From the Guidelines
Famotidine can cause dry mouth as a side effect in some people who take it, and managing this symptom is crucial to improve quality of life. This H2 blocker medication, commonly sold under brand names like Pepcid, reduces stomach acid production to treat conditions like heartburn, GERD, and ulcers. If you're experiencing dry mouth while taking famotidine, you can try several strategies to manage this symptom.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day
- Use sugar-free gum or lozenges to stimulate saliva production
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol which can worsen dryness
- Use a humidifier at night. For severe dry mouth, artificial saliva products available over-the-counter may help 1. The dry mouth occurs because famotidine can affect the normal function of salivary glands, reducing saliva production. If dry mouth becomes particularly bothersome, consult your healthcare provider, as they might adjust your dosage or recommend an alternative medication. Don't stop taking famotidine without medical advice, as the benefits for your digestive condition likely outweigh this side effect for most people.
From the FDA Drug Label
Gastrointestinal: elevated liver enzymes, vomiting, nausea, abdominal discomfort, anorexia, dry mouth
- Dry mouth is listed as an adverse reaction that occurred in less than 1% of patients in clinical trials of famotidine 2.
- This suggests that dry mouth is a possible, but rare, side effect of famotidine.
From the Research
Famotidine and Dry Mouth
- There is limited information available on the specific topic of famotidine causing dry mouth.
- However, a study on commonly prescribed medications found that nearly two-thirds of these medications can cause dry mouth 3.
- Famotidine is a type of H2 receptor antagonist, which is used to reduce stomach acid production.
- While the provided studies do not directly address the topic of famotidine causing dry mouth, they do discuss the effects of H2 receptor antagonists on gastric acid production and other related topics 4, 5, 6, 7.
Related Studies
- A study from 1994 compared the effects of famotidine and omeprazole on intraesophageal acidity in patients with reflux esophagitis 4.
- Another study from 2001 found that adding an H2-blocker, such as famotidine, to a proton pump inhibitor regimen can improve nocturnal gastric acid control in GERD patients 5.
- A 2016 review discussed the use of proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor antagonists, including famotidine, in the treatment of reflux esophagitis 6.
- A 2006 study investigated the influence of acid suppressants, including famotidine, on gastric emptying in healthy volunteers 7.