Famotidine is a medication that is sold under the brand name Pepcid. Famotidine is used to treat Acid Reflux, GERD and peptic ulcer disease and it can be taken orally or injected into a vein. Famotidine belongs to the group of medicines known as histamine H2-receptor antagonists or H2-blockers. Famotidine – Pepcid works by decreasing the amount of acid production in your stomach.
Is Famotidine available over the counter?
The medicine is available with a doctor’s prescription and also available over the counter however it’s best to consult your doctor before using any medicine.
Indications and dose
Treatment of benign gastric and duodenal ulceration
By mouth
For Adult
40 mg once daily for 4–8 weeks, dose to be taken at night.
Maintenance treatment of duodenal ulceration
By mouth
For Adult
20 mg once daily, dose to be taken at night.
Reflux oesophagitis
By mouth
For Adult
20–40 mg twice daily for 6–12 weeks; maintenance 20 mg twice daily.
Side-effects
For all H2-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS
Common or very common
Constipation; diarrhoea; dizziness; fatigue; headache; myalgia; skin reactions
Uncommon
Confusion; depression; erectile dysfunction; gynaecomastia; hallucination; hepatic disorders; leucopenia; nausea; tachycardia
Rare or very rare
Agranulocytosis; alopecia; arthralgia; atrioventricular block; fever; galactorrhoea; pancytopenia; thrombocytopenia; vasculitis
For FAMOTIDINE
Uncommon
Appetite decreased; dry mouth; taste altered; vomiting
Rare or very rare
Anxiety; chest tightness; drowsiness; insomnia; interstitial pneumonia; libido decreased; muscle cramps; neutropenia; paraesthesia; psychiatric disorder; seizures; severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)
Pregnancy
The manufacturer advises avoiding unless the potential benefit outweighs the risk.
Breastfeeding
Present in milk—not known to be harmful but manufacturer advises avoiding.
Renal impairment
Seizures are reported very rarely.
Dose adjustments
Use normal dose every 36–48 hours or use half normal dose if eGFR is less than 50 mL/minute/1.73 m2.
Exceptions to the legal category
Famotidine can be sold to the public for adults and children over 16 years (provided packs do not contain more than 2 weeks’ supply) for the short-term symptomatic relief of heartburn, dyspepsia, and hyperacidity, and for the prevention of these symptoms when associated with consumption of food or drink including when they cause sleep disturbance (max. single dose 10 mg, max. daily dose 20 mg).
Medicinal forms
There can be variations in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug.
Do NOT use Famotidine with following medicines:
- Bepridil
- Cisapride
- Dronedarone
- Mesoridazine
- Pimozide
- Piperaquine
- Saquinavir
- Sparfloxacin
- Terfenadine
- Thioridazine
- Ziprasidone
Using Famotidine with the following medications are not recommended:
- Acalabrutinib
- Amiodarone
- Amisulpride
- Amprenavir
- Anagrelide
- Apomorphine
- Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole Lauroxil
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Atazanavir
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Buserelin
- Ceritinib
- Chloroquine
- Clarithromycin
- Clofazimine
- Clozapine
- Crizotinib
- Dabrafenib
- Dasatinib
- Degarelix
- Delamanid
- Delavirdine
- Deslorelin
- Deutetrabenazine
- Domperidone
- Donepezil
- Efavirenz
- Encorafenib
- Entrectinib
- Erlotinib
- Escitalopram
- Fexinidazole
- Fingolimod
- Fluconazole
- Fluoxetine
- Formoterol
- Fosamprenavir
- Foscarnet
- Fostemsavir
- Gefitinib
- Glasdegib
- Gonadorelin
- Goserelin
- Histrelin
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxyzine
- Infigratinib
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Ivabradine
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoconazole
- Ledipasvir
- Lefamulin
- Lenvatinib
- Levofloxacin
- Lofexidine
- Macimorelin
- Methadone
- Metronidazole
- Mirtazapine
- Mobocertinib
- Moxifloxacin
- Nafarelin
- Neratinib
- Octreotide
- Ondansetron
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Ozanimod
- Panobinostat
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Pimavanserin
- Pitolisant
- Ponesimod
- Posaconazole
- Quetiapine
- Ribociclib
- Rilpivirine
- Secretin Human
- Selpercatinib
- Sertraline
- Sevoflurane
- Siponimod
- Solifenacin
- Sotalol
- Sotorasib
- Sulpiride
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Tizanidine
- Tolazoline
- Trazodone
- Triclabendazole
- Triptorelin
- Vandetanib
- Vemurafenib
- Vinflunine
- Vismodegib
- Voclosporin
- Zuclopenthixol