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Famotidine vs. Ranitidine

Famotidine (Pepcid) is a type of acid reducer called a histamine-2 (H2) antagonist. It helps treat problems caused by too much stomach acid. Over-the-counter famotidine (Pepcid or Pepcid AC) can help with heartburn in people who are 12 and up. Prescription-only famotidine is for people with more ongoing stomach acid problems and stomach or gut ulcers. This medication is taken by mouth once or twice a day. It usually starts to work within an hour and lasts several hours. Side effects include headache, dizziness, and constipation.

• Over-the-counter famotidine:

  • Prevention and relief of heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD)

• Prescription famotidine:

  • Stomach ulcers
  • Intestinal ulcers
  • Heartburn (GERD)
  • Erosive esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) due to GERD
  • Other conditions that cause too much stomach acid (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Constipation
• Diarrhea

• Confusion and other side effects related to the nervous system in some people
• Masking of possible stomach cancer

Ranitidine is an H2 blocker that reduces the amount of acid the stomach produces. It's used to treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers. It was recalled in 2020 due to safety concerns about a chemical impurity, but it has since been reformulated and is now back on the market. Your dose depends on why you’re taking it, but it’s usually taken by mouth one to four times a day. Side effects include headache, dizziness, and feeling tired.

• Stomach ulcer
• Intestinal ulcer
• Heartburn (GERD)
• Erosive esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) due to GERD
• Other high-acid conditions (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or mastocytosis)

• Headache
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Nausea

• Risk of hiding symptoms of a more serious problem
• Medication interactions
• Allergic reactions