What is famotidine?
Famotidine is a prescription medication used to treat a range of conditions caused when your body overproduces stomach acid. Generic for the brand name Pepcid, it is often used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition that causes heartburn and esophagus damage. GERD affects more than 3 million Americans each year. It occurs when the acid and bile that your stomach uses to digest food begins to creep up into the esophagus, damaging and irritating its lining.
Famotidine is also prescribed to help heal ulcers and prevent their recurrence. It can even treat Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition in which tumors on the pancreas cause an increase in stomach acid production.
Lower-strength famotidine is available over-the-counter and can be used to treat heartburn and indigestion.