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Nexium vs Pepcid

Esomeprazole  ·  Famotidine

A proton pump inhibitor against an H2 blocker for reflux — one is stronger and longer-acting, the other works faster and is easier to stop.

At a glance

NexiumEsomeprazole
PepcidFamotidine
Brand name
Nexium
Pepcid
Drug class
Proton pump inhibitor
H2 blocker
Route
Oral
Oral
Marketed by
AstraZeneca
Bausch Health
First FDA approval
20 Feb 2001
15 Oct 1986
US shortage
Not listed
Not listed

Key differences

What each one treats

NexiumEsomeprazole

NEXIUM is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). NEXIUM delayed-release capsules and NEXIUM for delayed-release oral suspension are indicated for the: • Short-term treatment in the healing of erosive esophagitis (EE) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years to 17 years of age. ( 1.1 ) • Maintenance of healing of EE in adults. ( 1.2 ) • Short-term treatment of heartburn and other symptoms associated GERD in adults and pediatric patients 12 years to 17 years of age. ( 1.3 ) • Risk reduction of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID)-associated gastric ulcer in adults at risk for developing gastric ulcers due to age (60 years and older) and/or documented history of gastric ulcers. ( 1.4 ) • Helicobacter pylori eradication in adult patients to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence in combination with amoxicillin and clarithromycin. ( 1.5 ) • Long-term treatment of pathological hypersec…

PepcidFamotidine

PEPCID tablets are indicated in adult and pediatric patients 40 kg and greater for the treatment of: • active duodenal ulcer (DU). • active gastric ulcer (GU). • symptomatic nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). • erosive esophagitis due to GERD, diagnosed by biopsy. PEPCID tablets are indicated in adults for the: • treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasias). • reduction of the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence. PEPCID is a histamine-2 (H2) receptor antagonist indicated (1): In adult and pediatric patients 40 kg and greater for the treatment of: • active duodenal ulcer (DU). • active gastric ulcer. • symptomatic nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). • erosive esophagitis due to GERD, diagnosed by biopsy. In adults for the: • treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (e.g., Zoll…

How each one works

NexiumProton pump inhibitor

12.1 Mechanism of Action Esomeprazole belongs to a class of antisecretory compounds, the substituted benzimidazoles, that suppress gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the H+/K+ ATPase enzyme system at the secretory surface of the gastric parietal cell. Esomeprazole is protonated and converted in the acidic compartment of the parietal cell forming the active inhibitor, the achiral sulphenamide. Because this enzyme system is regarded as the acid (proton) pump within the gastric mucosa, esomeprazole has been characterized as a gastric acid-pump inhibitor, in that it blocks the final step of acid production. This effect is dose-related and leads to inhibition of both basal and stim…

PepcidH2 blocker

12.1 Mechanism of Action Famotidine is a competitive inhibitor of histamine-2 (H2) receptors. The primary clinically important pharmacologic activity of famotidine is inhibition of gastric secretion. Both the acid concentration and volume of gastric secretion are suppressed by famotidine, while changes in pepsin secretion are proportional to volume output.

Related comparisons

Prilosec VS Nexium Nexium VS Protonix Prilosec VS Pepcid

Read more

Nexium profile Pepcid profile Proton Pump Inhibitors All comparisons
This is not medical advice, and not a recommendation of one drug over the other.

Which medicine is right for a given person depends on their diagnosis, other conditions, other medicines, kidney and liver function, pregnancy, and cost or reimbursement — none of which this page knows. Two drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable. Never start, stop or switch a prescription medicine on the basis of a web page; that decision belongs to you and your clinician or pharmacist.

Class and summary text is written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Label, mechanism, route, manufacturer and approval data come from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API; shortage status from the FDA Drug Shortage Database. Approvals, indications and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions — a drug approved in one may not be approved, or may carry a different name, in another.