A client receives a prescription for IV famotidine. Which finding indicates to the nurse the medication is effective?

A. Loss of 3 pounds (1.36 kg) in a month: Weight loss can indicate worsening health or complications and is not a reliable indicator of famotidine’s effectiveness. It may signal poor nutritional status or ongoing illness. B. Positive stool antigen test: A positive stool antigen test often indicates the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. Famotidine does not eradicate this infection but reduces gastric acid secretion, so this finding is unrelated to its effectiveness. C. Decrease in nighttime awakenings: Reduced nighttime awakenings can reflect improved sleep quality but is an indirect and nonspecific sign. While famotidine may relieve symptoms that disturb sleep, this is not the primary measure of its effectiveness. D. Reduced epigastric pain: Famotidine decreases gastric acid secretion, leading to symptom relief such as reduced epigastric pain. Improvement in pain directly reflects the medication’s intended therapeutic effect in conditions like GERD or gastric ulcers.