How is Cimetidine (tagamet) and Famotidine (pepcid) different?

Question

How do they work differently through the body. If it does the same thing how can they sell as two different compounds? Please cite your refferences. Thanks alot!

Answer 1

Close, but they block the H2 receptor, not H1. They are two different compunds or the same class that block histamine induced acid secretion.

Answer 2

Cimetidine and famotidine are H1 antihistamines and act to prevent or ease "heartburn" or "acid stomach." They are indeed different compounds. They have different molecular structures. Different companies discovered and got approval for each, so the two compounds are sold competitively to do the same thing.