famotidine complete
Pepcid Complete is a combination of three medications: famotidine (a histamine-2 antagonist, or H2 blocker), calcium carbonate (antacid), and magnesium hydroxide (antacid). It's used to treat acid reflux and heartburn caused by an upset stomach in adults and children ages 12 years and older. Pepcid Complete is available as a chewable tablet that's taken at the start of symptoms, up to 2 doses per day. This combination of medications (famotidine, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide) is also available as generics. Side effects of Pepcid Complete include headache, nausea, or stomach pain.
What is Pepcid Complete?
What is Pepcid Complete used for?
Heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach
How Pepcid Complete works
Pepcid Complete is a combination of three medications that work together:
Famotidine is a H2 blocker. It lowers the amount of stomach acid made in your stomach.
Calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide are antacids that neutralize (balances) the acid in your stomach.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of Pepcid Complete?
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
Other Side Effects
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Dry mouth
Source: DailyMed
The following side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Headache
Pros and cons of Pepcid Complete
Pros
Available over the counter
Combination of medications that work in different ways to ease heartburn
Can be taken with or without food
Cons
Can interact with some medications like azithromycin (Zithromax) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Not used for prevention of heartburn, only for symptom relief
Can only take 2 doses per day
Only comes as a chewable tablet
Pharmacist tips for Pepcid Complete
You can take Pepcid Complete with or without food. Try taking the medication with food if it upsets your stomach to help lessen any stomach side effects.
Chew and swallow one tablet to relieve heartburn symptoms. Don't take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours, because if you take more than the recommended dose of Pepcid Complete, you can raise your risk of side effects from the medication.
If you have heartburn with lightheadedness, sweating, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, you should talk to your primary care provider (PCP) before taking Pepcid Complete, because you could have a more serious condition. Also ask your PCP before using this medication if you have stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, chest pain, wheezing, or kidney problems.
Talk to your PCP if you still have heartburn after taking Pepcid Complete for 2 weeks or if you've had recurrent heartburn symptoms for 3 months. You could have a more serious condition that your PCP should check out.
Pepcid Complete isn't a preventative heartburn medication, but you can help prevent heartburn symptoms by avoiding eating right before bed, limiting spicy meals, eating slowly, and not lying flat right after eating. Talk to your PCP for more tips on how to avoid heartburn symptoms.
Pepcid Complete interacts with a lot of medications. Be sure your PCP and pharmacist know about all of the medications you take before you start taking Pepcid Complete.
Don't take other famotidine-containing medications like Pepcid AC and Zantac 360 with Pepcid Complete. Doing so raises your risk for side effects.
Frequently asked questions about Pepcid Complete
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What are the risks and warnings for Pepcid Complete?
Pepcid Complete 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.
Medication interactions
Risk factors: Taking multiple medications
Pepcid Complete lowers the amount of acid in your stomach. Because of this, it can interact with medications that need acid in the stomach in order to be absorbed. Examples of these medications include fosamprenavir (Lexiva), atazanavir (Reyataz), and ketoconazole (Nizoral). Pepcid Complete can also attach to certain medications in the stomach, like azithromycin (Zithromax) and levofloxacin (Levaquin), and prevent them from working as well. Talk to your primary care provider before combining Pepcid Complete with any other medications.
Heartburn with other symptoms
Risk factors: Heartburn symptoms for over 3 months
If you’ve had heartburn symptoms for over 3 months, or have heartburn with lightheadedness, sweating, dizziness, wheezing, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, chest or shoulder pain, or pain spreading to arms, neck or shoulders you should talk to your primary care provider before taking Pepcid Complete. If you have trouble or pain when swallowing food, vomiting with blood, or bloody or black stools you shouldn't take Pepcid Complete, and you should talk to your primary care provider. These symptoms could be a sign of a more serious condition.
Central nervous system side effects
Risk factors: Age 65 years or older | Kidney problems
Pepcid Complete can cause confusion, hallucinations, disorientation, agitation, seizures, and lack of energy in some people. People ages 65 years or older and people with kidney disease are at higher risk for these side effects. If you have kidney problems, talk to your primary care provider before taking Pepcid Complete.
Pepcid Complete dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10mg/800mg/165mg | 60 chewable tablets | $19.69 | $0.33 |
Typical dosing for Pepcid Complete
Different manufacturers make combination medications containing famotidine, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide. Read the instructions of your particular product for specific directions.
For example:
Each tablet of Pepcid Complete contains 10 mg of famotidine, 800 mg of calcium carbonate, and 165 mg of magnesium hydroxide.
Ages 12 years and older: Chew one tablet completely before swallowing to relieve heartburn symptoms. Don't take more than two tablets in 24 hours.
Ages under 12 years old: Check with your child’s pediatrician.
How much does Pepcid Complete cost?
Pepcid Complete contraindications
Trouble or pain when swallowing food
Vomiting with blood
Bloody or black stools
Taking other acid-lowering medications
What are alternatives to Pepcid Complete?
Heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach
Prevention and treatment of heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD)
Gastric ulcer (open sore in the stomach)
Duodenal ulcer (open sore in the first part of the small intestine)
Heartburn (GERD)
Erosive esophagitis due to GERD (inflammation of the esophagus)
Other conditions that cause too much stomach acid secretion (i.e., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome)
Sour or upset stomach
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References
Best studies we foundJohnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (2024). Pepcid Complete- famotidine, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide tablet, chewable [package insert]. DailyMed.
Major Pharmaceuticals. (2022). Famotidine- famotidine tablet, film coated [package insert]. DailyMed.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2022). Definition & facts for peptic ulcers (stomach or duodenal ulcers).
Salisbury, B. H., et al. (2023). Antacids. StatPearls.
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