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 used in adults and in pediatric patients 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, they are also used for pathological hypersecretory conditions and to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence.

The label lists several dosing options depending on the condition. Famotidine tablets may be taken once daily before bedtime or twice daily in the morning and before bedtime, with or without food. Some conditions require dosage adjustment in people with moderate to severe renal impairment, and the lowest effective dose is recommended.

Famotidine tablets are not recommended for pediatric patients weighing less than 40 kg because the 20 mg and 40 mg tablets are stronger than the recommended dose for those patients. In adults, lack of symptom relief does not rule out gastric malignancy, and evaluation may be needed if response is poor or symptoms return early after treatment.

The most common side effects reported are headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea. Serious hypersensitivity reactions can occur in people with a history of allergy to famotidine or other H2 blockers.

Key Counseling Points

• Take famotidine once daily before bedtime or twice daily in the morning and before bedtime, as directed.
• Famotidine may be taken with or without food.
• Famotidine tablets may be given with antacids.
• Do not use famotidine if you have had a serious hypersensitivity reaction to famotidine or another H2 receptor antagonist.
• Tell your healthcare provider if you have kidney problems, since dosage adjustments may be needed in moderate to severe renal impairment.
• Elderly patients and people with renal impairment have a higher risk of CNS adverse reactions such as confusion, hallucinations, agitation, seizures, or lethargy.
• Common adverse reactions include headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea.
• Famotidine can reduce the absorption of some other medicines; the label says concomitant administration is not recommended for certain drugs dependent on gastric pH for absorption.
• Avoid concomitant use with tizanidine if possible; if used together, monitor for hypotension, bradycardia, or excessive drowsiness.
• For adults, persistent symptoms or early return of symptoms after treatment may need evaluation for gastric malignancy.

Helpful Patient Education

Famotidine tablets are a histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist for oral use. According to the DailyMed label, they are indicated in adults and pediatric patients 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, they are also indicated for pathological hypersecretory conditions and for reducing the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence.

The label describes once-daily bedtime dosing or twice-daily morning and bedtime dosing, with or without food, and notes that dosage adjustments are recommended in moderate to severe renal impairment. Common adverse reactions include headache, dizziness, constipation, and diarrhea. Famotidine tablets should be used carefully in patients with a history of serious hypersensitivity to famotidine or other H2 blockers, and the label notes possible drug interactions with medicines that depend on gastric pH for absorption and with tizanidine.

Medication Summary last generated: 2026-06-18 16:34:27