nizatidine
Nizatidine is an H2 blocker that lowers the amount of stomach acid. It's used to treat adults with conditions such as ulcers and heartburn due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It comes as an oral capsule that's taken by mouth once or twice a day. The brand name Axid has been discontinued, but it's still available as a generic. It's currently not available over the counter, so you'll need a prescription from a healthcare professional to take this medication. Headache and diarrhea are some potential side effects.
What is Nizatidine?
What is Nizatidine used for?
- Duodenal ulcer (open sore in the upper small intestine)
- Gastric ulcer (open sore in the stomach)
- Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) and heartburn due to GERD
How Nizatidine works
Nizatidine is a histamine H2 antagonist, or H2 blocker. It blocks your stomach from releasing acid, which prevents heartburn and helps heal ulcers.
Drug facts
Side effects of Nizatidine
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (17%)
- Runny nose (10%)
- Stomach pain (8%)
- Diarrhea (7%)
- Dizziness (5%)
- Nausea (5%)
- Passing gas (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Pain
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Trouble sleeping
- Weakness
- Infection
- Fever
- Dry mouth
- Abnormal dreams
- Loss of appetite
- Sleepiness
- Cough
- Rash
- Itchiness
Nizatidine serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: rash, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing
The following Nizatidine side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Abdominal pain
back, leg, or stomach pain
bleeding or crusting sores on lips
blistering, burning, redness, scaling, or tenderness of skin
blisters on palms of hands and soles of feet
changes in vision or blurred vision
confusion
coughing or difficulty in swallowing
dark-colored urine
dizziness
fainting
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
fever and/or chills
flu-like symptoms
general feeling of discomfort or illness
inflammation of blood vessels
joint pain
light-colored stools
mood or mental changes, including anxiety, agitation, confusion, hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), mental depression, nervousness, or severe mental illness
muscle cramps or aches
nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite
peeling or sloughing of skin
red or irritated eyes
shortness of breath
skin rash or itching
slow heartbeat
sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips, in mouth, or on genitals
sudden difficult breathing
swelling of face, lips, mouth, tongue, or eyelids
swelling of hands or feet
swollen or painful glands
tightness in chest
troubled breathing
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
unusually slow or irregular breathing
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common or rare
decrease in sexual desire
decreased sexual ability (especially in patients with Zollinger-Ellison disease who have received high doses of cimetidine for at least 1 year)
difficult urination
dizziness
drowsiness
dryness of mouth or skin
headache
increased or decreased urination
increased sweating
loss of hair
ringing or buzzing in ears
swelling of breasts or breast soreness in females and males
trouble in sleeping
Not all of the side effects listed above have been reported for each of these medicines, but they have been reported for at least one of them. All of the H2-blockers are similar, so any of the above side effects may occur with any of these medicines.
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Nizatidine
Pros
- Typically taken by mouth once or twice a day
- Comes in two different strengths
- Can treat many conditions related to too much stomach acid
Cons
- Not as strong as other acid-lowering medications like proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Not approved for children
- Common side effects include headache and diarrhea
Pharmacist tips for Nizatidine
- If you're only taking nizatidine once a day, make sure you take it at bedtime. The medication can block nighttime stomach acid for up to 12 hours.
- You can take nizatidine with or without food. If the medication upsets your stomach, try taking it with food to help.
- Nizatidine is usually used short-term, for a few months to treat an ulcer. But you might need to take it longer to keep the ulcer from coming back. Take the medication as directed by your prescriber.
- Headache is a common side effect of nizatidine. Let your prescriber know if headaches become bothersome. They might recommend tips on how to provide relief.
Common questions about Nizatidine
A recent study didn't find evidence of nizatidine causing a higher risk of cancer. A chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a nitrosamine that's linked to cancer, has been found in some medications, including some forms of nizatidine. The FDA works with manufacturers to make sure nitrosamine levels, including NDMA, remain below safe limits. Talk to your prescriber if you want more information about this.
Yes, it's possible to take nizatidine and omeprazole (Prilosec) together. They work in different ways to lower the acid in your stomach. But there are also risks and side effects of omeprazole (Prilosec) that you should know about. Before taking any other medications, talk to your care team first.
Nizatidine prevents stomach acid from being released within an hour. If you're taking nizatidine for a duodenal ulcer, those will usually heal within 4 weeks of taking the medication.
If you're taking nizatidine once a day, it's recommended to take it at bedtime. This medication can work by blocking stomach acid overnight. Additionally, some people experience worse heartburn at night when they're lying down. Taking nizatidine at night can help reduce the amount of acid produced, which can relieve your symptoms.
No, nizatidine hasn't been discontinued. There used to be an oral solution that isn't available anymore, but you can still get the capsules with a prescription.
