Famotidine for GERD User Reviews (Page 2)

• Eddie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2021

"ppi gave me panic attacks all of them so I took this pathetic medicine famotidine for almost 2 months Daily. Initially I felt bloated, burping 24×7 ; burning in lower abdomen & very foul smelling flatus. I never had constipation but after starting famotidine I was badly constipated then it affected my mind gradually anxiety kicked in ; insomnia with twitching of thigh muscles ;I was anxious 24×7 with depressive & suicidal thoughts as if life is all sad & dark panic attacks as if I am having a heart attack & its all over. One day I skipped this med & that day I felt better and realised it was Famotidine ! So I stopped it & realised that my insomnia got better & my twitching of muscles stopped anxiety gradually lowered...my personal experience both ppi & famotidine sucks"

• Denise
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2018

"Awful! Took this med for 5-6 weeks, explosive diarrhea and unable to control urinating. My throat often closed up when I tried to eat. Had to sleep sitting up; other wise I was awaken by insistent coughing, unable to get my breath several times each night. Dr didn’t believe this was the reason for all my symptoms till I took it information from Rx side effects."

• Duke
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 26, 2019

Pepcid (famotidine) "I had been taking Ranitidine (300mg twice a day), but after that was recalled, I tried Pepcid Complete. It seemed to work for a month or so, taking one in the morning, and one in the evening. But then the acid reflux continued to be a problem so I am here looking at others drug reviews. On the Pepcid website it states: PEPCID® products are not indicated for the treatment of GERD. I am going to try my luck with Prilosec OTC, based on the reviews that gets on this site."

• Wonder...
• September 4, 2020

"My doctor switched me to famotidine 6 weeks ago. Since that time I have had a cough, shortness of breath and uncontrollable itching. I made an appointment with my PC because of the symptoms experiencing. Afterward I started to think back to changes made within the last 6 weeks and remembered starting a new reflux meds. While researching famotidine side effects, all of the current systems were listed. Worst of all hives was a symptom. Will stop taking immediately."

• Concern
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

"Doctor prescribed this medication to me for my acid reflux burning sensation in my stomach, 2 days into this medication I started to feel bloated, no appetite, burping for no reason, can’t even use the restroom, urine is dark, dry mouth, headaches and back pain. I am more worried about all the side effects then I was with my stomach burning. Now I am trying to call a doctor to check how long does this pill leave your system. Never taking this medication. Home remedies is the best."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2022

"Pepcid is literally the spawn of Satan. I was prescribed Pepcid twice a day everyday for acid reflux/sour mouth. I never felt WORSE in the following categories: one-sided headache/migraines, dizzy, weak, fatigued, depressed, anxious, panicked, crying episodes, joint pain, constipation, swallowing difficulties, chest pain, heart palpitations. I want to emphasize that I NEVER experienced such bad headaches, dizziness, weakness, and joint pain prior to taking Pepcid. I SOMETIMES experience crying episodes, constipation, and depression before/during my menstrual cycles. I took Pepcid even when I wasn't on my period and I've ruled out those symptoms. The side effects were so bad to the point that I called out at my NEW job and I really don't want call out sick. It also does NOT help that I took Pepcid while on Lexapro. As for my acid reflux, there are no improvements in my sour mouth but I'm not sure if I've been taking it for long enough. DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!!!!"

• Flore...
• April 15, 2020

Pepcid (famotidine) "I got so stressed with this Covid stuff and when very stressed I succumb to overeating, eating and spitting, it went on for a week and oh my gosh after a week the heartburn was crippling. One pepcid pill quieted things down. It been 1 hour and all is still in there thank goodness."

• Corey
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2021

"Stay away from this drug and let me tell you about my experience. I’ve suffered from acid reflux for a number of years. I went to a doctor and was prescribed this medication once daily. I was on it for roughly two years and never felt worse. Although it did help with my GERD, it ruined me in other ways. I had insomnia, anxiety, weight loss, etc. I could not put my finger on why I felt so lousy until I started to narrow down what could be going on. I then realized that the only medication that I was on was Famotidine so I decided to do my homework. After reading other horror story reviews about this drug, I decided to stop taking it and see if this was the cause of why I felt so crappy. Sure enough, it was the root cause. Shortly after going off of the Famotidine my anxiety was gone, I was sleeping soundly again and I have put on 10lbs in just two months. I have now been off of the Famotidine for six months and I’ve never felt better."

• Bright
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 8, 2023

"Was prescribed 40mg daily, only took it as needed over the course of several years without much issue. Started to develop horrible anxiety in February 2023, which progressed into a whole suite of other symptoms as well, and none of these were ever things I struggled with before. I never really understood intense anxiety until this: significant loss of appetite (I dropped 20 pounds), heart palpitations, chest pain, sleep disruptions and stress dreams, tremors, difficulty thermoregulating, feeling cold, cold hands/feet, headaches, fatigue, depression, and others. I continued to take it for several weeks without pinpointing it as the cause of these issues. I stopped taking it in March, and I'm still experiencing some of these, although not as frequently or as intensely. I hope that I can make a full recovery like many others have written they did. In May 2023 I am still experiencing some anxiety and depression, cold hands/feet, and some lesser chest pain/palpitations. This drug is awful."

• LadyW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2022

"After about a week on famotidine I didn't really notice where it was helping me with the heartburn that I had. I had to supplement the famotidine with over-the-counter antacids like Pepto-Bismol or a bicarbonate tablet. But I would say about five or six days into taking famotidine I start to have palpitations and feelings of discomfort in my chest and then with that came on feelings of anxiety and other symptoms like my muscles hurting sides and my back hurting feeling like my kidneys are hurting just all. I started to have slight headaches for no reason and I drink a lot of water per day. I do not recommend H2 blockers and PPI's because just tweaking your diet can actually help your digestive tract a lot better than swallowing this garbage that actually damages your stomach and your intestines in the long run. I would not recommend famotidine to take longer than a week and I have noticed in some of these reviews people have been on this medicine for a year-wow, I can't do it!"

• Reese
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2022

"Best used very short term, I'm talking about a week MAX. This stuff loses efficacy very quickly and after that point the side effects will take over. In one month of on and off use, this drug has given me anxiety and irregular heartbeat and stopped working for treating acid reflux/esophagitis. Get off of it while you still can because this will make you very ill in the long run."

• Felof...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2021

"I waited until the evening to take this the first time. I already take Rabeprazole which hadn’t been effective lately so my GP told me to take 20mg alongside my regular medication. After taking this, I began to feel sick within the first hour which progressively got worse during the night - I didn’t actually vomit but it felt close. I got pains in my chest, a strange sensation in my throat, headache and terrible anxiety. It also didn’t stop the heartburn discomfort. Didn’t sleep much. The following day, my anxiety was still bad, heartburn was awful to the point I only managed to eat two slices of toast the entire day and the throat feeling wouldn’t go away (like something was stuck in my throat). I also got strange chest pains like my heart was skipping or something. I had had a few ok days prior to taking this medication and feel like I have ruined any progress I was making. The anxiety that this is causing is ridiculous. I would tell anyone never to touch this stuff."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2009

"I was a huge Tums eater with little success. At night while lying down I'd have the acid come up all the way to my nose - quite a burning, nasty sensation. It would appear that this little 20 mg pill makes ALL the difference. I take it about an hour before my evening meal. So far it has performed incredibly well - I've not had any GERD (acid reflux) even after a 4 taco with heavy onion and salsa dinner plus 3 beers."

• Beach...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2021

"Took this medicine for GERD, after 1 week I started getting anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, and muscle weakness, dizziness, and nausea. I felt bloated all the time and I couldn’t eat. When the insomnia symptoms escalated like I’d drank a pot of coffee, it was intensely scary. Even 24 hours after my last dose, I still don’t feel well. I wouldn’t recommend to anyone."

• Anony...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2022

"I always have Famotidine in the house and have taken one now and then for stomach acid. However, after experiencing a reflux attack one night I decided to take one a day to see if that helped. I don't know if it helped, could only stay on it 3 days, I was suffering so badly with my stomach and anxiety. I became very anxious and started to have what I though were heart palpations, and almost constant heavy burping. The palpations I believe weren't the heart though, it seemed to be generating from the esophagus where it joins the stomach, and it felt like spasms that would not stop. Three days of this misery, and the only thing different that I was doing was taking this medicine. Once I saw the side effects I immediately stopped and the symptoms became less and less but it took a few days to get back to normal. I will never take this stuff again. Please be aware of all these symptoms if you try it so you can recognize these side effects. Do not recommend."

• Rene
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 2, 2022

"I came off this drug because my stomach was getting worse and all the side effect that come with it: constipation, bloated stomach, aching throughout my body, fatigue was so bad I can hardly walk . My doctor told me I needed to take them to protect my stomach (she was wrong ) I’m no dr but I know my body !! This drug has made me feel so ill it wants banning. They might a swell tell you to keep giving yourself a dose of poison every day. Never, ever, ever, ever again. Do not take this it is absolutely horrendous."

• botike
• March 2, 2021

"I was on 40mg twice a day for 2 weeks. Side effects, day 5 my skin was hot and felt like I got hives, this lasted for a few days and I reduced the amount to 20mg in the morning and 40mg in the evening. Which helped the issue and went away from day 10. Sometimes I get a headache and slight pain around the eyes. Apart from that no side effects. I read it lasts around 12 hours in my body. I found 20mg lasts around 10 hours and 40mg lasts around 14 hours in my body. I made sure to space the dosage out between 12 hour periods. Also drank lots of water, the medicine comes out of your body through your kidneys. I read people with kidney issues might have problems with this medicine. For me this medicine worked ok. I had problems with 40mg on omeprazole and lansoprazole, it gave me pins and needles in my fingers and pain in my wrists that went on for 6 months after stopping that medicine, whereas famotidine gave me no problem in my hands."

