Famotidine Dosage

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jul 24, 2023.

Usual Adult Dose for Duodenal Ulcer

Oral:

• Active duodenal ulcer (DU): 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime OR 20 mg orally 2 times a day
• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Both 20 mg and 40 mg have demonstrated efficacy treating active DU in clinical trials.
• Most patients who received oral formulations healed within 4 weeks, with few patients requiring treatment for 6 to 8 weeks; there are no safety data for the treatment of uncomplicated active duodenal ulcer beyond 8 weeks.
• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Uses:

• Treatment of active DU
• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active duodenal ulcers
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for duodenal ulcer maintenance therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Peptic Ulcer

Oral:

• Active duodenal ulcer (DU): 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime OR 20 mg orally 2 times a day
• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Both 20 mg and 40 mg have demonstrated efficacy treating active DU in clinical trials.
• Most patients who received oral formulations healed within 4 weeks, with few patients requiring treatment for 6 to 8 weeks; there are no safety data for the treatment of uncomplicated active duodenal ulcer beyond 8 weeks.
• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Uses:

• Treatment of active DU
• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active duodenal ulcers
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for duodenal ulcer maintenance therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Duodenal Ulcer Prophylaxis

Oral: 20 mg orally once a day

• Duration of therapy: 1 year (or as directed)

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Use: Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of an active ulcer

• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active duodenal ulcers
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for duodenal ulcer maintenance therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Duodenal Ulcer Maintenance

Oral: 20 mg orally once a day

• Duration of therapy: 1 year (or as directed)

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Use: Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of an active ulcer

• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active duodenal ulcers
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for duodenal ulcer maintenance therapy

Usual Adult Dose for Gastric Ulcer

Oral:

• Active gastric ulcer (GU): 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime
• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Most patients who received oral formulations healed within 4 weeks, with few patients requiring treatment for 6 to 8 weeks; there are no safety data for the treatment of active GU beyond 8 weeks.
• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Uses:

• Treatment of active GU
• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active benign GU

Usual Adult Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Oral: 20 mg orally 2 times day

• Duration of therapy: Up to 6 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comment:

• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Uses:

• Treatment of symptomatic nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for GERD

Usual Adult Dose for Erosive Esophagitis

Oral: 20 to 40 mg orally 2 times a day

• Duration of therapy: Up to 12 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comment:

• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.

Uses:

• Treatment of erosive esophagitis (EE) due to GERD, including erosive/ulcerative disease diagnosed by endoscopy
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for esophagitis due to GERD

Usual Adult Dose for Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

Oral:

• Initial dose: 20 mg orally every 6 hours
• Maximum dose: 160 mg orally every 6 hours

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 6 to 12 hours

Comments:

• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.
• Dosing should be determined on an individual basis.
• Treatment should be continued for as long as clinically necessary.

Uses:

• Treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and multiple endocrine adenomas
• Some hospitalized patients with pathological hypersecretory conditions

Usual Adult Dose for Pathological Hypersecretory Conditions

Oral:

• Initial dose: 20 mg orally every 6 hours
• Maximum dose: 160 mg orally every 6 hours

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 6 to 12 hours

Comments:

• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.
• Dosing should be determined on an individual basis.
• Treatment should be continued for as long as clinically necessary.

Uses:

• Treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and multiple endocrine adenomas
• Some hospitalized patients with pathological hypersecretory conditions

Usual Adult Dose for Dyspepsia

Oral:
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Formulations:

• Treatment dose: 10 to 20 mg orally once
• Symptom prevention: 10 to 20 mg orally once 10 to 60 minutes prior to consuming food/beverages that cause heartburn
• Maximum dose: 2 tablets/day
• Maximum duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

• OTC tablet formulations should be taken with a glass of water.
• Chewable tablet formulations should be chewed completely before swallowing.

Uses:

• Relief of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach
• Prevention of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach brought on by eating/drinking certain foods and beverages

Usual Pediatric Dose for Duodenal Ulcer

Oral:
1 YEAR TO LESS THAN 17 YEARS:

• Initial dose: 0.5 mg/kg orally once a day at bedtime OR 0.25 mg/kg orally 2 times a day; may increase to 1 mg/kg orally once a day at bedtime OR 0.5 mg/kg orally 2 times day
• Maximum dose: 40 mg/day
• Duration of therapy: 8 weeks

Parenteral:
1 YEAR TO 16 YEARS:

• Initial dose: 0.25 mg/kg IV as an injection over at least 2 minutes OR as an infusion over 15 minutes every 12 hours
• Maximum dose: 40 mg/day

17 YEARS AND OLDER:
Oral: 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime OR 20 mg orally 2 times a day

• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Uncontrolled clinical trials have used oral doses up to 1 mg/kg in patients 1 to 16 years of age.
• Gastric acid suppression occurred at IV doses of 0.5 mg/kg every 12 hours.

Uses:

• Treatment of active DU
• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active duodenal ulcers
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for duodenal ulcer maintenance therapy

Usual Pediatric Dose for Peptic Ulcer

Oral:
1 YEAR TO LESS THAN 17 YEARS:

• Initial dose: 0.5 mg/kg orally once a day at bedtime OR 0.25 mg/kg orally 2 times a day; may increase to 1 mg/kg orally once a day at bedtime OR 0.5 mg/kg orally 2 times day
• Maximum dose: 40 mg/day
• Duration of therapy: 8 weeks

Parenteral:
1 YEAR TO 16 YEARS:

• Initial dose: 0.25 mg/kg IV as an injection over at least 2 minutes OR as an infusion over 15 minutes every 12 hours
• Maximum dose: 40 mg/day

17 YEARS AND OLDER:
Oral: 40 mg orally once a day at bedtime OR 20 mg orally 2 times a day

• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• Uncontrolled clinical trials have used oral doses up to 1 mg/kg in patients 1 to 16 years of age.
• Gastric acid suppression occurred at IV doses of 0.5 mg/kg every 12 hours.

