Give me back my chewable Pepcid AC tablets!
I love spicy foods — unfortunately, my stomach does not.
Thankfully, I found Pepcid AC chewable, mint-flavored tablets a couple of years ago and they worked. So spicy Mexican, Italian or Thai food didn’t phase me anymore.
However, now I can’t find those chewable little pink tablets anywhere. To its credit, Johnson & Johnson does carry Original Pepcid AC and Maximum Strength Pepcid AC, both of which are not supposed to be chewed, rather swallowed with water. But (for some reason — perhaps more psychological than physical) I feel better faster after chewing up a Pepcid AC tablet than I do when I swallow one.
And as far as the new Pepcid AC Complete chewable pills are concerned, they’re nasty-tasting and leave a dry, chalky residue in my mouth for several minutes after chewing. (Heck, if I wanted a dry, chalky residue in my mouth I would have tried TUMS instead, or eaten chalk. Either would have had the same result!)
So . . . after calling the Johnson & Johnson - MERCK Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co. consumer hotline today (800-755-4008), I learned that the company has killed off the line of Pepcid AC chewable pills. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!
I asked why and was told by “Mary Ellen” that the decision had to do with a lack of shelf space inside the stores. She also admitted that the Pepcid AC Web site was out of date and needed to be fixed to reflect the recent change in the product line.
She took down my info, so hopefully I’ll hear back from some PR person, but I’m not that hopeful.
Too bad. I LOVE Pepcid AC chewable tablets (major THUMBS UP!), while I HATE the chewable Pepcid AC Complete tablets (major THUMBS DOWN!).
Guess I’ll be looking for a new brand. Any suggestions?
November 6th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
your rite the small pepcid AC Chewable is way ahead of pep complete.Now would be good enough to let me know wher I can find the old ones?? Thank you, BOB CRANE
November 6th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
P.S. .is canada a possibility ??
December 18th, 2006 at 3:44 am
Yes, it has been a tough childhood for our 6 year old. This was the only product that she would take for her asthma/reflux problem in which she throws up for several days in a row when it sets in. We spent a lot of time and went through several appointments with several doctors. We finally find something that works and then they discontinue the product. It breaks my heart that it is all about shelf space and not about the health of customers.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:03 pm
I am also looking for CHEWABLE Pepcid AC. They are so much better and work faster than the regular ones. And Pepcid Complete Chewables are “nasty” as David says.
Drug manfacturers should be more concerned with what their clientelle want and not worry about “shelf space in the stores.” That is a line of bull. My drugist would love to get it back. It was a big seller.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
My 6 year old daughter uses the Pepcid line for reflux. She is currently taking it as a prescription liquid. It works, but the pharmacy often has a wait to receive it, and it’s very expensive. Would be a lot easier if we could just give her chewable tablets. Pepcid Complete is not straight famotidine–that’s probably why you don’t like it. Please let me know if Mary Ellen gives you any further updates.