Famotidine and Panic Attacks: What Users Say

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2021

For GERD "Took Pepcid Max Strength for two months due to really bad heartburn and inflammation of the stomach. I want to tell people this is the worst medication. I’ve been through 8 months of sheer hell after stopping and am still recovering. I’ve had to be put on mood stabilizers. Didn’t sleep for nearly a week straight, anxiety, derealization, intrusive thoughts, and impending doom with panic. Please don’t ever take this medication, it is pure awfulness in a pill."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2021

For GERD "Had to call 111. Had terrible anxiety, panic attacks, etc. Felt worse than I have ever felt in my life. Felt like I was dying. My head was all over the place, had no energy, couldn't concentrate. My doctor gave me Diazepam to help with panic attacks. I came off the Famotidine and after 3 days of torture, I am starting to feel a little better. This medication should be withdrawn as soon as possible to stop anyone else going through the same drama!"

• 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."

• Its...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2022

For GERD "Picked up a bottle of OTC famotidine 20 mg from the grocery store as I was experiencing intermittent heartburn. Took probably 5-6 times over the course of maybe 2-3 weeks. Then one day, out of the blue, I started feeling extremely fatigued and weak. A couple of days after that, my knees and feet got sore, like some kind of crazy arthritis. I'm active and have never had these problems. This progressed to random nerve/joint/muscle pains all over. Around the same time, the panic attacks hit hard. Over the next month, I wound up with visits to urgent care, multiple visits to my GP, a rheumatologist, a neurologist, and an orthopedist. None of the physical exams, tests, bloodwork, or MRI showed anything. I really thought I was going crazy. Finally, I stumbled across the reviews here and realized I had taken the famotidine within a day or so of all this starting. This stuff is poison, and none of my doctors had any clue. If not for this site, I'd still be going crazy thinking I was dying."

• 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."

• Lrd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2023

For GERD "I was taking 40 mg of this poison for about a year at bedtime, as prescribed by my gastroenterologist. A few months ago, I decided to take 20 mg during the day and 40 mg at night as a preventative measure for GERD symptoms. Worst idea ever! I took the 40 mg pill, ate at a restaurant, felt like I was having a panic attack on the drive home, and vomited as soon as I got home. Then, the next weekend, I did the same thing and took 40 mg with food and 2 glasses of wine. I woke up in the middle of the night with a racing heart, shaking, nausea, and eventually projectile and continuous vomiting. It’s been a month now since I’ve stopped taking it, and I still have residual anxiety. I have also been on Zoloft for years, and my GI doctor knew this and still prescribed famotidine to me, even though serious heart issues can be a side effect of combining these 2 medications. I know I should’ve done my research on drug interactions, but shouldn’t the doctor know this stuff too? Never again!!"

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2022

For GERD "Pepcid is literally the spawn of Satan. I was prescribed Pepcid twice a day every day for acid reflux/sour mouth. I never felt WORSE in the following categories: one-sided headache/migraines, dizzy, weak, fatigued, depressed, anxious, panicked, crying episodes, joint pain, constipation, swallowing difficulties, chest pain, heart palpitations. I want to emphasize that I NEVER experienced such bad headaches, dizziness, weakness, and joint pain prior to taking Pepcid. I SOMETIMES experience crying episodes, constipation, and depression before/during my menstrual cycles. I took Pepcid even when I wasn't on my period, and I've ruled out those symptoms. The side effects were so bad to the point that I called out at my NEW job, and I really don't want to call out sick. It also does NOT help that I took Pepcid while on Lexapro. As for my acid reflux, there are no improvements in my sour mouth, but I'm not sure if I've been taking it for long enough. DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!!!!"

• 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."

• Kmr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2022

For Indigestion "Got prescribed this for basic indigestion, was told to take 2 a day for 2 weeks. Only managed to take it for a week until I started having debilitating panic attacks, full-body muscle spasms constantly. I feel like I’m stuck in a state of panic, and it won’t go away. It’s been about a week and a half since I last took it, and the symptoms haven’t really slowed down. My stomach is fine now, but this constant anxiety is unbelievable. Would not recommend in any capacity."

• cou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2022

For GERD "I took 10 mg of famotidine twice a day for severe GERD. I had stomach and chest pressure, shortness of breath, anxiety, burning, belching, nausea, and throbbing. It was enough for me to end up in the ER. The famotidine helped my symptoms after the first dose, but by the second day, I felt like I was losing my mind. I felt like my brain wasn't mine, I felt weird and detached. I was having panic attacks, I felt agitated, shortness of breath, and like I couldn't really speak. I felt really scared of my own mind. Turns out it's some of the 'rare' side effects. Super helpful for my symptoms, but not worth these horrendous side effects."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2023

For GERD "Controls the acid in your stomach for GERD. If you are regurgitating a lot, this will definitely help painful regurgitation/reflux episodes. However, since starting this drug, I occasionally get panic attacks and get severe anxiety despite never having anxiety issues my entire life. You have to weigh the pros and cons."

• Bud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2022

For GERD "My first night on it last night, and I'm not sure. I woke up at midnight with a severe panic attack. I mean, out of nowhere. Some numbness, but that could be COVID or anxieties. I don't like to jump to conclusions, but my acid reflux burns now in my chest after I took the medication. I don't think I'll continue these meds. I had an acid attack after taking Advil, so I just hope the docs know what they say and are doing."

• LTC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

For GERD "Took for 3 days, ended up in the hospital after a panic attack in the middle of the night. Awful change to mood, emotional state, muscle tremors… stay away."