Famotidine 20 mg Tablets — Generic For Pepcid — TEVA

Medication Summary

Medication Summary: This section summarizes DailyMed drug label information to make the label easier to understand. It is not a substitute for the official label, pharmacist counseling, prescriber instructions, or medical advice.

Overview

Famotidine tablets are a histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist taken by mouth. They are indicated for adult and pediatric patients weighing 40 kg and greater for active duodenal ulcer, active gastric ulcer, symptomatic nonerosive GERD, and erosive esophagitis due to GERD diagnosed by biopsy.

In adults, famotidine tablets are also indicated for pathological hypersecretory conditions, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and multiple endocrine neoplasias, and for reducing the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence. The label gives different doses and treatment durations depending on the condition, and says to use the lowest effective dose.

Famotidine tablets may be taken with or without food, and may be given with antacids. The label also says dose adjustment is recommended for people with moderate to severe kidney impairment, because higher drug levels and certain nervous system side effects have been reported in these patients and in older adults.

The most common side effects listed are headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea. Famotidine tablets should not be used in people with a history of serious hypersensitivity reactions to famotidine or other H2 receptor antagonists.

Key Counseling Points

• Take famotidine once daily before bedtime or twice daily in the morning and before bedtime, as directed.
• Famotidine tablets may be taken with or without food.
• Famotidine tablets may be taken with antacids.
• Do not use if you have had a serious allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, to famotidine or another H2 receptor antagonist.
• Tell your pharmacist or prescriber about all other medicines, especially drugs that depend on stomach pH for absorption and tizanidine.
• The label says dosage adjustments are recommended for moderate to severe kidney impairment.
• Older adults may be at higher risk for nervous system side effects; the label says to use the lowest effective dose and monitor kidney function.
• Common side effects include headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea.
• Seek medical evaluation if symptoms do not improve as expected or if there is an early return of symptoms after treatment, since gastric malignancy should be considered in adults.
• Famotidine 20 mg and 40 mg tablets are not recommended for pediatric patients weighing less than 40 kg.

Helpful Patient Education

Famotidine tablets are an oral H2 receptor antagonist used for several acid-related conditions, including active duodenal ulcer, active gastric ulcer, symptomatic nonerosive GERD, and erosive esophagitis due to GERD in adult and pediatric patients weighing 40 kg and greater. In adults, the label also includes use for pathological hypersecretory conditions and reduction of duodenal ulcer recurrence. Dosing and treatment length vary by indication, and the label notes that dose adjustments are recommended for patients with moderate to severe renal impairment.

According to the DailyMed label, famotidine tablets may be taken with or without food and may be given with antacids. Common adverse reactions include headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea. The label also highlights important precautions, including potential interactions with some medicines that depend on gastric pH for absorption and a need for caution in older adults and patients with kidney impairment.

Medication Summary last generated: 2026-06-18 16:34:21