Two medicines, side by side
Sucralfate vs famotidine
Sucralfate and famotidine are both labeled for acid reflux and ulcers. Drugs@FDA records approvals of sucralfate since 1981 and of famotidine since 1986. Pharmacies paid $0.173 per sucralfate 1 g tablet and $0.0289 per famotidine 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. In FDA's classes, sucralfate is an aluminum complex and famotidine a histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Check it at the source: the sucralfate FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 2, 2026); the famotidine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 6, 2026).
Highlights of the sucralfate record
Sucralfate (Carafate) · label of September 2, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSucralfate is indicated in: • Short-term treatment (up to 8 weeks) of active duodenal ulcer. While healing with sucralfate may occur during the first week or two, treatment should be continued for 4 to 8 weeks unless healing has been demonstrated by x-ray or endoscopic examination. • Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of acute ulcers.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 30, 1981
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.173 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
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
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Sucralfate label of September 2, 2026, Famotidine label of February 6, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do sucralfate and famotidine differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, sucralfate is an aluminum complex and famotidine a histamine-2 receptor antagonist.
Generics: sucralfate since 1996; famotidine since 2001 (Drugs@FDA).
| Sucralfate | Famotidine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Acid reflux and ulcers | Acid reflux and ulcers |
| Pharmacologic class | Aluminum Complex | Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 30, 1981 | October 15, 1986 |
| First generic approved | March 29, 1996 | April 16, 2001 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 145 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.173 per tablet (Sucralfate 1 g tablet) | $0.0289 per tablet (Famotidine 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -6% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 14 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 23,820 | 118,838 |
| 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 sucralfate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions