Doctors usually don't recommend taking both a PPI and an H2 receptor blocker at the same time. H2 receptor blockers can interfere with the effectiveness of PPIs.H2ReceptorBlockersMedicallyreviewedbyTylerWalker,MD—WrittenbyMichaelKerr—UpdatedonApril9,2020OverviewProcessSideEffectsH2ReceptorBlockersvs.ProtonPumpInhibitors(PPIs)AlternativesWITHDRAWALOFRANITIDINEInApril2020,theFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)requestedthatallformsofprescriptionandover-the-counter(OTC)ranitidine(Zantac)beremovedfromtheU.S.market.ThisrecommendationwasmadebecauseunacceptablelevelsofNDMA,aprobablecarcinogen(cancer-causingchemical),werefoundinsomeranitidineproducts.Ifyou’represcribedranitidine,talkwithyourdoctoraboutsafealternativeoptionsbeforestoppingthedrug.Ifyou’retakingOTCranitidine,stoptakingthedrugandtalkwithyourhealthcareprovideraboutalternativeoptions.Insteadoftakingunusedranitidineproductstoadrugtake-backsite,disposeofthemaccordingtotheproduct’sinstructionsorbyfollowingtheFDA’sguidance.WhatAreH2ReceptorBlockers?H2receptorblockersareaclassofmedicationsthatcanbeusedtotreatconditionsthatcauseexcessstomachacid.Thesemedicationsareavailableoverthecounterandbyprescription.CommonH2receptorblockersinclude:nizatidine(Axid)famotidine(Pepcid,PepcidAC)cimetidine(Tagamet,TagametHB)H2receptorblockersaremostcommonlyusedtotreatgastritis,orinflamedstomach,andtotreatpepticulcers.Pepticulcersarepainfulsoresthatformintheliningofthestomach,loweresophagus,orduodenum,whichisthefirstpartofthesmallintestine.Theyoftendevelopasaresultofinflammationandexcessstomachacid.DoctorsmayalsorecommendH2receptorblockerstokeeppepticulcersfromreturning.H2receptorblockersarealsofrequentlyusedtorelievethesymptomsofgastroesophagealrefluxdisease(GERD).GERDisachronicformofacidreflux,whichcausesacidicstomachcontentstoflowbackupintotheesophagus.Thefrequentexposuretostomachacidcanirritatetheesophagusandleadtouncomfortablesymptoms,suchasheartburn,nausea,ortroubleswallowing.H2blockersmayalsobeusedtotreatlesscommonconditionssuchasZollin