Drug interactions
Famotidine + Gefitinib
Severity: Moderate
Famotidine and Gefitinib: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Drugs that sustain a high gastric pH, such as H2 blockers, markedly reduce gefitinib absorption. This may lower efficacy in EGFR-mutated lung cancer.
What this interaction means in plain words
Famotidine and Gefitinib can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Famotidine belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Gefitinib belongs to Oncology.
Why it happens
Gefitinib solubility is pH-dependent, so raised gastric pH decreases its oral bioavailability.
What to do
If an H2 blocker is needed, take gefitinib 12 hours after or 6 hours before the famotidine dose. Prefer to avoid it if possible and monitor tumour response.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Famotidine and Gefitinib, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Famotidine
Other interactions of Gefitinib
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Famotidine with Gefitinib?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Famotidine and Gefitinib can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Drugs that sustain a high gastric pH, such as H2 blockers, markedly reduce gefitinib absorption. This may lower efficacy in EGFR-mutated lung cancer.
How serious is the interaction between Famotidine and Gefitinib?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: If an H2 blocker is needed, take gefitinib 12 hours after or 6 hours before the famotidine dose. Prefer to avoid it if possible and monitor tumour response.
What other medicines interact with Famotidine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Famotidine with, for example, Atazanavir, Dasatinib, Infigratinib. The full list is on the Famotidine page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
