Famotidine Alternatives Compared

View side-by-side comparisons of medication uses, ratings, cost, side effects and interactions.
Famotidine	Xolair (omalizumab)	Zyrtec (cetirizine)	Enter another drug to compare

Famotidine

Xolair (omalizumab)

Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Prescription and OTC

Famotidine is an acid-suppressing agent that may be used to treat a wide range of gastric-acid-related disorders including gastric ulcers, heartburn, and GERD. A headache is the most common side... View more

Prescription only

Xolair is an injectable preparation that works by preventing IgE from binding to IgE receptors on mast cells and basophils and may be used to treat allergic asthma, nasal polyps, chronic idiopathic... View more

Prescription and OTC

Zyrtec is an antihistamine that effectively treats allergic reactions such as hay fever or skin reactions caused by insect bites. Although drowsiness with Zyrtec is uncommon, Zyrtec is more likely... View more

More about Famotidine

More about Xolair (omalizumab)

More about Zyrtec (cetirizine)

Ratings & Reviews

Famotidine has an average rating of 4.5 out of 10 from a total of 177 ratings on Drugs.com. 34% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 56% reported a negative effect.

Xolair has an average rating of 7.6 out of 10 from a total of 231 ratings on Drugs.com. 68% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 18% reported a negative effect.

Zyrtec has an average rating of 5.8 out of 10 from a total of 198 ratings on Drugs.com. 43% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 35% reported a negative effect.

View all 177 reviews

View all 231 reviews

View all 198 reviews

Side Effects Experienced by Users Side effects are reported in Drugs.com user reviews and not clinically verified.

Anxiety (26.0%)
Headaches (10.7%)
Nausea (10.7%)
Insomnia (9.6%)
Chest pain (8.5%)
Diarrhea (8.5%)
Dizziness (7.3%)

View all Famotidine side effects

Rash (10.4%)
Itching (10.0%)
Swelling (8.2%)
Headaches (6.1%)
Joint pain (6.1%)
Pain (6.1%)
Fatigue (5.6%)

View all Xolair side effects

Itching (24.2%)
Drowsiness (16.7%)
Tiredness (11.1%)
Rash (10.6%)
Anxiety (5.1%)
Fatigue (5.1%)
Headaches (4.0%)

View all Zyrtec side effects

Drug Class

H2 antagonists

Selective immunosuppressants

Antihistamines

Generic Availability

Lower cost generic

N/A

Lower cost generic approved

Pricing and Coupons * Prices are without insurance

Quantity	6 tablet
Strength	20 mg
Per unit^*	$2.22
Cost^*	$13.34

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We could not find an exact match for this medicine. Try searching the Price Guide directly.

Quantity	14 tablet
Strength	10 mg
Per unit^*	$1.66
Cost^*	$23.19

View all Zyrtec prices

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Dosage Forms

Intravenous solution
Oral powder for reconstitution
Oral tablet

Subcutaneous powder for injection
Subcutaneous solution

Oral capsule
Oral syrup
Oral tablet
Oral tablet, chewable
Oral tablet, dispersible

Half Life Drug half-life is the time required for plasma concentration to reduce to half its original value.

4 hours

624 hours

10.6 hours

CSA Schedule ¹ View glossary of CSA terms

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Not a controlled drug

Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

Pregnancy Category

Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Category B No proven risk in humans

See the full pregnancy warnings document.

Drug Interactions

A total of 315 drugs are known to interact with Famotidine:

14 major drug interactions (36 brand and generic names)
255 moderate drug interactions (834 brand and generic names)
46 minor drug interactions (296 brand and generic names)

A total of 32 drugs are known to interact with Xolair:

3 major drug interactions (6 brand and generic names)
20 moderate drug interactions (39 brand and generic names)
9 minor drug interactions (37 brand and generic names)

A total of 254 drugs are known to interact with Zyrtec:

2 major drug interactions (4 brand and generic names)
250 moderate drug interactions (1083 brand and generic names)
2 minor drug interactions (41 brand and generic names)

Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions

No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cetirizine such as dizziness, drowsiness... View more

Disease Interactions

Malignancies

First Approval Date

October 15, 1986

June 20, 2003

N/A

WADA Class View classifications

N/A

More Information

Patient Resources

Famotidine uses

Xolair uses

Zyrtec uses

Professional Resources

Prescribing information

Prescribing information

¹ The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Famotidine Alternatives Compared

See also:

Protonix

Nexium

Dupixent

Pepcid

Prilosec

Rabeprazole

Calcium carbonate

Ranitidine

Lansoprazole

Esomeprazole

Further information

Famotidine Alternatives Compared

See also:

Further information

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