Comprehensive medication guide to Famotidine including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$20 copay for generic on most plans; Tier 1–2 on most commercial and Medicare Part D plans. Prior authorization almost never required for generic famotidine.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$4–$89 retail for generic famotidine 20 mg (30-count); as low as $5 for 60 tablets with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons, or $4 for a 30-day supply on Walmart's generic list.
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
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Famotidine is a histamine H2-receptor antagonist (H2 blocker) used to reduce stomach acid production. It is sold under brand names including Pepcid, Pepcid AC, Pepcid Complete, and Zantac 360. It is available both over the counter (OTC) in 10 mg and 20 mg doses, and by prescription in 20 mg and 40 mg doses, as well as an oral suspension and IV injection.
Famotidine is FDA-approved for treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. OTC formulations treat and prevent heartburn in adults and children 12 and older. Off-label uses include refractory urticaria and stress ulcer prophylaxis in ICU patients.
Famotidine was patented in 1979 and came into medical use in 1985. In 2023, it ranked as the 33rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States with over 16 million prescriptions. It is not a controlled substance.
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Famotidine works by competitively blocking histamine H2 receptors on the acid-producing parietal cells in the stomach lining. Histamine normally binds to these receptors and triggers acid secretion. By occupying the H2 receptors, famotidine prevents histamine from activating them — significantly reducing the amount of stomach acid produced.
After oral administration, famotidine has a bioavailability of approximately 40-45% and begins inhibiting acid secretion within 1 hour. Peak acid suppression occurs at 1-3 hours, and the effect lasts 10-12 hours per dose. Famotidine is primarily excreted unchanged in the urine (65-70%), with an elimination half-life of 2.5-3.5 hours. In patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <10 mL/min), the half-life can exceed 20 hours, requiring dose adjustment.
Unlike proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which block the final step in acid production, famotidine blocks an earlier signaling step via H2 receptors. This makes famotidine faster-acting (within 1 hour vs. days for PPIs) but generally less potent for severe acid suppression. Famotidine has minimal effect on CYP450 enzymes, giving it significantly fewer drug interactions than the older H2 blocker cimetidine.
10 mg — tablet (OTC)
OTC heartburn relief; Pepcid AC Original Strength
20 mg — tablet (OTC and Rx)
OTC maximum strength; Rx for GERD (20 mg BID)
40 mg — tablet (Rx)
Prescription only; used for active ulcers (40 mg at bedtime) and GERD
40 mg/5 mL — oral suspension (Rx)
Liquid form for pediatric use and patients unable to swallow tablets
10 mg/mL — injection (hospital use)
IV formulation for hospitalized patients requiring parenteral acid suppression
Oral famotidine tablets are generally widely available in 2026. There is no active FDA shortage of famotidine oral tablets. Multiple manufacturers produce generic famotidine (Alembic, Aurobindo, Teva, Major, Bausch Health, and others), providing supply-chain resilience. The drug is stocked at most major pharmacy chains — CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid — as well as grocery stores and big-box retailers for OTC formulations.
That said, famotidine injection (IV) was flagged by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) in its 2025 Vulnerable Medicines List as structurally vulnerable due to limited geographic diversity of upstream key starting materials. Famotidine oral suspension (40 mg/5 mL) is also not stocked at all pharmacies and may require advance ordering. Individual pharmacy stockouts can still occur even without a national shortage, particularly for specific strengths or formulations.
If you're having trouble finding famotidine at your local pharmacy, medfinder can help. medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to check which ones have your medication in stock, then texts you the results.
Famotidine is not a controlled substance, so there are no DEA-specific prescribing restrictions. Any licensed prescriber in the United States can prescribe famotidine. Additionally, famotidine 10 mg and 20 mg are available over the counter without any prescription.
