Is Famotidine a controlled substance?

Famotidine is not federally scheduled in the US. Controlled-drug status differs by country — verify your local rules.

What are the side effects of Famotidine?

Reported side effects, adverse reactions, and contraindications for Famotidine: Generally well-tolerated. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Less effective than proton pump inhibitors at acid suppression.

Famotidine

US brand names:Pepcid

Calculate dosage

Sourced from published veterinary references. Awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer — our editorial process.

Famotidine is dosed at 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q12-24h in rabbits, per Fiorello CV. Personal communication; 2011.; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.18 (Treatments Used in the Management of Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome (RGIS).a). Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Drug Class

Gastrointestinal

Routes

POIVSC

Indications

Acute gastritisAcute GI ulceration Gastric acid reductionGastric protectionGastric ulceration Gastric ulceration/hyperacidity (H2 blocker)Gastric ulcers adjunct GI ulceration preventionHelicobacterMast cell tumor gastric protectionPost-operative treatment (gastric acid suppression)Prevention or treatment of gastric ulcers

Show all 15

Renal failure gastric protectionstress gastritisStress gastritis prevention

Mechanism of Action

Competitively blocks histamine H2 receptors on parietal cells, reducing basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion.

Side effects & warnings

Generally well-tolerated. Adjust dose in renal impairment. Less effective than proton pump inhibitors at acid suppression.

Species with Famotidine dosing data (17 dose rules)

African Pygmy Hedgehog Cat (Domestic)Chinchilla Corn Snake Dog (Domestic)Ferret Guinea Pig Horse (Equine)Rabbit (Domestic)

Species references:All African Pygmy Hedgehog drugs All Cat (Domestic) drugs All Chinchilla drugs All Corn Snake drugs All Dog (Domestic) drugs All Ferret drugs All Guinea Pig drugs

Evidence levels across 17 dose rules

Weak×3Strong×7Moderate×3Anecdotal×1Extrapolated×3

Each ExoticRx dose rule is graded by the strength of its primary evidence — see the editorial process.

Sample dosing (2 of 17 cited rules)

A dog/cat sample is shown here. Cited dosing for all 9 species — reptiles, birds, pocket pets, livestock, and equine — is free on the per-species pages above. Pro adds the weight-based calculator for every species.

Species	Route	Dose	Frequency	Evidence	Source
Dog (Domestic)	PO	0.5–1 mg/kg	q12-24h	Strong	Plumb's 10th ed printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.
Dog (Domestic)	SC	0.5–1 mg/kg	q12-24h	Strong	Plumb's 10th ed printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500.Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

Report an error in this entry

Backed by 10 published sourcesShow

· 58. Powers L. Subcutaneous implantable catheter for fluid administration in an African pygmy hedgehog. Exot DVM. 2002;4(5):16-17. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.744 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Hedgehogs).
· Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th ed., Table 9.7 Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents, p.800. Corroborated by BSAVA Part B p.127 ('Guinea pigs: 0.4 mg/kg p.o., s.c. q24h') and FRR 4th ed. Appendix Table A.5 p.629 (Guinea Pigs/Chinchillas: 0.4-0.5 mg/kg PO, SC q24h) — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 9.7 (Miscellaneous Agents Used in Rodents).
· Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery (Quesenberry et al.), Table 3.1, printed p.29
· Fiorello CV. Personal communication; 2011.; Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th ed (2023) — Plumb's 10th ed printed p.499, Famotidine monograph spanning p.499-500. — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 10.18 (Treatments Used in the Management of Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome (RGIS).a).

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Calculate Dosage for Famotidine