Drug class
H2 Blockers: medications in this class
Acid-reducing medications that block histamine-2 receptors.
Overview
H2 blockers block histamine receptors on the acid-producing cells of the stomach. They start working within an hour and last about twelve hours, which suits symptom relief, bedtime dosing and milder reflux; they are less effective than PPIs for healing an inflamed oesophagus. Famotidine is also used alongside antihistamines for hives and allergic reactions.
Ranitidine, once the most used, was withdrawn from the US market in 2020 over a contaminant, and famotidine replaced it. Cimetidine is older and interacts with many drugs; nizatidine is less common. Doses are reduced in kidney impairment, and side effects are uncommon.
Because H2 blockers avoid the long-term concerns raised about PPIs, prescribers often step patients down to one once symptoms are controlled.
How the drugs in this class differ when you pay cash
Famotidine is a commodity generic at both prescription and over-the-counter strengths; a 20 mg prescription tablet and a 20 mg over-the-counter tablet are the same medicine, and the store pack carries no dispensing fee. The 40 mg tablet has no over-the-counter equivalent. The oral suspension costs pharmacies far more than tablets.
Brand Pepcid is famotidine at a higher price.
Cimetidine is the oldest H2 blocker and the least used because it interacts with many common medicines; nizatidine is uncommon and may need to be ordered. Famotidine is the one nearly every pharmacy keeps, in both prescription and over-the-counter strengths, and it is the H2 blocker most prescribers now write, in both tablet and liquid forms, with the liquid reserved for children and people who cannot swallow tablets.
When paying cash beats a copay, and when it does not
For the lower strength, an over-the-counter pack is usually the cheapest route. For 40 mg, a cash quote from a flat-price pharmacy is usually at or below a copay.
Conditions treated
- GERD
- Ulcers
- Acid Reflux
Medications
Which of these is right for a given person is a decision for the prescriber. The guides explain what each drug is, how it is supplied, and why its cash price varies between pharmacies. No page on this site shows a price; prices come from pharmacies responding to your actual prescription.
Questions worth asking
- When is the best time to take it?
- Is the over-the-counter pack the same as my prescription?
- Is my dose right for my kidney function?
- Would two 20 mg tablets be cheaper than one 40 mg at this pharmacy?
- How long should I stay on it?
How Script Unlock gets you a cash price for a H2 Blockers prescription
Prices on this site come from pharmacies responding to a real prescription. We do not publish estimated, average or "typical" prices, because none of those would be your price.
- 1You upload your prescription
A photo of your a H2 Blockers prescription prescription is enough. Nothing is sold on the site; you are asking pharmacies to quote.
- 2Licensed pharmacies respond
Pharmacies that Script Unlock has verified see the request and each can reply with its own cash price for your exact drug, strength and quantity.
- 3You choose and pay the pharmacy
You compare the responses, pick a pharmacy, and pay that pharmacy directly when you collect. Script Unlock never takes a patient payment and never sets the price.
Sources
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- MedlinePlus drug information (National Library of Medicine)
- FDA Orange Book (approved generics and therapeutic equivalence)
Written by the Script Unlock editorial team from the sources above. Not yet reviewed by an independent pharmacist. Last checked 2026-10-03.
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.