Famotidine vs Omeprazole: what are the differences?
When you have digestive issues, your healthcare provider will offer you either Famotidine or Omeprazole. They are the best options for digestive problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease or duodenal ulcers.
When you eat any delicious meal, you may often experience a burning sensation inside your stomach. In such cases, both of these medicines work by decreasing the amount of acid production inside your stomach.
You can get these medicines over the counter. But, doctors often prescribe these medicines to patients. They are generic drugs. However, there are differences between these two medicines. This article will help you differentiate between them.
Famotidine Vs Omeprazole: Differences
These two medicines differ in many ways. Here is a detailed analysis of their differences.
What Is Famotidine?
Also known by the brand name Pepcid, Famotidine is an H2 Blocker. You can also call it an H2 receptor antagonist. This medicine blocks a substance called histamine. Famotidine also blocks this substance inside our stomach to decrease the amount of acid production.
You can feel the effects of this medicine within an hour, and it lasts for around 12 hours based on the dose you have taken. Patients with digestive problems often take medicine once or twice every day.
What Is Omeprazole?
Omeprazole or Prilosec, as called by its brand name, is another digestive medicine you get prescribed for digestive problems. Famotidine vs omeprazole difference becomes evident when you discover how they work. Omeprazole, unlike Famotidine, works as a proton pump inhibitor.
This medicine works by blocking the proton pumps directly in the stomach’s lining and stopping the production of acid inside the stomach.
Famotidine Vs Omeprazole: Main Differences
Here are the main differences between Omeprazole and Famotidine.
| Point of Comparison | Famotidine vs Omeprazole | |
| Drug Class | H2 Blocker | Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) |
| Generic/ Brand status | Both generic and brand versions are available. | Both generic and brand versions are available |
| Name of the Brand | Pepcid | Prilosec |
| The form of the drug come in | Duodenal ulcers and GERD. You can take it 40 mg of Duodenal ulcers once, or you can take 20mg twice. For GERD, you need 20 mg twice. | Duodenal ulcers, and GERD. You can take 20 mg once for both forms. |
| Duration of treatment | Depending on the condition of the patient, the patient may need to take it for 6 to 8 weeks. | 4 to weeks, or a longer period based on the condition of the patient. |
| People aged between 1 to 16 years need a doctor’s prescription to consume them. | People aged between 1 to 16 years need a doctor’s prescription to consume them. People aged above 17 can consume them according to the dozes. |
These are the main differences if looking for famotidine vs omeprazole comparison. There are differences based on the diseases and conditions these two medicines can treat.
| Conditions | Famotidine vs Omeprazole | |
| GERD or Gastroesophageal reflux disease | Yes | Yes |
| Stomach ulcers | Yes | Yes |
| Duodenal ulcers | Yes | Yes |
| Erosive esophagitis | Yes | Yes |
| Heartburn | Yes | Yes |
| Hypersecretory conditions | Yes | Yes |
| H. pylori infection | No | Yes |
| Chronic urticaria (itching) | Off-label | No |
| Barrett esophagus | No | Off-label |
Both medicines work in most similar cases. But the differences mentioned here point out why these two medicines are not the same. You cannot use them for all the same conditions related to digestive problems. Both of these medicines work differently when it comes to conditions like H. pylori infection, Barrett esophagus, and Chronic urticaria.
Additionally, there is another famotidine vs long-term omeprazole difference. Consuming Omeprazole for a long period of time can cause magnesium and vitamin B12 deficiency in your body. It also causes your bones to fracture.
Famotidine vs Omeprazole: Side Effects & Warnings
There are also some similarities and common traits between these two medicines. Here are some side effects that are common among these two medicines.
Side Effects
- Diarrhea.
- Headache.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Headache.
- Stomach pain.
All of these side effects are common in both medicines. However, Omeprazole has two additional side effects – vomiting and gas.
Warnings
Users of both of these medicines need to stay alert when using them. Here are some warnings consumers have to follow when using –
Famotidine consumers should be warned about Stomach cancer and different problems of the central nervous system. On the other hand, omeprazole users have should be warned about a number of potentials side effects like –
- Stomach cancer.
- Bone fractures.
- Lupus.
- Kidney damage.
- Severe diarrhea.
- Low vitamin B-12, magnesium levels.
- Interactions with other medications.
- Small growths in the stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs):
Here are some popularly asked questions about these two medicines –
Ans – Omeprazole is calculatingly more effective for controlling gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in H. pylori-negative patients.
Ans – Patients should follow the prescribed doses before consuming any medicine out of their own will. You cannot take more than two famotidine tablets in a day. Also, you should refrain from taking over-the-counter famotidine for the long term unless your doctor recommends so.
Ans – When it comes to healing duodenal ulcers, Omeprazole offers rapid relief and works quickly. It is best when it comes to healing pain quickly. Besides, it also does not cause a subsequent relapse of ulcers. It is better in terms of efficacy compared to famotidine. But, you must also keep in mind the different warnings and side effects that Omeprazole can cause.
Ans – Some of the most common side effects of famotidine are as follows –
• Confusion, agitation, hallucinations, lack of energy.
• A seizure.
• Fast heartbeats, sudden dizziness.
Ans – If you had to decide between using long-term H2 blockers and long-term PPIs, using H2 blockers would be a safer option. H2 blockers lessen stomach acidity considerably while preserving the stomach’s capacity to respond to internal cues and adjust acidity as necessary.
Ans – 10 mg and 20 mg OTC tablets are available in the US and Canada; occasionally, they are combined with an antacid. Prescriptions are still needed for larger doses.
Ans – There aren’t any significant drug interactions with famotidine. On the other hand, omeprazole interacts with a wide range of drugs, such as antibiotics, clopidogrel, methotrexate, and HIV medications. For this reason, if you are taking a lot of medications, it might be safer for you to take famotidine.
Ans – Omeprazole sold over the counter should not be taken for more than 14 days without a doctor’s approval. Typically, 4 to 8 weeks are required to take prescription omeprazole, depending on the condition being treated. In certain cases, it takes even longer. Prolonged use of omeprazole may cause severe side effects.
Ans – Headache is the most frequent side effect of omeprazole. However, it may also result in adverse effects related to the stomach, like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. The risk of more severe side effects increases when taking omeprazole in higher dosages or for a longer period of time than a year.
Bone fractures and pneumonia (a lung infection) are two examples of these. Before making it your only form of remedy for your stomach, go to the doctor to treat the root of your issue.
Final words
So, this was the famotidine vs omeprazole comparison you were looking for. Whenever you take any of these two medicines, you must take all the side effects of these medicines into account. Also, you must follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider or doctor.
I think you have found your answer. However, if you have any further questions, you can ask them in the comment sections. We will answer them quickly.
