We’re here to help.
Our friendly team is available to help Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
Our friendly team is available to help Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
Fast, discreet delivery
Free delivery over £40
100% UK-based pharmacy
All doctors & pharmacists UK-based
Free advice & support
Clinical support free · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
Why Patients Choose Access Doctor
10+
Years serving UK patients
—
Verified patient reviews
1,000+
Licensed treatments
24/7
Consultation available
Famotidine is an H2 blocker that reduces stomach acid – an alternative for people who cannot take a PPI. Prescribed online by our GPhC-registered pharmacist prescribers if suitable for you.
Order before 3pm — same-day dispatch (MON - FRI)
~5 min consultation
Secure & confidential · Reviewed by a UK prescriber
Suitable age
18 years +
Max per order
3 packs
Consultation
Yes — free online consultation included
Famotidine is an H2-receptor antagonist (H2 blocker). It reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes by blocking histamine signals in the stomach lining. It is used to treat acid reflux (reflux oesophagitis), stomach and duodenal ulcers, and to stop duodenal ulcers coming back.
PPIs such as omeprazole reduce acid more strongly, so they are usually tried first. Famotidine can be a useful alternative if a PPI does not suit you or causes side effects.
Famotidine is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. Your online consultation is reviewed by one of our GPhC-registered pharmacist prescribers, who confirms whether it is suitable for you and how to take it.
For more on how famotidine compares with PPIs, see our guide to famotidine and H2 blockers. Always read the patient information leaflet inside the pack.
| Active ingredient | Famotidine |
| Type of medicine | Acid reflux, heartburn, GORD, and stomach/duodenal ulcers |
| Available strengths | 20mg tablets |
| Pack sizes | 28 or 56 tablets |
| Price from | £23.99, including consultation and prescription |
| Usual reflux dose | 20mg twice a day, usually for 6 weeks |
| How long a dose lasts | Starts working within about an hour; lasts up to about 12 hours |
| Legal status | POM — Prescription Only Medicine |
Famotidine belongs to a class of medicines called H2 receptor antagonists, often shortened to H2 blockers. It works by blocking histamine H2 receptors in the lining of the stomach, which reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces. This helps relieve symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn, and allows any irritation or ulceration in the stomach and gullet to heal. Famotidine is often compared with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, which reduce acid through a different mechanism. Famotidine generally starts working faster than a PPI, within around 30 to 60 minutes, but its effects last for a shorter period of up to about 12 hours, whereas a PPI's effect tends to build up and last longer with regular use.
Famotidine 20mg tablets cost £23.99 for 28 and £39.99 for 56. Every price includes your online consultation and prescription, with no separate consultation fee.
Yes. Famotidine is a prescription-only medicine in the UK – the over-the-counter version (Pepcid AC) is no longer available. At Access Doctor you complete an online consultation, and one of our pharmacist prescribers issues a prescription if it is suitable for you.
Famotidine treats acid reflux (reflux oesophagitis), heals stomach and duodenal ulcers, and helps stop duodenal ulcers coming back.
For acid reflux, the usual dose is 20mg twice a day, usually for 6 weeks; your prescriber may increase it if needed. To heal an ulcer, the usual dose is 40mg at night for 4 to 8 weeks. If you have severe kidney problems, the dose is usually halved. Take famotidine 1 to 2 hours before any antacid.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), which reduces acid more strongly and for longer, so PPIs are usually tried first. Famotidine is an H2 blocker that can be a good alternative if a PPI does not suit you. Famotidine is not affected by the clopidogrel warning that applies to omeprazole and esomeprazole.
Famotidine is usually well tolerated. Common side effects include headache, dizziness, constipation and diarrhoea. Rarely, it can cause a severe allergic or skin reaction, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or confusion (mainly in older people or those with kidney problems) – stop taking it and get medical help if this happens. Tell your prescriber if side effects bother you or do not go away.
Do not take famotidine with probenecid. It can reduce the absorption of ketoconazole and itraconazole (take ketoconazole 2 hours before famotidine), atazanavir, posaconazole, rilpivirine, dasatinib and erlotinib. Do not take sucralfate within 2 hours of famotidine. Tell your prescriber about all the medicines you take
Famotidine is not recommended in pregnancy and is only prescribed if it is clearly needed. It passes into breast milk, so you should either stop breastfeeding or not take famotidine – your prescriber can suggest an alternative.
Take it as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case skip the missed dose. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed one.
Helpful articles and clinical guides related to this treatment category.
Free consultation
Online review by a UK prescriber
Next-day delivery
Order before 3pm where offered
Discreet packaging
Plain outer packaging