Primary care physicians (MD, DO) — most commonly prescribe famotidine for GERD and heartburn management
Gastroenterologists — prescribe for complex GERD, ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Nurse practitioners (NP) — full prescribing authority in most states
Physician assistants (PA) — can prescribe in all 50 states
Pediatricians — prescribe famotidine suspension for infant and pediatric GERD
Hospital physicians and pharmacists — manage IV famotidine for inpatient acid suppression
Famotidine is readily available via telehealth platforms in all 50 states. Because it is non-controlled and GERD can be effectively assessed remotely, telehealth visits for famotidine prescriptions are widely offered by services including Teladoc, MDLive, Amazon Clinic, QuickMD, and Sesame Care — often at low cost and with same-day availability.
No. Famotidine is not a controlled substance and carries no DEA scheduling restrictions. It is not classified under any DEA schedule (I-V). Any licensed prescriber — including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physician assistants — can prescribe famotidine without DEA registration requirements specific to controlled substances.
Because famotidine is not a controlled substance, it is also available over the counter without any prescription in 10 mg and 20 mg strengths. Prescriptions are required for the 40 mg dose and the oral suspension. There are no limits on refills for famotidine prescriptions (beyond standard prescription expiration rules), and it can be prescribed via telehealth without any additional DEA requirements.
The following side effects occurred in more than 1% of patients in controlled clinical trials:
Headache (4.7%)
Diarrhea (1.7%)
Constipation (1.2%)
Dizziness (1.3%)
Nausea, dry mouth, abdominal discomfort (less common)
CNS effects: confusion, hallucinations, agitation, delirium, seizures — more likely with renal impairment or age >50
QT prolongation — rare; more likely with renal impairment
Anaphylaxis / severe allergic reaction
Agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia (rare blood disorders)
Rhabdomyolysis (rare)
Vitamin B12 deficiency with prolonged use (>2 years)
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Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Proton pump inhibitor; more potent acid suppressor; available OTC; first-line for moderate-to-severe GERD and ulcers; takes 1-4 days for full effect
Pantoprazole (Protonix)
Prescription PPI; widely used for GERD and erosive esophagitis; preferred in patients on clopidogrel due to lower CYP2C19 inhibition
Esomeprazole (Nexium)
PPI available OTC and Rx; commonly used for chronic GERD management; generic widely available
Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
PPI available OTC (15 mg) and Rx (30 mg); effective for heartburn and ulcers; available in pediatric formulations
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Older H2 blocker; same class as famotidine; less preferred due to more drug interactions (CYP450 inhibition); available OTC
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Tizanidine
majorFamotidine inhibits CYP1A2, increasing tizanidine blood levels; risk of hypotension, bradycardia, excessive sedation — avoid combination.
Cefuroxime
majorReduced antibiotic absorption due to elevated gastric pH — avoid concurrent use.
Dasatinib
majorFamotidine reduces dasatinib absorption — avoid concurrent use.
Delavirdine
majorReduced antiretroviral absorption — avoid concurrent use.
Neratinib
majorFamotidine significantly reduces neratinib absorption — avoid concurrent use.
Pazopanib
majorFamotidine markedly reduces pazopanib exposure — avoid concurrent use.
Risedronate
majorFamotidine decreases risedronate absorption — avoid concurrent use.
Atazanavir
moderateReduced HIV antiretroviral absorption; if combination necessary, strict dose and timing requirements apply — consult specialist.
Itraconazole / Ketoconazole
moderateReduced antifungal absorption due to elevated gastric pH; consider fluconazole as alternative.
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin)
minorNo direct pharmacokinetic interaction; NSAIDs worsen GI conditions — use caution in combination.
Famotidine is one of the most widely used, most affordable, and most accessible acid-reducing medications available in the United States. The 2020 shortage — triggered by the ranitidine recall and COVID-19 research interest — has been fully resolved. Oral tablets are generally in good supply in 2026, with multiple manufacturers ensuring robust availability.
Key facts to remember: famotidine works within 1 hour and lasts 10-12 hours, making it ideal for on-demand heartburn relief. It has fewer drug interactions than older H2 blockers like cimetidine. It requires dose reduction in patients with renal impairment. Long-term use should be monitored by a physician for vitamin B12 levels.
If you're having trouble finding famotidine at your pharmacy, medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to check availability and texts you results directly. Generic famotidine is available for as little as $4 at Walmart or $5-$12 with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons at most pharmacies.
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