H2 blocker brand and generic names
H2 blocker pairs
| Brand name | Generic name | Class or type | Route / form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepcid | famotidine | H2 antagonists | Oral |
| Tagamet HB | cimetidine | H2 receptor antagonists | Oral OTC (Tagamet HB); Rx Tagamet brand discontinued; generic cimetidine available |
| Zantac | ranitidine | H2 receptor antagonists | Oral; ranitidine withdrawn from US market (Apr 2020); Zantac 360 is famotidine |
Ranitidine was withdrawn from the US market in April 2020 (FDA request). The Zantac brand name is now used for famotidine (Zantac 360), not ranitidine. Prescription Tagamet products are discontinued; Tagamet HB OTC and generic cimetidine remain.
Understanding H2 blockers versus PPIs
H2 blockers block histamine at the H2 receptor on parietal cells. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) block the final acid secretion step and generally provide stronger acid suppression.
See proton pump inhibitor brand names (PPI brand names and generic PPI list) for omeprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and related pairs.
Naming patterns and memory tips
Famotidine, cimetidine, and ranitidine do not share one suffix—learn Pepcid and Tagamet anchors. Pair historical Zantac with ranitidine; do not assume today’s Zantac 360 (famotidine) is ranitidine.
Commonly confused H2 blocker names
Famotidine and fexofenadine
Pepcid–famotidine is an H2 blocker; Allegra–fexofenadine is an H1 antihistamine.
H2 blockers and PPIs
Prilosec–omeprazole is a PPI, not an H2 blocker—keep separate tables.