Uses:

• Treatment of active DU
• Hospitalized patients with intractable ulcers, or as an alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in patients who are unable to take oral medication for active duodenal ulcers
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for duodenal ulcer maintenance therapy

Usual Pediatric Dose for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

BIRTH TO LESS THAN 3 MONTHS:
Oral:

• Initial dose: 0.5 mg/kg orally once a day; may increase to 1 mg/kg orally once a day
• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

3 MONTHS TO LESS THAN 1 YEAR:

• Initial dose: 0.5 mg/kg orally 2 times a day; may increase to 1 mg/kg orally 2 times a day
• Maximum dose: 40 mg/day
• Duration of therapy: Up to 8 weeks

1 YEAR TO LESS THAN 17 YEARS:

• Initial dose: 0.5 mg/kg orally 2 times a day
• Maximum dose: 80 mg/day
• Duration of therapy: 6 to 12 weeks

Parenteral:

• Initial dose: 0.25 mg/kg IV injected over at least 2 minutes OR infused over 15 minutes every 12 hours
• Maximum dose: 40 mg/day

16 YEARS AND OLDER:
Oral: 20 mg orally 2 times day

• Duration of therapy: Up to 6 weeks

Parenteral: 20 mg IV every 12 hours

Comments:

• The concomitant use of conservative measures (e.g., thickened feedings) should be considered during treatment.
• Parenteral treatment should be limited to patients who cannot tolerate oral formulations.
• Uncontrolled clinical trials have used oral doses up to 2 mg/kg in patients 1 to 16 years of age with GERD with/without esophagitis (including erosions ad ulcerations).
• Oral dissolving tablets may be used in patients 6 years and older, but should be taken as an intact tablet.

Uses:

• Short-term treatment of esophagitis due to gastroesophageal reflux disease, including erosive/ulcerative disease diagnosed by endoscopy
• Alternative to the oral dosage forms for short-term use in specific hospitalized patients who are unable to take oral medication for GERD

Usual Pediatric Dose for Dyspepsia

12 YEARS AND OLDER:
OTC Formulations:

• Treatment dose: 10 to 20 mg orally once
• Symptom prevention: 10 to 20 mg orally once 10 to 60 minutes prior to consuming food/beverages that cause heartburn
• Maximum dose: 2 tablets/day
• Maximum duration of therapy: 14 days

Comments:

• OTC formulations should be taken with a glass of water.
• Chewable tablet formulations should be chewed completely before swallowing.

Uses:

• Relief of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach
• Prevention of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach brought on by eating/drinking certain foods and beverages

Renal Dose Adjustments

Parenteral:

• Mild renal dysfunction (CrCl 50 to 90 mL/min): No adjustment recommended.
• Moderate (CrCl less than 50 mL/min) to severe renal dysfunction (CrCl less than 10 mL/min): Reduce the dose by 50% and/or prolong the dosing interval to 36 to 48 hours

Oral suspension:
LESS THAN 18 YEARS: Data not available
18 YEARS AND OLDER:
Moderate renal dysfunction (CrCl 30 to 60 mL/min):

• Active DU, GU, EE due to GERD: 20 mg orally once a day OR 40 mg orally every other day
• DU maintenance: 10 mg orally once a day OR 20 mg orally every other day
• Symptomatic, non-erosive GERD: 20 mg orally once a day

Severe renal dysfunction (CrCl less than 30 mL/min):

• Active DU, GU, symptomatic, non-erosive GERD, and EE due to GERD: 10 mg orally once a day OR 20 mg orally every other day
• DU maintenance: 10 mg orally every other day

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Dose Adjustments

Older patients: Dose selection should take into account age-related changes in renal function, and additional renal function monitoring may be necessary. Elderly patients with moderate to severe renal function should follow renal dose adjustments.

Precautions

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

• Hypersensitivity to the active component, other H(2)-receptor antagonists, or any of the ingredients

Safety and efficacy of parenteral formulations have not been established in patients younger than 1 year.

Safety and efficacy of over-the-counter formulations have not been established in patients younger than 12 years.

Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration advice:

• Patients may use antacids concomitantly with treatment.
• Oral suspension: Patients should shake the oral suspension vigorously for 5 to 10 seconds prior to use.
• Tablets: Patients should avoid chewing tablets during administration.

Storage requirements:

• The manufacturer product information should be consulted.

Reconstitution/preparation techniques:

• The manufacturer product information should be consulted.

IV compatibility:

• The manufacturer product information should be consulted.

General:

• This drug was not found to affect fasting or postprandial gastrin levels, gastric emptying, or exocrine pancreatic function.
• Patients with hypersecretory conditions have used this drug for over 1 year without experiencing tachyphylaxis or significant adverse effects.

Monitoring:

• Renal function, especially in patients with/at risk of renal dysfunction

Patient advice:

• Patients should be told to discard any oral suspension remaining after 30 days.
• Inform patients that this drug may cause dizziness, confusion, or hallucinations, and they should avoid driving or operating machinery until the full effects of the drug are seen.
• Patients should be instructed to contact their healthcare provider if symptoms do not improve or worsen during treatment.
• Advise patients to speak to their healthcare provider if they become pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Frequently asked questions

• Is famotidine safer than omeprazole for heartburn?
• Can you take famotidine long term?
• Can I take omeprazole in the morning and famotidine at night?

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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