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famotidine vs ledipasvir/sofosbuvir

Side-by-side comparison of famotidine and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir. 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

See the prescribing information for other drugs dependent on gastric pH for absorption for administration instructions, including atazanavir, erlotinib, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, nilotinib, and rilpivirine.

Recommendation: Ask your doctor for specific instructions on when to take these drugs to ensure they work correctly.

Drug Class
famotidine H2 Receptor Antagonist
ledipasvir/sofosbuvir NS5A/NS5B Inhibitor (HCV)
Type
famotidine Over-the-Counter
ledipasvir/sofosbuvir Prescription
Summary
famotidine

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

ledipasvir/sofosbuvir

Harvoni is a medicine that contains ledipasvir and sofosbuvir. It is used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in adults and children 3 years and older.

What It Treats
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.

ledipasvir/sofosbuvir

Harvoni treats chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 4, 5, or 6. It can be used if you don't have cirrhosis or if you have compensated cirrhosis. If you have genotype 1 with decompensated cirrhosis or are a liver transplant recipient with genotype 1 or 4, you will take Harvoni with another medicine called ribavirin.

How It Works
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.

ledipasvir/sofosbuvir

Harvoni contains two medicines that stop the hepatitis C virus from multiplying in your body. Ledipasvir blocks a protein called NS5A. Sofosbuvir blocks another protein called NS5B.

Common Side Effects
famotidine
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
ledipasvir/sofosbuvir
  • Feeling tired
  • Headache
  • Feeling weak
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
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
ledipasvir/sofosbuvir
  • Feeling tired 4,130
  • Headache 3,706
  • Nausea 1,240
  • Diarrhea 913
  • Hepatitis C 883
Serious Warnings
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.

ledipasvir/sofosbuvir

Harvoni can cause Hepatitis B to become active again if you have had it in the past. This can cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. Your doctor will test you for Hepatitis B before you start Harvoni and monitor you during and after treatment.

Pregnancy
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.

ledipasvir/sofosbuvir

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking Harvoni. If Harvoni is taken with ribavirin, it is unsafe during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This famotidine vs ledipasvir/sofosbuvir Comparison

famotidine is classified in the H2 Receptor Antagonist drug class, while ledipasvir/sofosbuvir sits within the NS5A/NS5B Inhibitor (HCV) 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, famotidine has 32,420 submissions while ledipasvir/sofosbuvir has 10,872. 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 famotidine lowers stomach acid, which can make it harder for the body to absorb ledipasvir/sofosbuvir.. 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 famotidine and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir - 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.