• Carmen
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2021

"Took it for four days for acid reflux which it fixed. Suddenly felt high anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia on the fourth day. I stopped taking it and my normal sleep schedule returned at first. Now I'm experiencing insomnia and palpitations the day after I exercise. It's been almost two weeks since I stopped. I'm hoping this goes away soon. It's misery and I'll never take this drug again."

• SKET
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2013

"So far, famotidine is working great for my chronic GERD, acid reflux. I also made life changing eating habits and added even more exercise to my routine but I still have this condition. Also, need to eat more frequently every 2-3 hours, small snacks and meals really helps. I usually take one of these when I feel it coming on, usually in between meals and it quickly calms it. I only take one a day and then if I feel it at night after dinner or right before bed I take 150mg Zantac (ranitidine). I try to limit to only ONE 20mg famotidine and ONE 150mg Zantac a day. Seems to work quite well. Too much of any PPI or H2 blockers and you can reverse the process of what you're trying to achieve. I only take a couple Tums when in desperate need."

• Mom
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2021

"I haven’t slept in 2 days due to my 7 week old hitting the 1 week mark with this medication in her system. I truly felt like she was going to die. I couldn’t figure it out.. I would have never thought in a million years it was this until all of the symptoms match with hers and I give her CLEAN breastmilk. I stopped the medicine immediately and the next day I had a whole new baby. She couldn’t sleep longer than 20 min at a time. Intense rubbing of her mouth so I thought she was getting a tooth or something! Crying like I’ve never heard before. Absolutely terrifying. She stopped smiling the last couple days she was on it. Today she’s back to her smiley self. Oh and she’s insanely constipated. Now you know! Stay away."

• Cinde...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2019

"My doctor just switched me over to Famotidine. I don't like the way it makes me feel. I've noticed muscle cramps and a tightening in my throat. I was on Ranitidine but due to the recall my doctor took me off of it. I had no bad effects from the ranitidine and I'm going to see if I can get back on it. Nothing really helps me all my issues are still here but at least I didn't have any bad side effects. I don't know what the answer is"

• donot...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2022

"Shortly after starting this drug for GERD, I developed fascia pain superficial to my muscles. I did not make the correlation to the drug. For the span of a year, the pain progressed to severe muscle cramping, joint and bone pain, stomach cramping, anxiety (related to symptoms), insominia. After 2 emergency visits, 2 urgent care visits, 3 mri's, emg testing, neuro, gi, extensive physical therapy, and several visits to my doctor, a different practicioner said it was the famotidine causing malabsorption. I went off the drug and asked for a bone density scan. The result was osteoporosis and a dentist appointment showed bone loss to my teeth not there 6 months prior. Additionally I run a fitness business and should not have developed osteoporosis. Doctor's denied that it was the drug that caused bone loss and said one year is not long term use, despite the warning to not take the drug for longer than 2 weeks. Systemic pain dissipated upon ceasing the medication, bone damage permant."

• Solo
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2020

"Gerd - over acidic stomach, did not have acid reflux. I've been taking Pepcid AC for years with good results. Acid issue was becoming worse, Dr. prescribed 40 mg Famotidine, 1 x day. At first it helped along with changing to a bland, non-fatty food diet (I lost 25 lbs, hoping to lose another 10). Advised Dr. of waning relief, he increased dosage to 2 x day. I experienced worse effects, acidic stomach along with diarrhea, bloating/gas if I ate/cheated on diet, (1 whole egg instead of just the whites). Same reaction to other spicey or fatty foods in small quantities, not whole meals. Went back to 1 x day for a week, then I stopped taking the medication for one day and felt better, no excessive acid after eating 6 oz of steak. Previously under the med, a hamburger caused the worsened symptoms. Will stay off the med and continue with diet and limited intake of fatty & spicey foods. Will drop the med if things continue to improve without it."

• Anony...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2018

"My doctor first suggested pantoprazole for my acid reflux, which I’ve used in the past. But I wanted to try something a little more gentle this time. I was pleasantly surprised that this worked perfectly. I started with the maximum dose for a few weeks, then slowly weaned off it completely over a few months."

• court
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2022

"I took 10mg of famotidine twice a day for severe GERD. I had stomach and chest pressure, shortness of breath, anxiety, burning, belching, nausea, throbbing. It was enough for me to end up in the ER. The famotidine helped my symptoms after the first dose, but by the second day, I felt like I was losing my mind. I felt like my brain wasn't mine, I felt weird and detached, I was having panic attacks, I felt agitated, shortness of breath, and like I couldn't really speak. I felt really scared of my own mind. Turns out it's some of the "rare" side effects. Super helpful for my symptoms, but not worth these horrendous side effects."