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Variety of delivery options including next day & free delivery.
Pharmacy, clinic and prescribers based in Greater Manchester.
Start your treatment with a quick and free online consultation.
Fill in a quick online consultation for our licensed pharmacists to review.
Our pharmacists will review your treatment to ensure it’s suitable.
Your treatment will be delivered to your door quickly & discreetly.
| Medication Name | Famotidine Tablets |
| Active Ingredient | Famotidine |
| Medication Form | Oral tablets |
| Used to Treat | Heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, GORD |
| Available Strengths | 20mg, 40mg |
| Available Pack Sizes | 28 tablets |
| Common Side Effects | Headache, dizziness, constipation, diarrhoea |
| Do you need a prescription for it? | Yes |
| How should it be taken? | Once daily at night, or twice daily as directed by your doctor. Swallow whole with water. |
| Patient Information Leaflet | Famotidine Tablets Patient Information Leaflet |
Famotidine belongs to a group of medicines called H2-receptor blockers (also known as H2 antagonists). These work by targeting specific receptors in your stomach lining that control acid production.
Your stomach naturally produces acid to help digest food. However, sometimes it produces too much acid, which can cause uncomfortable symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, and damage to the lining of your stomach or oesophagus.
Famotidine works by blocking the H2 receptors in the cells of your stomach lining. When these receptors are blocked, they can’t respond to signals that tell your stomach to produce acid.
This significantly reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes, which helps in several ways:
Most people start to feel relief within 1-2 hours of taking famotidine tablets, and the effects can last throughout the day or night, depending on when you take it.
Famotidine is used to treat a range of conditions caused by excess stomach acid. These include:
Famotidine can also be used to prevent ulcers from coming back after they’ve healed, and to protect your stomach if you’re taking medications that can irritate the stomach lining, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Famotidine tablets are suitable for adults who need treatment for heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion, or ulcers. They’re generally well-tolerated and can be used for both short-term symptom relief and longer-term management of acid-related conditions.
However, famotidine may not be suitable for everyone. You should not take famotidine tablets if you:
You should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking famotidine if you:
Before starting treatment with famotidine tablets, always inform your doctor or pharmacist about any medications or vitamins you’re taking and any medical conditions you have.
Always take famotidine tablets exactly as your doctor has prescribed. The dose and frequency will depend on your condition and how severe your symptoms are.
Like all medicines, famotidine tablets can cause possible side effects, although not everyone experiences them. Most people tolerate famotidine well, and side effects are generally mild when they do occur.
If you experience any of the following, stop taking famotidine and seek immediate medical attention:
If you experience any side effects, even those not listed here, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Most mild side effects will improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
You can report side effects to the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) via the Yellow Card Scheme to help monitor the safety of this medication.
Active ingredient: Famotidine 20mg or 40mg per tablet
Other ingredients: The inactive ingredients may vary depending on the manufacturer, but typically include: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinised maize starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), and talc.
Some brands may contain lactose. If you have lactose intolerance, check the patient information leaflet in your pack or speak to your pharmacist about lactose-free alternatives.
It’s best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking famotidine. Alcohol can increase stomach acid production, which may worsen your symptoms and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. If you do drink, keep it to a minimum and monitor how it affects your symptoms.
Famotidine and omeprazole work differently. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that generally provides stronger and longer-lasting acid suppression than famotidine.
However, famotidine works faster, usually within 1-2 hours, compared to several days for omeprazole to reach its full effect. Your doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment based on your condition and symptoms.
Avoid alcohol, as it can worsen acid reflux symptoms. You should also avoid taking antacids within 1-2 hours of your famotidine dose, as they can affect absorption. Don’t take other acid-reducing medications unless your doctor has specifically advised you to. If you’re unsure about any foods or medications, speak to your pharmacist.
You shouldn’t crush or chew famotidine tablets unless your doctor has specifically told you to. The tablets are designed to be swallowed whole. Some tablets can be cut in half if they have a score line, but check with your pharmacist first. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, speak to your doctor about alternative options.
Like all medications, famotidine tablets have an expiry date printed on the packaging. Don’t use them after this date, as they may not work properly and could be unsafe. If your tablets have expired, return them to your pharmacist for safe disposal.
Famotidine should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor decides the benefits outweigh any potential risks. If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor before taking famotidine. They can assess your individual situation and recommend the safest treatment option.
No, famotidine has not been discontinued in the UK. It remains available as a prescription medication. If you’re having trouble finding it, speak to your pharmacist, as different brands and generic versions are available.
You can usually take famotidine with common painkillers like paracetamol. In fact, famotidine may help protect your stomach if you need to take NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen or aspirin, which can irritate the stomach. However, always check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining medications.
Yes, famotidine is a prescription-only medication for acid reflux and heartburn in the UK. You cannot buy it over the counter. You can buy famotidine tablets through Click2Pharmacy’s online consultation service, where our licensed pharmacists will review your symptoms and medical history to make sure famotidine is suitable for you.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.
You can take famotidine tablets with or without food – it’s up to you. Many people find it the best time to take it is at bedtime for overnight symptom control, regardless of when they last ate. The most important thing is to take it at the same time each day for consistent relief.
Page content authored by Amjad Khan, last reviewed by Muhammad on 6th February 2026.
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