Famotidine in Shortage Due to Heartburn Medication Recalls and COVID-19 Research
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, drug shortages have grown both in hospitals and retail pharmacies. Demand has increased for medications that help treat COVID-19, and after people stockpiled medications in preparation to shelter at home, certain types of rescue and maintenance inhalers also saw a shortage.
The newest drug shortage affects famotidine, an antacid and antihistamine that is available both over the counter (OTC) and by prescription. OTC famotidine (Pepcid AC) is used to treat heartburn, and prescription famotidine (Pepcid) treats heartburn as well as stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Read on to learn more about this shortage and what to do if you take this medication.
Which famotidine products are experiencing a shortage?
The FDA reported the famotidine shortage on May 4, 2020. According to the FDA, 20 mg and 40 mg famotidine tablets from manufacturers Aurobindo Pharma, Carlsbad Technology, and Teva Pharmaceuticals are in shortage.
The American Society of Hospital Pharmacists (ASHP) also lists shortages of the drug. In addition to famotidine, they report a shortage of Pepcid.
What caused the shortage?
There could be multiple factors that caused the famotidine shortage. The first might be due to the recent recall of all products containing ranitidine. Better known by its brand name, Zantac, ranitidine is a popular heartburn medication that was recalled because the drug was found to contain trace amounts of cancer-causing contaminants. Patients might have turned to famotidine as an alternative, driving up the demand for the medication.
Additionally, some scientists have been looking into famotidine to treat COVID-19. This was after some doctors noticed that there might be a link between survival rate and patients who took it over other heartburn medications. However, famotidine has not been proved useful in COVID-19 treatment yet.
Are there any other available medications that work similarly?
Yes, the following prescription medications are in the same class of drugs as famotidine. You may be able to use them as alternatives to Pepcid.
Nizatidine (Axid)
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
If you take OTC famotidine (Pepcid AC), there are also alternatives available to you that work in the same way:
Cimetidine HB (Tagamet HB)
Always consult with your healthcare provider before switching medications to avoid any potentially dangerous drug interactions.
Are there other prescription medications that can be used for heartburn?
Yes. While these medications work differently than famotidine, they can also be used for heartburn.
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Esomeprazole (Nexium)
Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
Pantoprazole (Protonix)
Rabeprazole (Aciphex)
Again, consult with your doctor about which medication is best for you before switching.
When will these medications be back in stock?
It depends on the manufacturer. For example, according to Teva, their famotidine tablets are on backorder with an estimated release date in the fourth quarter of 2020.
What should I do if the medication I take is in shortage?
If a medication that you typically use is experiencing a shortage, speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can recommend potential alternatives.
Check out this post for more information on shortages and how to prepare for them.
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