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duloxetine vs famotidine

Side-by-side comparison of duloxetine and famotidine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

However, co- administration of Duloxetine delayed-release capsules with aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids (51 mEq) or Duloxetine delayed-release capsules with famotidine, had no significant effect on the rate or extent of duloxetine absorption after administration of a 40 mg oral dose.

Recommendation: You can take these medications together without any special changes to your routine.

Drug Class
duloxetine Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)
famotidine H2 Receptor Antagonist
Type
duloxetine Prescription
famotidine Over-the-Counter
Summary
duloxetine

Duloxetine is a medicine that can help treat depression and anxiety. It can also help with certain types of pain.

famotidine

Famotidine (Pepcid) reduces stomach acid. It is used to treat ulcers, heartburn, and acid reflux.

What It Treats
duloxetine

Duloxetine can treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults and children (7 years and older). It can also treat diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic muscle or bone pain in adults. In children, it can treat fibromyalgia (13 years and older).

famotidine

This medicine treats active duodenal ulcers and active gastric ulcers. It also treats heartburn (nonerosive GERD) and erosive esophagitis (damage to the esophagus from acid reflux). Famotidine can also treat conditions where the stomach makes too much acid, like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. It can also lower the risk of duodenal ulcers coming back.

How It Works
duloxetine

Duloxetine is a type of drug called an SNRI. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. These chemicals can help improve mood and reduce pain.

famotidine

Famotidine is an H2 receptor antagonist. This means it blocks histamine, a substance that tells your stomach to make acid. By blocking histamine, famotidine reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces.

Common Side Effects
duloxetine
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Sleepiness
  • Constipation
  • Decreased appetite
famotidine
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
duloxetine
  • Tiredness 4,788
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 4,783
  • Aches or soreness 3,698
  • Head pain 3,653
  • Loose stools 3,262
famotidine
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 7,259
  • Feeling tired 6,866
  • Long-term kidney problems 6,644
  • Loose, watery stools 6,448
  • Difficulty breathing 5,203
Serious Warnings
duloxetine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior.

famotidine

In elderly patients and those with kidney problems, famotidine can cause confusion, delirium, or hallucinations. If you are elderly or have kidney problems, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose. Famotidine can hide the symptoms of stomach cancer. If your symptoms don't improve, tell your doctor.

Pregnancy
duloxetine

Using duloxetine in the last month of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking duloxetine during pregnancy. Women who stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to experience a relapse of depression.

famotidine

It is not known if famotidine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Famotidine may pass into breast milk, but it's not expected to harm the baby. Talk to your doctor about breastfeeding while taking this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This duloxetine vs famotidine Comparison

duloxetine is classified in the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) drug class, while famotidine sits within the H2 Receptor Antagonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are split between OTC and prescription status, which affects access and supervision.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, duloxetine has 20,184 submissions while famotidine has 32,420. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to taking these two drugs together does not change how much of the medicine gets into your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between duloxetine and famotidine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.