No, nizatidine isn't currently available over the counter. You can still get the medication with a prescription from your healthcare professional.
Weight gain wasn't reported as a side effect during clinical studies of nizatidine. In general, it shouldn't cause weight gain, but if you notice any changes in your weight, let your care team know. They can help you determine the cause of the weight gain.
No. Nizatidine isn't the same as ranitidine (previously known as Zantac), but they're similar. They belong in the same medication class and both lower the amount of acid in your stomach. Ranitidine (Zantac) is no longer available in the U.S., so nizatidine can be a good replacement option.
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Risks and warnings for Nizatidine
Nizatidine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Symptoms that don't go away or come back
Sometimes heartburn, GERD, and other upset stomach symptoms can be signs of serious stomach problems or cancer. And medications like nizatidine can hide these symptoms. Talk to your prescriber if your stomach symptoms don't completely go away with nizatidine or if your symptoms come back really fast after stopping the medication. You might need to undergo testing to see if you have a more serious problem.
Higher risk of side effects in people with kidney problems
- Risk factors: Older adults | History of kidney problems
Your body gets rid of nizatidine through your urine. If you have kidney problems, you might have a buildup of medication, which can lead to more side effects. This is especially true for people who're older adults with poor kidney function. Your prescriber might want to monitor your kidney labs to make sure you're taking the appropriate dose of this medication.
Nizatidine dosage
Typical dosage for Nizatidine
- Duodenal (small intestine) ulcer: The typical dose is 300 mg by mouth once a day at bedtime OR 150 mg twice a day. After the ulcer has healed, the dose usually goes down to 150 mg once a day at bedtime.
- Gastric (stomach) ulcer: The typical dose is 300 mg by mouth once a day at bedtime OR 150 mg twice a day.
- Esophagitis and heartburn due to GERD: The typical dose is 150 mg by mouth twice a day.
Your dose might be different if you have kidney problems.
Interactions between Nizatidine and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Bepridil
- Cisapride
- Dofetilide
- Dronedarone
- Mesoridazine
- Pimozide
- Piperaquine
- Saquinavir
- Sparfloxacin
- Terfenadine
- Thioridazine
- Ziprasidone
Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acalabrutinib
- Alfentanil
- Alosetron
- Alprazolam
- Amiodarone
- Amisulpride
- Amprenavir
- Anagrelide
- Apomorphine
- Aripiprazole
- Aripiprazole Lauroxil
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Atazanavir
- Benzhydrocodone
- Buprenorphine
- Bupropion
- Buserelin
- Capecitabine
- Carmustine
- Ceritinib
- Chloroquine
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Clofazimine
- Clopidogrel
- Clozapine
- Codeine
- Crizotinib
- Dabrafenib
- Dasatinib
- Degarelix
- Delamanid
- Delavirdine
- Deslorelin
- Deutetrabenazine
- Dihydrocodeine
- Domperidone
- Donepezil
- Doxifluridine
- Duloxetine
- Efavirenz
- Eliglustat
- Encorafenib
- Entrectinib
- Erlotinib
- Escitalopram
- Fentanyl
- Fingolimod
- Fluconazole
- Fluorouracil
- Fluoxetine
- Formoterol
- Fosamprenavir
- Foscarnet
- Fostemsavir
- Gefitinib
- Glasdegib
- Gonadorelin
- Goserelin
- Histrelin
- Hydrocodone
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxyzine
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Ivabradine
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoconazole
- Ledipasvir
- Lefamulin
- Lemborexant
- Lenvatinib
- Levofloxacin
- Lofexidine
- Macimorelin
- Meperidine
- Methadone
- Metronidazole
- Mirtazapine
- Morphine
- Morphine Sulfate Liposome
- Moxifloxacin
- Nafarelin
- Neratinib
- Octreotide
- Ondansetron
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Ozanimod
- Panobinostat
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Pentazocine
- Pimavanserin
- Piperaquine
- Pitolisant
- Ponesimod
- Posaconazole
- Quetiapine
- Ribociclib
- Rilpivirine
- Secretin Human
- Selpercatinib
- Sertraline
- Sevoflurane
- Siponimod
- Solifenacin
- Sotalol
- Sufentanil
- Sulpiride
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Tegafur
- Theophylline
- Tizanidine
- Tolazoline
- Tramadol
- Trazodone
- Triclabendazole
- Triptorelin
- Ubrogepant
- Vandetanib
- Vemurafenib
- Vinflunine
- Vismodegib
- Voclosporin
- Zalcitabine
- Zuclopenthixol
How much does Nizatidine cost?
$32.95
Nizatidine contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Nizatidine will not be safe for you to take.
- Severe allergy to other H2 blockers
What are alternatives to Nizatidine?
News about Nizatidine
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