This article describes possible interactions with famotidine oral tablet. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.
Famotidine comes as a tablet that you swallow. It’s also available as an oral suspension and an injectable form. The injectable form may have different interactions than the oral forms of famotidine.
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Other drugs and famotidine
The drugs in the list below may interact with famotidine oral tablet. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with famotidine.
Drug classes or drugs that may interact with famotidine oral tablet include:
- certain antifungal drugs
- drug examples: ketoconazole, itraconazole (Tolsura, Sporanox)
- what might happen: can make the antifungal drug less effective
- certain tyrosine kinase inhibitors
- rilpivirine (Edurant) and treatments that contain it
- atazanavir (Reyataz)
- what might happen: can make atazanavir less effective
- cefuroxime
- what might happen: can make cefuroxime less effective
- dasatinib (Sprycel)
- what might happen: can make dasatinib less effective
- dichlorphenamide (Keveyis, Ormalvi)
- what might happen: can increase the risk for side effects of famotidine
- fosamprenavir (Lexiva)
- what might happen: can make fosamprenavir less effective
- ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni)
- what might happen: can make ledipasvir/sofosbuvir less effective
- tizanidine (Zanaflex)
- what might happen: can make tizanidine less effective
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Get free cardWhen to avoid famotidine
Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks with famotidine oral tablet. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe famotidine in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.
The primary contraindication for taking famotidine oral tablet is if you’ve had a past allergic reaction to famotidine. Taking it again may cause another allergic reaction.
Before you start treatment with famotidine, tell your doctor about any allergies to medications you may have. They can recommend whether you should take famotidine oral tablet.
Alcohol and famotidine
Famotidine oral tablet doesn’t have direct interactions with alcohol.
However, alcohol can worsen gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms in some people. (Famotidine is prescribed to treat GERD symptoms.)
And consuming alcohol can worsen symptoms of an ulcer in your digestive system. (Famotidine is also prescribed to treat certain ulcers in the stomach or intestines.)
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Other interactions and famotidine
Interactions can occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether famotidine oral tablet has these interactions.
The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with famotidine.
Famotidine and supplements
Before taking famotidine oral tablet, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Doing so may help you avoid interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Famotidine interactions with herbs
Famotidine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any herbs. But this doesn’t mean interactions with herbs can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbs or herbal products while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Famotidine interactions with vitamins and minerals
Famotidine oral tablet may interact with iron supplements, which are used to prevent and treat anemia due to an iron deficiency.
Taking famotidine and an iron supplement may make the iron supplement less effective. Iron can also be found in some multivitamin products. These products would be affected by this interaction as well.
Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Famotidine and food
Famotidine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with foods. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about possible foods you should avoid while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Famotidine and vaccines
Famotidine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with any vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Famotidine and lab tests
Famotidine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any lab tests while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Famotidine and cannabis or CBD
Famotidine oral tablet isn’t known to interact with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But this doesn’t mean interactions can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
As with any drug or supplement, tell your doctor before taking cannabis with famotidine.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Health factors and famotidine
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with famotidine oral tablet. Keep in mind that interactions could lead to side effects or affect how well the drug works. Before taking famotidine, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether famotidine is right for you.
These health conditions or other factors might interact with famotidine oral tablet:
- age 65 years or older
- kidney conditions, such as chronic kidney disease
- long QT syndrome or heart arrhythmia
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- past allergic reaction to famotidine
Questions about famotidine and interactions
Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about famotidine and possible interactions.
Does famotidine have interactions with blood pressure medications?
No. There aren’t reports of famotidine interactions with blood pressure medications.
Proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole may interact with thiazide diuretics, which are used as blood pressure medications. Hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone are examples of thiazide diuretics. But famotidine isn’t known to have this interaction.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about whether medications you take could interact with famotidine.
Does famotidine oral tablet have different interactions compared with those of famotidine oral suspension?
No. Interactions of famotidine oral tablet and famotidine oral suspension are expected to be the same.
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about similarities and differences of different famotidine dosage forms.
Preventing famotidine interactions
You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with famotidine oral tablet. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.
Things to consider include:
- Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
- Other medications and herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
- What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug while taking famotidine oral tablet.
Taking famotidine exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
What to ask your doctor
If you have questions about famotidine and possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Does famotidine interact with antacids such as calcium carbonate?
- Do other drugs that could treat my condition have similar interactions?
- Do I need to take my medications at different times throughout the day to avoid interactions?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.