Pepcid

Introduction

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Rosanna Sutherby, PharmD
Updated on April 17, 2023

Famotidine is a generic medication prescribed for acid reflux and other stomach acid conditions. Famotidine is available in a brand-name version called Pepcid AC, which is available over the counter (OTC). The cost of famotidine with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Famotidine comes in these forms:

• oral tablet that you swallow
• liquid suspension that you swallow
• solution for injection

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved famotidine to:

• treat acid reflux, which is sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• treat ulcers in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine
• treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and other conditions with too much stomach acid
• reduce the risk of ulcers recurring in the upper part of the small intestine

Read on to learn about famotidine and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about famotidine, including its uses, refer to this overview article.

Cost of famotidine

Like other medications, the cost of famotidine can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of injectable famotidine, if your doctor prescribes this form
• the cost to purchase needles and syringes to use with injectable famotidine, if your doctor prescribes this form  

To find out how much famotidine costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, see the “Coupons for famotidine” section.

Coupons for famotidine

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of famotidine. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Common questions about famotidine and cost

Here are some common questions about famotidine and their answers. 

Is there a cost difference between famotidine oral tablets and famotidine oral suspension?

It’s possible. Famotidine oral tablets come in two strengths, both in milligrams (mg): 20 mg and 40 mg. The oral suspension comes in a strength of mg per milliliter (mL): 40 mg/5 mL.

The form and strength may affect the cost of your famotidine prescription. But insurance coverage can affect price too. For example, insurance plans may vary in coverage of famotidine and the copay they charge.

Contact your insurance provider or pharmacy to learn what you can expect to pay for your prescription.

Does the over-the-counter (OTC) form of famotidine cost less than the prescription forms of the drug?

In general, insurance coverage is one of the biggest factors in the cost of prescription drugs. If you have insurance, prescription famotidine may or may not be less expensive than the OTC form. It will depend mainly on the copay your insurance plan charges.

If you’ll be paying for famotidine out of pocket, you might find online coupons to help with the cost. See the “Coupons for famotidine” section.

Either way, your pharmacy can tell you the costs of OTC famotidine and the prescription form.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. 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.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor.

Insurance and other considerations for famotidine

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of famotidine. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for famotidine. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of famotidine may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This may happen if your famotidine doses are given by a doctor or another healthcare professional. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re taking famotidine long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Famotidine is a generic medication. Only the over-the-counter (OTC) form is available in a brand-name version called Pepcid AC. For more information, see “Does the over-the-counter (OTC) form of famotidine cost less than the prescription forms of the drug?” in the “Common questions about famotidine and cost” section.

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.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

Famotidine is based on the brand-name version Pepcid, which is no longer available.

What to ask about famotidine

This article provides cost information related to famotidine. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for famotidine.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• How much is my copay for a famotidine prescription?
• Are other prescription or over-the-counter drugs available at a lower cost that could treat my condition?
• How can I lower the cost of famotidine?

Resources

• Famotidine – famotidine tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/e9102fd9-ca26-4a2c-9b1a-6e75a208fc11/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm

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.