1-star for "max strength" and 5-stars for pepcid "original strength", given equivalent 20mg (comparing one max "20mg" pill or two "original" (10mg) pills in dosage). The "max" has to be different in some ingredient or quality from the "Original Strength":
a). original strength is 10mg and always works great... I normally take 2 (20mg) up to 3x a day. Been taking it for a few years due to medical condition requiring certain medication that can upset stomach to overacidity. Pepcid AC is not known to interact with my medication, per my doctor and the literature.
b). "maximum strength" is 20 mg and label reads the same as original strength, BUT DOESN'T WORK.
c). Last year and again this year, cvs ran out of the original strength which is reliable. I tried maximum strength (1 pill only, because it's supposed to be equivalent to 2 original/10mg pills).
d). Both times "max strength" didn't control my stomach, and after 2 or so days, I got overactive gas bloating gurgling etc and painful acidity. Both times I returned to original strength pepcid AC and got relief almost immediately. THIS time from the "max strength" version not working effectively, I also got some ulcerated sore spots in my stomach (endoscopy confirmed). Also the first night I was not only in pain but also very nauseated and threw up a few times (no blood), after which the nausea went away, though the extreme stomach acidic and gut upset remained. Once I obtained and returned to original strength version of pepcid ac, the acidic stomach problem became again controllable, so that my stomach could heal after the ulcers caused by the "max strength" not working. Both times, this year and last year, my diet, medication, stressors, and other conditions or variables were and have been the SAME before and after... only difference was version of pepcid used.
e). I conclude that "maximum strength" is NOT the same strength, though label statement of ingredients look the same and 1 pill is supposed to be same dosage as 2 original pills. The active ingredient must not be the same strength in actuality, and/or there must be some different other "inactive" ingredient, filler or synthesis or manufacturing trace byproduct.
f). I will avoid "maximum strength" pepcid ac from now on like the plague, and stock up on "original strength" pepcid ac several at a time and then reorder.
PS: I found that amazon offers the best price on pepcid ac original strength 10mg, so thank the Lord so my stomach doesn't become porous, I can not be up all night, and other dangerous nasty situations. Because its become harder to find in stores... e.g., cvs doesn't always have it on the shelves nowadays (they used to have more, and their price is expensive) and walmart has it sometimes but not always. THANK YOU AMAZON MARKETPLACE... even if I had to pay taxes, you compete effectively with brick and mortar
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