Famotidine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Cai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2020

For GERD "So this drug is the worst! I DO NOT recommend it. The second I take it, I notice issues swallowing, excessive mucus, and difficulty breathing to the point that I’ve been to the ER twice! I’m just glad I noticed it was from this as doctors do not realize over-the-counter drugs can cause severe side effects. Other fun side effects listed under “rare” that I had are: chills, anxiety, trouble sleeping, hallucinations, irritability, restlessness, dizziness, weakness. This should be taken off the market, especially as an over-the-counter drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2020

For GERD "Just began taking Famotidine for the first time as omeprazole made me sick. So on this, I notice I feel bloated after 12 hours of taking it even though at first it got rid of my acid reflux within like 15 mins. However, I woke up almost in a panic feeling like I was gonna have a heart attack. I was burping excessively to the point my stomach feels in knots. I can't sleep a full 8 hours. I wake up every 2 hours or can't even go back to sleep at all, and I work night shift. I even feel like my muscles wanna just spasm out of control. And I feel like my heartbeat is irregular right now too, it's crazy to think a drug can do this. Much like someone else said here, I'd rather have the acid reflux as this is torture; who would ever make a drug like this. Whatever happened to safety, this stuff is not safe, but DR. has determined this will do more good than cause you harm. THAT'S A LIE. Done with these trash pharmaceutical companies' drugs. I'm gonna try natural remedies."

• TD ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2023

For GERD "Started taking this medication about a month ago on and off to help with acid reflux. I started having insomnia, headaches, and numbness in my extremities. About two weeks in, I had horrible anxiety, panic attacks, upset stomach, and ringing in my ears. Then about a week ago, I took two in one day due to horrible stomach cramping. My life went to complete hell. That night, the burning in my face and arms and legs started along with the worst anxiety and panic attacks I have ever had. I have not been able to get a full night's sleep in over a week. I had every symptom imaginable. I have been to the ER three times. Heart racing, blood pressure extremely high. I truly think that I am going to die. This poison should never be on the market. I am waiting for the symptoms to dissipate. If anyone can offer any advice on how long it takes for this to get out of my system, I would greatly appreciate it."

• Mid...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2020

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "This drug famotidine is horrible! I’ve tried most PPIs and H2 blockers with minimal success. The only thing that worked for my chronic throat clearing was Zantac. I was devastated when they pulled it. I thought famotidine would be a good replacement. I couldn’t have been more wrong. After 4 months of taking this drug, I developed horrible stomach pain with diarrhea. I was ready to call my GI doctor because I thought something was terribly wrong. Along with that, I was extremely agitated and anxious and could not sleep. I had to get a benzo from my primary to help with the agitation and anxiety. I started reading sites like this and stopped this horrible drug. I feel so much better and no longer feel like I’m going crazy."

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2020

For GERD "Finally realized this med famotidine was causing me to wake up immediately after falling asleep, with my heart racing, caused extreme insomnia which I have never had at all. It did help reflux but I will never take it again."

• Edd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2021

For GERD "PPI gave me panic attacks, all of them, so I took this pathetic medicine, famotidine, for almost 2 months daily. Initially, I felt bloated, burping 24/7; burning in lower abdomen and very foul-smelling flatus. I never had constipation, but after starting famotidine, I was badly constipated. Then it affected my mind gradually; anxiety kicked in; insomnia with twitching of thigh muscles; I was anxious 24/7 with depressive and suicidal thoughts, as if life is all sad and dark, panic attacks as if I am having a heart attack and it's all over. One day, I skipped this med, and that day, I felt better and realized it was famotidine! So I stopped it and realized that my insomnia got better and my twitching of muscles stopped. Anxiety gradually lowered... my personal experience: both PPI and famotidine suck."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 22, 2021

For GERD "Stay away from this drug and let me tell you about my experience. I’ve suffered from acid reflux for a number of years. I went to a doctor and was prescribed this medication once daily. I was on it for roughly two years and never felt worse. Although it did help with my GERD, it ruined me in other ways. I had insomnia, anxiety, weight loss, etc. I could not put my finger on why I felt so lousy until I started to narrow down what could be going on. I then realized that the only medication that I was on was famotidine, so I decided to do my homework. After reading other horror story reviews about this drug, I decided to stop taking it and see if this was the cause of why I felt so crappy. Sure enough, it was the root cause. Shortly after going off of the famotidine, my anxiety was gone, I was sleeping soundly again, and I have put on 10 lbs in just two months. I have now been off of the famotidine for six months, and I’ve never felt better."

