Famotidine and Headaches: What Users Say

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 23, 2020

For GERD "This famotidine is the worst medication I have ever taken. I feel so much worse taking this medication than not. Headaches, chest tightening, and anxiety I have never experienced. I will never use this stuff ever again. The side effects are too much to bear. I felt so alone before I read the other reviews."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2021

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "ENT doctor prescribed Famotidine on 2/12/21. I feel horrible, cannot eat, feel like I’m having a heart attack, had a panic attack. Chest tightness, headache, anxiety. I feel worse. This medication needs to be off the market! Going the alternative medicine route, new breed of doctors are pharmaceutical drug pushers. Doctors only treat symptoms, but never the cause. A doctor is more interested in keeping you sick than curing you. This way, you keep coming back for more treatments."

• TD ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2023

For GERD "Started taking this medication about a month ago on and off to help with acid reflux. I started having insomnia, headaches, and numbness in my extremities. About two weeks in, I had horrible anxiety, panic attacks, upset stomach, and ringing in my ears. Then about a week ago, I took two in one day due to horrible stomach cramping. My life went to complete hell. That night, the burning in my face and arms and legs started along with the worst anxiety and panic attacks I have ever had. I have not been able to get a full night's sleep in over a week. I had every symptom imaginable. I have been to the ER three times. Heart racing, blood pressure extremely high. I truly think that I am going to die. This poison should never be on the market. I am waiting for the symptoms to dissipate. If anyone can offer any advice on how long it takes for this to get out of my system, I would greatly appreciate it."

• Val...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 8, 2022

For GERD "I have been having reflux problems for 2 years. After gallbladder removal, my GP started me on famotidine! My problem was getting worse, but I never thought it could be this drug. Then I came across this site and all the patients that had been taking it, and I absolutely agree with you all, this drug is awful! Side effects of headaches, fatigue, constipation, depression, and muscle spasm cramps. So to all of you that have suffered with this poisoning drug, NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN. It is my first day stopping them, so I'm probably in for a rough ride, not that I care as long as these get out of my system. They WANT BANNING!!"

• Jca...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

For GERD "I'd rather just have the heartburn than take famotidine. Half the side effects this med can cause that you see on this site, I got them! This medication made me weak, caused me muscle pain, gave me headaches, and worsened my anxiety. My doctor is very good, but I'm disappointed he gave me this. I'll stick to Tums or something. Famo is a mess. Does more harm than good."

• Cra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2021

For GERD "Took famotidine 20 mg/day for a few weeks back in September 2020. Had the worst side effects: shooting pains in head, racing heart, chest pains, head pressure, burning skin on my arms, muscle spasms on my stomach and collarbone, stiff neck, stiff lower back, stomach issues, GI issues, fatigue. I had the worst feeling of anxiety coming from my stomach. I never knew what anxiety was until I had this experience. I never had problems sleeping before this. It felt like I was poisoned. Took me a week to realize it was the famotidine. I stopped it immediately. Some of the side effects gradually went away. I took magnesium and started B12 supplementation. Took Zantac for years and never had any issues. Many people I spoke with said their side effects went away after 3-4 months. However, I am still dealing with many side effects a year later. If there is anyone who has any insight into this/recommend a doctor who has helped them through this, I would greatly appreciate any help."

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For GERD "Doctor prescribed this medication to me for my acid reflux burning sensation in my stomach. Two 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 than I was with my stomach burning. Now I am trying to call a doctor to check how long this pill leaves your system. Never taking this medication. Home remedies are the best."

• Bri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 8, 2023

For GERD "Was prescribed 40 mg 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."

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

For GERD "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 started to have palpitations and feelings of discomfort in my chest, and then with that came 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 PPIs 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!"

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

For GERD "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 20 mg 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, a 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 okay 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."

• bot...
• March 2, 2021

For GERD "I was on 40 mg 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 20 mg in the morning and 40 mg 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 20 mg lasts around 10 hours and 40 mg 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 okay. I had problems with 40 mg 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."

• cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2022

For GERD "I took 10 mg of famotidine twice a day for severe GERD. I had stomach and chest pressure, shortness of breath, anxiety, burning, belching, nausea, and 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."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2021

For Peptic Ulcer "My gastroenterologist put me on 40 mg, twice per day, for six weeks for my peptic ulcer. I tested negative for H. pylori. My PCP had me on Nexium, which I ended up being allergic to. Horrible headache, fatigue, hives, major bowel issues, and nausea. Famotidine has changed my life. After two doses, I felt better than I had in nearly one year. I had zero side effects, which made it easier for me to stay on the six-week plan. After my six weeks, I will remain on it as needed."

• Xoc...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 27, 2020

For Indigestion "I have been on famotidine 40 mg tablets. I am a senior, 73, and have been staying inside. In March, I thought I had maybe gotten the corona-19, I had a sore throat, headaches, about a 100 fever, and felt bad. This only lasted about a few days. My doctor just told me to go to the hospital if I got worse, but I did not. I started feeling better. So I just thought it was not, but now I wonder if taking the famotidine helped me have a mild case of it. I have not been tested, it was not available."

• Ano...
• November 14, 2020

For Indigestion "Famotidine is not the most effective thing I've taken for heartburn (Prevacid is awesome but gives me headaches), but it's helpful for cases where Rolaids and Pepto-Bismol don't give me relief. I feel just a bit off when I take it, but I'd rather feel out of it for a few hours instead of suffering through wicked heartburn."

• Kar...
• April 7, 2021

For GERD "I started taking this medication 3 days ago, and I’ve had really bad side effects. I’ve had diarrhea, headaches, anxiety right after I take it, and joint pain, especially in my arm and my back. My doctor said I had to continue taking this medication, as it has been helping with my stomach acid, but it takes me a while to not feel the side effects of this medication."

• Ger...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2021

For GERD "My daughter got some strong GERD all day long, couldn’t even sleep, so her doctor prescribed famotidine twice a day, and it helped. It is just she is like a zombie now, she’s too calm and isn’t herself at all, has to think well when you ask a question and go over it many times, asking her again 'til she answers. They said this medicine is being used for mental health because of the histamine being blocked. Schizophrenics have high histamine, so I guess it does work for that. Says it is being used for schizophrenia. Also, she gets a very bad headache, don’t know if it will go away."

• Jon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2022

For GERD "I was prescribed 20+20 mg for GERD. The first few days appeared great, considerably lessened symptoms, but on day 2 came the runs. Like a sudden need for the toilet, and then the worst diarrhea you can imagine. My GP recommended continuing with the medication as typically the diarrhea might go away, but it didn't. Then started the headache, a throbbing nightmarish pain, and with GERD, it's not like you want to take pain relievers for your already inflamed esophagus... do put up with it. And finally, after a few more days, a nausea. Constant feeling like you're going to throw up. That's it for me, swapping one symptom for three! I preferred the GERD!"

• Sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2021

For Hiatal Hernia "Pepcid 20 mg twice daily. Slight chest pain and tightening. Feeling heavy and slight headache, but not with every dose. It does stop all my stomach and chest issues after an hour or so."