 years developed mild elevations in serum transaminase levels (1 to 2 times the upper limit of normal).

Liver enzyme elevations and liver abnormalities were reversible upon discontinuation of treatment.^[Ref]

Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Transient, marked transaminase elevations, transient, marked alkaline phosphatase elevations

Frequency not reported: Elevated liver enzyme tests (alkaline phosphatase, ALT, AST), hepatocellular injury, transient, asymptomatic transaminase elevations, transient, asymptomatic alkaline phosphatase elevations

Postmarketing reports: Cholestatic injury, cholestatic injury with jaundice, hepatitis, jaundice, mixed hepatocellular injury, mixed hepatocellular injury with jaundice^[Ref]