Two medicines, side by side
Famotidine vs omeprazole
Famotidine and omeprazole are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of famotidine since 1986 and of omeprazole since 1989. Pharmacies paid $0.0289 per famotidine 20 mg tablet and $0.0295 per omeprazole DR 20 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026). Omeprazole's other strengths are brand-only: $14.75 per pen (Prilosec DR 2.5 mg suspension). In FDA's classes, famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist and omeprazole a proton pump inhibitor.
Check it at the source: the famotidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026); the omeprazole FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 22, 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 omeprazole record
Omeprazole (Prilosec) · label of April 22, 2024
Used for
From the label: indicationsOmeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) indicated for the: Treatment of active duodenal ulcer in adults ( 1.1 ) Eradication of Helicobacter pylori to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence in adults ( 1.2 ) Treatment of active benign gastric ulcer in adults ( 1.3 ) Treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients 1 year of age and older ( 1.4 ) Treatment of erosive esophagitis […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- September 14, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 118 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0295 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 7
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Famotidine label of February 6, 2026, Omeprazole label of April 22, 2024); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do famotidine and omeprazole differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, famotidine is a histamine-2 receptor antagonist and omeprazole a proton pump inhibitor.
Generics: famotidine since 2001; omeprazole since 2002 (Drugs@FDA).
| Famotidine | Omeprazole | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Omeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the H + /K + ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal … |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | disease classified as Child-Pugh Class A (n=3), B (n=4) and C (n=1), the bioavailability increased to approximately 100% compared to healthy subjects, reflecting decreased first-pass effect, and the plasma half-life of … |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 15, 1986 | September 14, 1989 |
| First generic approved | April 16, 2001 | November 1, 2002 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 145 labelers | 118 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0289 per tablet (Famotidine 20 mg tablet) | $0.0295 per capsule (Omeprazole DR 20 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -7% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 7 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 118,838 | 446,179 |
| 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