Pepcid Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Pepcid (famotidine) is a histamine-2 blocker used to treat heartburn and other conditions caused by too much stomach acid. It’s available both over the counter (OTC) and with a prescription.
A typical adult Pepcid dosage for heartburn is 10 mg to 20 mg by mouth once or twice daily. Healthcare providers may prescribe higher doses for more severe conditions.
People with kidney problems should take lower Pepcid dosages. Your healthcare provider can give you an exact dose based on your kidney function.
Pepcid is available as a brand-name medication. But you can also find it as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help make your prescription more affordable.
Access savings on related medications
Table of contents
Many people experience occasional heartburn, often after a spicy meal. This uncomfortable feeling happens when food and stomach acid move backwards, up through the esophagus (food pipe). And if heartburn happens more than twice a week, it might be diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
There are several treatment options available for heartburn, GERD, and other stomach acid-related conditions. Pepcid (famotidine) is a popular choice. It’s available over the counter (OTC) and with a prescription. This histamine-2 blocker starts working fast, but can also be taken ahead of time to help prevent heartburn.
Whether you’re self-treating with OTC Pepcid, or taking the prescription version, it’s important to know how much to take. Let’s take a look at the typical Pepcid dosages for adults and children.
What Pepcid dosage forms are available?
Pepcid comes in a few different dosage forms. But some forms are only available with a prescription. The OTC version is available as both brand-name and generic medications. Prescription forms of Pepcid only come as generic versions.
OTC Pepcid comes as 10 mg and 20 mg oral tablets. There’s also a combination product called Pepcid Complete (famotidine/calcium carbonate/magnesium hydroxide). This article will discuss dosages for famotidine-only products.
The prescription version of Pepcid comes in the following dosage forms:
20 mg oral tablets
40 mg oral tablets
40 mg/5 mL oral liquid
10 mg/mL injectable solution (for use in hospitals)
The oral liquid is a great option for people who have trouble swallowing pills. It comes as a powder that’s mixed by a pharmacist when you pick up your prescription. It should be stored at room temperature.
Shake liquid Pepcid well before each dose. Use a medication cup, spoon, or syringe to measure out doses. Liquid Pepcid is only good for 30 days after it’s mixed. Discard the bottle after this point, even if there’s still medication left.
What’s the typical Pepcid dosage for adults?
Pepcid dosages vary depending on what you’re treating. Only occasional heartburn should be self-treated. Don’t use Pepcid to treat GERD, ulcers, or other more serious conditions without a healthcare provider’s OK. And keep in mind that your provider may suggest dosages that are different from what’s discussed here.
Heartburn
The adult Pepcid dosage for heartburn treatment is 10 mg to 20 mg with a glass of water. For heartburn prevention, take 10 mg to 20 mg about 10 to 60 minutes before eating or drinking something that’s likely to cause heartburn.
Don’t take more than 2 doses (up to 40 mg) within 24 hours. It’s not recommended to self-treat with OTC Pepcid for more than 2 weeks without a healthcare provider’s OK.
GERD
The adult Pepcid dosage for GERD is 20 mg twice daily for up to 6 weeks. Your healthcare provider may tell you to take OTC Pepcid for this purpose, since it comes as a 20 mg tablet. This is OK, as your provider is overseeing your care.
Gastric and duodenal ulcers
The adult Pepcid dosage for treating gastric (stomach) or duodenal ulcers is 40 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks. For duodenal ulcers, there’s also an option to take 20 mg twice daily for up to 8 weeks.
To prevent duodenal ulcers from coming back, you may be told to take 20 mg of Pepcid once daily. Your provider may recommend taking Pepcid long term to help prevent ulcers.
Erosive esophagitis
Erosive esophagitis (EE) happens when stomach acid damages the lining of the esophagus. The adult Pepcid dosage for EE is 20 mg to 40 mg twice daily for up to 12 weeks.
More serious stomach acid-related conditions
Certain types of cancer and some conditions, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES), can cause the body to produce too much stomach acid. The starting adult Pepcid dosage for these conditions is 20 mg every 6 hours. That dose may be raised based on your response. The maximum recommended dosage for these serious conditions is 160 mg every 6 hours.
What’s the typical Pepcid dosage for children?
Small children, including infants and toddlers, can also experience GERD or ulcers. Pepcid is a potential treatment option. Children’s Pepcid dosages are based on body weight and should be monitored by their healthcare provider. Children weighing more than 40 kg (88 lbs) can follow the adult Pepcid dosage recommendations.
The oral liquid version is usually better suited for children. OTC Pepcid shouldn’t be given to kids under 12 years old without a healthcare provider’s OK.
The typical children’s Pepcid dosages for GERD and peptic ulcer disease (PUD) are discussed in the table below.
Condition | Child’s age | Pepcid dosage | Maximum dosage |
GERD | Birth to less than 3 months | 0.5-1 mg/kg once daily for up to 8 weeks | — |
GERD | 3 months to less than 1 year | 0.5-1 mg/kg twice daily for up to 8 weeks | 40 mg total per day |
GERD | 1 to 16 years | 0.5 mg/kg twice daily for 6-12 weeks | 40 mg twice daily |
PUD | 1 to 16 years | 0.5-1 mg/kg once daily at bedtime for 8 weeks OR 0.25-0.5 mg/kg twice daily for 8 weeks | 40 mg total per day |
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
While Pepcid is a relatively safe medication, there are instances where dosage adjustments are recommended.
Pepcid dosages for people with kidney problems
The kidneys help clear Pepcid from the body. So if your kidneys aren’t working as well they should, you’ll need a lower Pepcid dosage. Taking typical doses can raise the risk of side effects, like headache or constipation, for this group of people.
Pepcid dosages for people with kidney problems are based on a blood test called creatinine clearance (CrCl). CrCl is a measure of how well your kidneys are working. If your CrCl is over 60 mL/min, no dosage changes are needed.
Recommended Pepcid dosages for kidney problems are discussed in the table below.
Condition | Dosage if CrCl is 30-60 mL/min | Dosage if CrCl is less than 30 mL/min |
GERD | 20 mg once daily | 20 mg every other day |
Ulcer treatment | 20 mg once daily OR 40 mg every other day | 20 mg every other day |
Ulcer prevention | 20 mg every other day | 10 mg every other day |
EE | 20-40 mg once daily OR 40 mg every other day | 20 mg every other day OR 20 mg once daily |
More serious acid conditions (e.g., ZES) | Avoid using | Avoid using |
It can be tough to know what dosage is right for you. So if you have kidney problems, ask your healthcare provider before starting Pepcid.
What happens if you miss a dose of Pepcid?
Missing a dose of Pepcid doesn’t typically cause problems right away. Just take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s too close to your next dose, skip the missed one. Take your next dose at its usual time. Never double up to try to make up for missed Pepcid doses.
If you’ve missed a few doses in a row, you may start to experience acid rebound. Restarting Pepcid as instructed should resolve this.
What should you do if you take too much Pepcid?
Pepcid is a relatively safe medication, even at high doses. So don’t fret if you took an extra dose by mistake. Overdose symptoms are similar to typical side effects and would most likely include headache, dizziness, or constipation. Serious complications are unlikely to happen when a person takes too much Pepcid.
If you’re concerned that you or someone you know has taken too much Pepcid, contact a healthcare provider, or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If anything seems severe, seek immediate medical help.
How to save on Pepcid
There are many ways to save on Pepcid, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. By having your healthcare provider write a prescription for OTC Pepcid, GoodRx can help you save over 40% off the average retail price.
OTC Pepcid's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $13.89 with a free GoodRx discount. Prescription Pepcid's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $5.70 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
Pepcid is a popular heartburn and GERD treatment that’s available with a prescription and OTC. A common adult Pepcid dosage is 10 mg to 20 mg once or twice daily. But doses vary depending on what condition you’re treating. Children’s dosages are based on their body weight.
People with kidney problems typically take lower Pepcid dosages. This helps lower the risk of side effects. Speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to determine which dose of Pepcid would be right for you.
Why trust our experts?
References
A-S Medication Solutions. (2023). Famotidine [package insert].
Antunes, C., et al. (2022). Esophagitis. StatPearls.
DailyMed. (2022). Pepcid AC original strength.
DailyMed. (2022). Pepcid AC.
MedlinePlus. (2021). H2 receptor antagonists overdose.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Famotidine.
Nguyen, K., et al. (2022). Famotidine. StatPearls.
Northstar Rx LLC. (2021). Famotidine [package insert].
Shahbaz, H., et al. (2022). Creatinine clearance. StatPearls.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Drugs@FDA: FDA-approved drugs:075488.
Was this page helpful?
Related Articles
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.