Famotidine
(Affordable Generic Alternatives for Pepcid)

Famotidine Indication

Famotidine, a generic option for Pepcid, is a medication that decreases the amount of acid produced by the stomach. This helps prevent and treat ulcers in the stomach and the intestines. Additionally, Famotidine treats conditions that produce too much acid, and other conditions that cause acid from the stomach to back up into the esophagus.

Storage

• Keep Famotidine at room temperature and protect from moisture, heat, and light.
• Throw away any unused Pepcid liquid after 30 days.

Precautions

• Before taking Famotidine tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, stomach cancer or other problems, or asthma, COPD, or other breathing problems.
• Because Famotidine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking, be careful when driving or participating in any other activities that require you to be awake and alert.
• Be sure to follow through on any restrictions or changes to your diet.
• Heartburn can often be confused with early symptoms of heart attack.
• Seek emergency medical help if you experience chest pain or heavy feeling, dizziness, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, sweating, nausea or vomiting, and a general ill feeling.
• Although Famotidine is not supposed to harm an unborn baby, it can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child.
• Always tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

Warnings

• Avoid drinking alcohol, as this may risk damage to your stomach.
• Avoid taking cimetidine, ranitidine, or nizatidine while taking Famotidine unless your doctor tells you to.

Patient Family Information

• Use Famotidine exactly as your doctor prescribed it to you.
• The chewable tablet must be chewed completely before swallowing.
• Most ulcers will heal within 4 weeks of using Famotidine, however, it may take up to 8 weeks of using Famotidine before the ulcer heals.
• If your symptoms have not improved after 6 weeks of treatment, talk with your doctor.

Contraindication

This medication should not be taken if you are allergic to Famotidine or similar medications, such as ranitidine, cimetidine, or nizatidine.

Severe Side Effects of Famotidine

Serious side effects may include:

• Allergic reaction
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Fast or pounding heartbeat
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Seizure
• Numbness or tingly feeling
• Jaundice

Common Side Effects of Famotidine

Less severe side effects can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Mood changes
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Joint pain

Other Drugs

Entocort EC | Nexium | Aciphex

References

2022. Pepcid – Uses, Side Effects, and More. WebMD.
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1821-2033/pepcid-oral/famotidine-oral/details