• Daw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2022

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "I am in the U.K. Chronic insomnia, indigestion-like pain in the upper right-hand side rib area, muscle pains the day after, and feelings of anxiety. These symptoms began after taking only 3 tablets. Not for me!"

• don...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2022

For GERD "Shortly after starting this drug for GERD, I developed fascia pain superficial to my muscles. I did not make the correlation to the drug. For the span of a year, the pain progressed to severe muscle cramping, joint and bone pain, stomach cramping, anxiety (related to symptoms), insomnia. After 2 emergency visits, 2 urgent care visits, 3 MRIs, EMG testing, neuro, GI, extensive physical therapy, and several visits to my doctor, a different practitioner said it was the famotidine causing malabsorption. I went off the drug and asked for a bone density scan. The result was osteoporosis, and a dentist appointment showed bone loss to my teeth not there 6 months prior. Additionally, I run a fitness business and should not have developed osteoporosis. Doctors denied that it was the drug that caused bone loss and said one year is not long-term use, despite the warning to not take the drug for longer than 2 weeks. Systemic pain dissipated upon ceasing the medication, bone damage permanent."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2021

For GERD "Took this medicine for GERD. After 1 week, I started getting anxiety attacks, heart palpitations, muscle weakness, dizziness, and nausea. I felt bloated all the time, and I couldn’t eat. When the insomnia symptoms escalated, like I’d drank a pot of coffee, it was intensely scary. Even 24 hours after my last dose, I still don’t feel well. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone."

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2021

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "Started taking for LPR about a week ago. I am 35, but suffered with anxiety in my early 20s. Haven't had a panic attack in about 10 years. On the second day of taking famotidine prescribed by my doctor, my entire body ached - muscle pain that one would usually get from fevers. I felt run down, but couldn't sleep. Had the worst insomnia of my life, followed by a really bad panic attack. Stopped the medication immediately, everything went back to normal. Tried famotidine again a week later, and the same thing occurred. Do not take if you are prone to anxiety."

• STA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2022

For Indigestion "I’m not one to leave reviews on anything, but I just got home from the ER tonight. The only thing they could come up with was E. coli in my stool. I started to think of what I’ve changed the past two weeks because that’s when my body literally began to shut down and show the horrible symptoms I’m experiencing now. It was like a “light bulb” moment for me… I started using this medicine at the exact time my issues began. I’m so thankful I found this forum to read and share my experience. OMG, I literally thought I was going to die this morning! I’ve experienced HORRIBLE anxiety, insomnia, doom and gloom feelings of hopelessness, SEVERE body aches, chest pain, twitching, diarrhea, and HORRIBLE stomach pain. I think it honestly just reached an all-time high in my body and caused me to have a breakdown. The doctors didn’t even think to mention it being a reason for anything I’ve been experiencing. DO NOT TAKE!"

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2021

For GERD "Took it for four days for acid reflux, which it fixed. Suddenly felt high anxiety, palpitations, and insomnia on the fourth day. I stopped taking it, and my normal sleep schedule returned at first. Now I'm experiencing insomnia and palpitations the day after I exercise. It's been almost two weeks since I stopped. I'm hoping this goes away soon. It's misery, and I'll never take this drug again."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2021

For GERD "Worst pills ever. They don't relieve my acid reflux, and they keep me up all night. It's like I'm on speed when I take them. I can't sit still and clean my house like a maniac when I'm on them. The crash the next morning is horrible, and my entire body aches. Switching back to Omeprazole. This stuff is garbage!"

• NO ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2023

For GERD "I was prescribed famotidine for my stomach issues. I took this medication for a couple of weeks, and it seemed to help stomach issues, however, I had severe twitching and cramps in my right leg for three days, so I stopped taking famotidine. Recently, my stomach started to play up, went to the doctor, and was prescribed another H2 receptor medication, but it was not in stock, and I had to take famotidine. I took 40 mg at night for 3 nights and was fine, however, on the third night, I started to feel high levels of anxiety, had a strange feeling in my head, and had insomnia. I won't be continuing to take this medication anymore."

• 88k...
• February 1, 2017

For GERD "Since taking this, I have had extreme anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and unable to eat. Has anyone had this problem?"