Two medicines, side by side
Famotidine vs ranitidine
Famotidine and ranitidine are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of famotidine since 1986 and of ranitidine since 1983.
Check it at the source: the famotidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026); the ranitidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 1, 2026).
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 ranitidine record
Ranitidine (Zantac) · label of May 1, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsRanitidine Tablets, USP are indicated in: Short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer. Most patients heal within 4 weeks. Studies available to date have not assessed the safety of ranitidine in uncomplicated duodenal ulcer for periods of more than 8 weeks. Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of acute ulcers. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 9, 1983
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- Not in the survey
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 47
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Famotidine label of February 6, 2026, Ranitidine label of May 1, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do famotidine and ranitidine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class histamine-2 receptor antagonists.
Generics: famotidine since 2001; ranitidine since 1997 (Drugs@FDA).
| Famotidine | Ranitidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist | Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The elimination half-life is 2.5 to 3 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 15, 1986 | June 9, 1983 |
| First generic approved | April 16, 2001 | July 31, 1997 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 145 labelers | 8 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0289 per tablet (Famotidine 20 mg tablet) | n/a |
| 12-month price change | -2% | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 14 | 47 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 118,838 | 230,803 |
| 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