Can you take Pepcid daily long-term?

Famotidine (brand name: Pepcid AC, Zantac 360) should not be used for longer than 14 days if you are treating heartburn symptoms. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you need to use this product for longer than 14 days or you've had heartburn for longer than 3 months, as you may have a more serious problem.

Is it OK to take Pepcid every day?

Take this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. Do not increase your dose or take it more often than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medication without your doctor's approval because this may delay healing of the ulcer.

Why can't you take Pepcid long term?

Increased risk of bone fracture: Increased gastrin production as a result of taking PPIs can inhibit calcium absorption, making bones more fragile. Heart Attack: It's recently been discovered that the risk of heart attack in adults is increased by as much as 20% with the long term use of PPIs.

What are the side effects of taking Pepcid daily?

How long can I take Pepcid safely?

Use PEPCID^® as directed on the product label. Do not take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours. If you find that you need to use PEPCID^® for more than 14 days, stop use and consult a doctor.

New Warning About Popular Heartburn Drugs

What is the safest antacid to take long term?

According to Dr. Ghouri, Prilosec OTC “is usually sufficient in controlling symptoms in a majority of [heartburn] cases” and has been the #1 Doctor Recommended frequent heartburn relief medicine for 14 years.

How long can I take famotidine 20 mg?

To treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Adults and children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—20 milligrams (mg) 2 times per day, in the morning and at bedtime for up to 6 weeks.

What are the dangers of 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.

Do I have to wean off famotidine?

To taper off after regular use, experts advise taking a PPI every other day, and an OTC antacid such as Tums or an H2 blocker such as famotidine (Pepcid AC and generic) or ranitidine (Zantac 150 and generic) on alternating days, until you can stop taking the PPI medication altogether.

Can Pepcid damage the liver?

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.

How long is too long for famotidine?

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 is the best acid reflux medicine for long term use?

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.

Is famotidine safer than omeprazole?

Famotidine has no major contradictions with other medications. Omeprazole, however, has many interactions with medications including HIV medications, clopidogrel, methotrexate, and certain antibiotics. Because of this, it may be safer for you to take famotidine if you are on many medications.

Can I take Pepcid for 4 weeks?

Most patients heal within 4 weeks; there is rarely reason to use PEPCID at full dosage for longer than 6 to 8 weeks. A regimen of 20 mg b.i.d. is also effective. Maintenance Therapy: The recommended adult oral dose is 20 mg once a day at bedtime.

What's better Pepcid or Prilosec?

Prilosec works better for longer-lasting relief, whereas Pepcid kicks in faster but may not be as effective long term. Still, everyone responds differently to drugs, and a medical provider can determine which one is best for long-term treatment of GERD, reflux, or other conditions.

Is there a rebound effect with Pepcid?

The symptoms of acid rebound vary from person to person. But even short-term use of acid-suppressing medications can cause acid rebound. It's been seen in people who took PPIs for as little as 2 months.

Can you take famotidine only when needed?

To treat heartburn and acid indigestion, take 1 tablet or capsule with a glass of water as needed, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Swallow the tablets and capsules whole without chewing. If you are using the chewable tablets, chew completely and swallow one tablet as needed.

What are alternatives to famotidine?

These include Prilosec (omeprazole), Nexium (esomeprazole), Protonix (pantoprazole), Aciphex (rabeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), Dexilant (dexlansoprazole), and Zegerid (omeprazole-sodium bicarbonate). These medications are stronger acid reducers, and usually work better to treat stubborn acid reflux symptoms.

Can PEPCID damage your heart?

An older class of heartburn drug, called H2 blockers, which include famotidine (Pepcid AC) and ranitidine (Zantac), were not associated with increased cardiovascular risk, Shah's team found. PPIs reduce the amount of nitric oxide in blood vessel walls, which is meant to relax and protect them, Shah said.

What does famotidine do to the brain?

Here we hypothesized that famotidine activates the inflammatory reflex, a brain-integrated vagus nerve mechanism which inhibits inflammation via alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) signal transduction, to prevent cytokine storm.

Why is famotidine off the market?

They may contain unacceptable levels of a potential cancer-causing substance known as NDMA, or N-Nitrosodimethylamine.

Is 20 mg of famotidine a lot?

Famotidine dosage for hypersecretory conditions

For hypersecretory conditions, a typical dose of famotidine is 20-60 mg tablets taken four times per day, however doses can be increased significantly under a doctor's supervision.

Can you take antacids for life?

Antacids are an effective way to treat heartburn and indigestion. But they're not meant for long-term daily use.

Can you take antacids for years?

If you experience heartburn or chest pain and find yourself popping antacids more than two or three times a week, it is time to see your doctor. While antacids may relieve your symptoms, they won't fix the root of the problem if you have an underlying health condition.