Nizatidine

Introduction

Written by Ashley Wong, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Christina Bookwalter, PharmD, MS MEd, BCPS, BCACP
Updated on November 29, 2023

Nizatidine (ni ZA ti dine) is a generic medication prescribed for peptic ulcers. It’s also prescribed to treat certain types of esophagitis and heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It’s used for these purposes in adults. Nizatidine belongs to a group of drugs called histamine-2 (H2) receptor blockers.

Side effects of nizatidine

Nizatidine may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of nizatidine and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about nizatidine’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for nizatidine listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with nizatidine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about nizatidine’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for nizatidine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Nizatidine oral capsule’s mild side effects include:

• headache
• stuffy or runny nose
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for nizatidine” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of nizatidine are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about nizatidine’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for nizatidine listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, nizatidine’s serious side effects include:

• liver damage
• fast heart rate
• impotence
• anemia
• a skin condition called exfoliative dermatitis
• high uric acid levels
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for nizatidine” section.

Common questions about nizatidine

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about nizatidine.

What brand names are available for nizatidine?

At this time, nizatidine is available only as a generic medication. No brand-name versions of nizatidine are on the market. A brand-name version of nizatidine called Axid used to be available. But it was discontinued in the United States.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less compared to brand-name drugs.

If you have more questions about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does nizatidine work? And how long does it take to start working?

Nizatidine blocks histamine-2 (H2) receptors on cells in your stomach. This stops the cells from releasing as much stomach acid. This is the mechanism of action (how it works) of nizatidine to help treat peptic ulcers, esophagitis, and heartburn.

Nizatidine starts working right away. But it can take up to 8 weeks for the drug to heal an ulcer. Nizatidine typically heals duodenal ulcers within 4 weeks.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions and warnings for nizatidine

Below, you’ll find information about nizatidine’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of nizatidine

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take nizatidine, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for nizatidine” section below.

Warnings for nizatidine

Some people should not take nizatidine, and others should take it cautiously.

Nizatidine could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether nizatidine is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for nizatidine, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Nizatidine can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to nizatidine or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe nizatidine. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to nizatidine, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of nizatidine

You should not take more nizatidine than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much nizatidine, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and nizatidine

Information about nizatidine and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Nizatidine and pregnancy

In general, nizatidine is considered safe to take during pregnancy. That said, ask your doctor about whether they feel it’s safe for you.

Nizatidine and breastfeeding

There may be risks to taking nizatidine while breastfeeding. A very low amount (0.1%) of nizatidine is found in breast milk.

But there are also risks with having untreated peptic ulcer, esophagitis, or heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) during this time. (Keep in mind that nizatidine is used for treating peptic ulcers, esophagitis, and heartburn caused by GERD.)

If you’re planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your treatment options. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether or not you should take nizatidine during this time. Your doctor may recommend other healthy ways to feed your child.

Uses of nizatidine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as nizatidine for certain conditions. Approved uses for nizatidine are described below.

Use for certain types of peptic ulcers

Doctors may prescribe nizatidine for treating active peptic ulcers, including duodenal ulcers and gastric ulcers. It can also be prescribed as maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcers after they’ve healed. It’s used for these purposes in adults. For treatment of active ulcers, nizatidine is usually prescribed as a short-term treatment. As maintenance therapy for ulcers, nizatidine can be prescribed as a long-term treatment.

Peptic ulcers are sores on the inside lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer), esophagus (esophageal ulcer), or upper part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcer). Causes of peptic ulcers include specific bacteria, frequent use of certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and too much alcohol consumption (if applicable). They commonly cause mild to severe burning in your stomach that extends from the navel to the chest.

Use for certain types of esophagitis and heartburn

Doctors may prescribe nizatidine to treat certain types of esophagitis, including erosive esophagitis and ulcerative esophagitis. Nizatidine is also used to treat heartburn caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It’s used for these purposes in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

Esophagitis is inflammation or irritation of the esophagus. The most common type of esophagitis is erosive esophagitis, also known as reflux esophagitis. It occurs when stomach acids flow back into the esophagus. (The esophagus is the tube connecting the throat to the stomach.) Ulcerative esophagitis occurs when you have sores in the lining of your esophagus. A common symptom of both conditions is heartburn. And typically, both conditions are related to GERD.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about nizatidine or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How long will I take nizatidine?
• How does nizatidine compare with other treatments for peptic ulcers?
• Are there any drug interactions I need to avoid while I’m taking nizatidine?

Resources

• Azer SA, et al. (2023). Reflux esophagitis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554462/
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Nizatidine capsules. (2018). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/faaa7cc4-fda9-d5b8-de2a-71c8744ccb76/spl-doc

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.