Comprehensive medication guide to Nizatidine including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay for generic nizatidine on most commercial and Medicare Part D plans; typically placed at Tier 1–2. Low-income Medicare beneficiaries with Extra Help (LIS) may pay as little as $0–$4.50 per fill.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$130–$193 retail for generic nizatidine (60 capsules, 150 mg); as low as $38–$42 with a GoodRx coupon or $58 with SingleCare at participating pharmacies for a 30-day supply.
Medfinder Findability Score
78/100
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Nizatidine is a prescription H2 receptor antagonist (H2 blocker) that reduces the amount of acid produced by the stomach. It was originally developed by Eli Lilly and marketed under the brand name Axid, which received FDA approval in April 1988. The brand has since been discontinued; only generic nizatidine is available today.
Nizatidine comes as 150 mg and 300 mg oral capsules and is used to treat active duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), erosive esophagitis, and heartburn. Unlike famotidine (Pepcid) and cimetidine (Tagamet), nizatidine is not available over the counter in the United States — a prescription is required for all strengths.
Generic nizatidine is manufactured by multiple companies including Glenmark, Amneal, Apotex, and Teva. While there is no active FDA drug shortage in 2026, some local pharmacies may have limited stock due to lower prescribing demand since the 2020 NDMA-related recalls that disrupted the H2 blocker market.
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Nizatidine works by competitively blocking histamine H2 receptors on the acid-producing parietal cells of the stomach lining. When histamine binds to these receptors, it sends a signal for the cell to secrete hydrochloric acid. By occupying the receptor, nizatidine prevents histamine from triggering acid production.
Because histamine plays a critical amplifying role in acid secretion — boosting the effects of gastrin and acetylcholine — blocking it with nizatidine significantly reduces both basal (resting) acid secretion and meal-stimulated acid secretion. A single 150 mg or 300 mg dose suppresses acid production for up to 12 hours, which is why bedtime dosing is effective for controlling nocturnal acid.
Nizatidine acts faster than proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — providing relief within 30 minutes — but provides less complete acid suppression than PPIs overall. It is most appropriate for mild-to-moderate GERD, peptic ulcer treatment and maintenance, and heartburn management. It has minimal effect on the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, resulting in fewer drug interactions compared to cimetidine.
150 mg — capsule
Standard dose for GERD and ulcer treatment; typically taken twice daily
300 mg — capsule
Once-daily bedtime dose for active ulcer treatment; also used for maintenance
Nizatidine has a findability score of 78 out of 100 — generally available, but with occasional localized gaps. It is not on the FDA's official Drug Shortage Database in 2026, and multiple generic manufacturers supply the U.S. market. However, because nizatidine is prescription-only and lower-demand than OTC H2 blockers, some individual pharmacies keep limited stock on hand.
The 2019–2020 NDMA recalls disrupted supply and prompted many pharmacies to reduce their standing nizatidine inventory. Some locations never fully rebuilt stock levels to pre-2020 norms. Larger pharmacy chains (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco) and mail-order pharmacies generally have better availability than smaller or rural pharmacies.
If you're having trouble filling your nizatidine prescription, medfinder can contact pharmacies near you to find which ones have it in stock — and text you the results so you can fill your prescription without making multiple calls.
Nizatidine is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling requirements, which means any licensed prescriber in the United States can write a prescription for it without special registration or limitations. It is a standard prescription medication available through regular prescribing channels.
Primary care physicians (PCPs) and family medicine doctors
Gastroenterologists
Internal medicine physicians
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)
Urgent care providers
Nizatidine can also be prescribed via telehealth in all 50 states. Non-controlled medications have no additional restrictions for telehealth prescribing. Telehealth platforms like MDLive, Teladoc, PlushCare, and Amazon Clinic can evaluate GERD and heartburn symptoms and prescribe nizatidine if appropriate, often with same-day prescriptions sent directly to your preferred pharmacy.
No. Nizatidine is not a controlled substance. It has no DEA scheduling (Schedule I–V) and no abuse potential or dependence liability. This means it can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider — including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — without any special DEA requirements.
Prescriptions for nizatidine can be written with refills, called in by phone, sent electronically, and filled at any licensed pharmacy. There are no state or federal limits on refill quantities beyond what your doctor specifies. Patients can also receive 90-day supplies through mail-order pharmacies without additional restrictions.
Nizatidine is generally well tolerated. Common side effects include:
Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea and stomach discomfort
Dizziness
Sweating
Urticaria (hives) and rash
Runny nose / upper respiratory symptoms
Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) — seek emergency care
Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) — unusual bruising or bleeding
Hepatotoxicity (elevated liver enzymes, rare) — jaundice, dark urine
Serum sickness-like reactions — fever with rash or joint pain
Anemia or leukopenia (rare blood count changes)
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Famotidine (Pepcid)
Same H2 blocker class; available OTC and by prescription; widely stocked; considered the most direct therapeutic equivalent with the fewest drug interactions in the class
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
Original H2 blocker; available OTC and by prescription; effective but has significantly more drug interactions than nizatidine or famotidine due to CYP enzyme inhibition
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Proton pump inhibitor (PPI); stronger acid suppression than H2 blockers; widely available OTC; appropriate for moderate-to-severe GERD or cases unresponsive to H2 blockers
Pantoprazole (Protonix)
PPI; prescription-only; well covered by insurance; often preferred for erosive esophagitis and long-term GERD management
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Itraconazole (Sporanox)
majorNizatidine reduces gastric pH, significantly decreasing itraconazole absorption — may lead to antifungal treatment failure
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
majorSimilar to itraconazole — nizatidine's pH-raising effect reduces ketoconazole absorption substantially
Atazanavir (Reyataz)
majorNizatidine can substantially reduce atazanavir plasma levels due to reduced gastric acid — may compromise HIV treatment efficacy
Pimozide (Orap)
majorNizatidine may increase pimozide blood levels via mild CYP3A4 inhibition; pimozide has a narrow therapeutic window and cardiac arrhythmia risk
Dasatinib (Sprycel)
majorReduced absorption of dasatinib due to increased gastric pH from nizatidine; may reduce cancer treatment efficacy
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
moderateNizatidine may increase digoxin absorption; monitor digoxin levels when starting or stopping nizatidine
High-dose Aspirin (>2 g/day)
moderateAt very high aspirin doses, nizatidine may increase serum salicylate levels; not clinically relevant at standard cardiovascular aspirin doses
Methylphenidate extended-release
moderateNizatidine may alter the pH-dependent release profile of extended-release methylphenidate formulations
Nizatidine is a well-established, effective prescription H2 blocker for GERD, peptic ulcers, and heartburn. Despite the discontinuation of the Axid brand and the 2020 NDMA-related recall disruptions, generic nizatidine remains a viable treatment option in 2026. With a good safety profile, minimal drug interactions compared to cimetidine, and rapid onset of action (within 30 minutes), it continues to be prescribed by primary care physicians and gastroenterologists alike.
Cost is manageable for most patients — GoodRx and similar discount programs can reduce the retail price from $130–$193 to as low as $38–$42 for a 30-day supply. Insurance coverage is generally favorable at Tier 1–2 with $0–$30 copays on most plans. There is no manufacturer patient assistance program since the brand is discontinued, but Medicaid and Medicare Extra Help programs can provide additional savings for eligible patients.
If you're struggling to find nizatidine at your pharmacy, medfinder can contact pharmacies in your area to find which ones have your prescription in stock and text you the results. No more hold music or runaround — just fast, direct answers about where to fill your nizatidine prescription.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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