Two medicines, side by side
Famotidine vs esomeprazole
Famotidine and esomeprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of famotidine since 1986 and of esomeprazole since 2001. Pharmacies paid $0.0289 per famotidine 20 mg tablet and $0.145 per esomeprazole mag DR 20 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026). In FDA's classes, famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist and esomeprazole a proton pump inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the famotidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026); the esomeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective March 19, 2024).
Highlights of the famotidine record
Famotidine (Pepcid) · label of February 6, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsrelieves heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach prevents heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach brought on by eating or drinking certain food and beverages
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 15, 1986
- Generic labelers
- 145 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0289 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 14
Highlights of the esomeprazole record
Esomeprazole (Nexium) · label of March 19, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationstreats frequent heartburn (occurs 2 or more days a week) not intended for immediate relief of heartburn; this drug may take 1 to 4 days for full effect
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 20, 2001
- Generic labelers
- 116 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.145 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 12
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Famotidine label of February 6, 2026, Esomeprazole label of March 19, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do famotidine and esomeprazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist and esomeprazole a proton pump inhibitor.
Generics: famotidine since 2001; esomeprazole since 2013 (Drugs@FDA).
| Famotidine | Esomeprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist | Proton Pump Inhibitor |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 15, 1986 | February 20, 2001 |
| First generic approved | April 16, 2001 | March 18, 2013 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 145 labelers | 116 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0289 per tablet (Famotidine 20 mg tablet) | $0.145 per capsule (Esomeprazole mag DR 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -12% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 12 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 118,838 | 235,202 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to famotidine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions