Are H2 blockers safer than PPIs?

Here, the researchers found that people who took PPIs had a 24 percent increased risk of death compared with people taking H2 blockers. Further, the risk rose steadily the longer people used the drugs.

Are H2 blockers better than PPIs?

Proton-pump inhibitors, or PPIs — such as omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), or esomeprazole (Nexium) — are stronger than H2 blockers. They inhibit certain cells from "pumping" acid into the stomach, which lowers acid levels and heartburn pain.

What is the safest H2 blocker?

Thus, famotidine is a safe and potent H2-receptor blocker of acid secretion.

Can I replace PPI with H2 blocker?

Doctors usually don't recommend taking both a PPI and an H2 receptor blocker at the same time. H2 receptor blockers can interfere with the effectiveness of PPIs. If your GERD symptoms don't improve with the use of a PPI, your doctor may recommend an H2 receptor blocker instead.

What is the safest drug for acid reflux?

Proton pump inhibitors are accepted as the most effective initial and maintenance treatment for GERD. Oral pantoprazole is a safe, well tolerated and effective initial and maintenance treatment for patients with nonerosive GERD or erosive esophagitis.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) vs H2 blockers

Which is better for acid reflux omeprazole or famotidine?

Conclusions: Omeprazole is more effective than famotidine for the control of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms in H. pylori-negative patients, while similar efficacy is observed in H. pylori-positive patients with non-erosive gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Is famotidine safer than omeprazole?

Therefore, the safest acid reflux medicine is the one that works best for you with the least amount of side effects. When compared to famotidine, omeprazole may have an increased risk of adverse effects, such as osteoporosis, especially when used long term.

Are H2 blockers safe long-term?

The safety of long-term H2-receptor antagonist therapy needs to be considered in relation to the potential consequences of prolonged acid suppression, including the risk of proliferation of gastric flora and the risk of developing enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia, which could in turn, theoretically, lead to ...

Why are PPIs more effective than H2 blockers?

PPIs yield greater acid suppression than H2 blockers. This is due to the fact that other stimuli, in addition to histamine 2, stimulate acid production in the stomach and H2-blockers only block histamine 2.

What are the long-term effects of taking famotidine?

Check with your doctor right away if you have the following symptoms: confusion, delirium, hallucinations, disorientation, agitation, seizures, or unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness, or feeling of sluggishness. These are more likely to occur if you are older or if you have a kidney disease.

Which is safer omeprazole or cimetidine?

Conclusion: Omeprazole 10 mg o.m. is more effective than cimetidine 800 mg nocte in the prevention of recurrence of GERD-associated heartburn and the occurrence of underlying oesophagitis.

Can H2 blockers cause liver damage?

Famotidine is a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist (H2 blocker) which is commonly used for treatment of acid-peptic disease and heartburn. Famotidine has been linked to rare instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.

Is it OK to take famotidine every day?

Do not take more than two tablets, capsules, or chewable tablets of over-the-counter famotidine in 24 hours and do not take over-the-counter famotidine for longer than 2 weeks unless your doctor tells you that you should.

What are the side effects of H2 blockers?

The most common side effect is headache. Cimetidine. Side effects are rare. But diarrhea, dizziness, rashes, headaches, and gynecomastia may occur.

Do H2 blockers cause dementia?

Boustani said earlier studies have linked another type of antacid, H2 blockers, with an increased risk of dementia. Up to now, he's recommended that patients use PPIs to treat acid reflux and steer clear of H2 blockers like Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac.

What can I take instead of proton pump inhibitors?

Although PPIs were found to be more effective in treating symptoms and complications associated with GERD, H2 blockers have proven to be just as effective in suppressing gastric acid. H2 blockers are available by prescription or over-the-counter, and include ranitidine, famotidine, cimetidine and nizatidine.

What is the best PPI for long term use?

All the medications heal esophagitis in 90–94% of patients. There are no significant differences in overall healing and symptom improvement rates between the medications. Omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid) have been available the longest and consequently are the most familiar to physicians and patients.

Do H2 blockers cause weight gain?

H2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors, with one possible exception, did not precipitate weight gain in clinical trials and do not directly alter appetite. However, they may contribute to obesity indirectly via well-established biological mechanisms that are currently undergoing clinical study.

Why you shouldn't take famotidine?

Downsides. If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: A headache and gastrointestinal side effects (such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain) are the most common side effects.

Do H2 blockers cause kidney damage?

In contrast, among new users of H2 blockers, 7.67 percent developed chronic kidney disease in the absence of acute kidney problems, and 1.27 percent developed end-stage renal disease. End-stage renal disease occurs when the kidneys can no longer effectively remove waste from the body.

Do H2 blockers heal esophagus?

Acid-suppression lasts several hours thereafter and permits peptic ulcers to heal over a few weeks. It also counteracts the corrosive effects of acid, which refluxes into the esophagus (food pipe) and causes heartburn.

Why is omeprazole preferred over famotidine?

Other antacids like Maalox, TUMS, or Rolaids often start to work more quickly than famotidine (Pepcid AC). Medications like omeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) work better at healing and preventing stomach ulcers than famotidine (Pepcid AC).

Is famotidine being recalled?

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) has determined that PEPCID (famotidine) tablet, 20 milligrams (mg) and 40 mg, was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness.

What is safer Prilosec or Pepcid?

ANSWER: Omeprazole (Prilosec) is a much more effective suppressor of acid reflux than famotidine (Pepcid), and is more effective for most people -- if it is used daily.

Can you take Pepcid daily long term?

For bouts of recurring acid reflux that happen a few days a week, H2 blockers like Pepcid AC can be the answer, though it is not recommended that you take these drugs for more than a couple weeks. To solve longer episodes of recurring heartburn, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are usually recommended.