Cimetidine

Description

Cimetidine is a very effective medicine to reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach. This medicine should be taken 30 minutes before food to relieve symptoms of heartburn. Monitoring of kidney function and central nervous system effects are necessary.

Side effects

Major & minor side effects for Cimetidine

  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Diarrhea
  • Gynecomastia
  • Decrease in blood cell count
  • Skin rash
  • Muscle pain
  • Sleepiness
  • Joint pain

Uses of Cimetidine

What is it prescribed for?

  • Duodenal Ulcer
  • Gastric Ulcer
  • Gastroesophagal Reflux Disease
  • Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
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Concerns

Commonly asked questions

  • Onset of action
    The effect of this medicine can be observed in less than 1 hour after an oral dose and less than 30 minutes after an intravenous dose.
  • Duration of effect
    The effect of this medicine lasts for an average duration of 4 to 5 hours after an intravenous dose and 4 to 8 hours after an oral dose.
  • Safe with alcohol?
    Consumption of alcohol is not recommended in patients receiving Cimetidine. Any symptoms of adverse effects like dizziness, breathing difficulty should be reported to the doctor. Performing activities that require mental alertness like driving, operating machinery should be avoided.
  • Is it habit forming?
    No habit forming tendencies were reported.
  • Usage in pregnancy?
    This medicine is recommended in pregnant women only if benefits overweigh the risks.
  • Usage while breast-feeding?
    This medicine is known to excreted through the breastmilk. It is not recommended for breastfeeding women.

Allergy

Not recommended in patients with known allergy to Cimetidine or other H2 antagonists.
Warnings for special population

Pregnancy

This medicine is recommended in pregnant women only if benefits overweigh the risks.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is known to excreted through the breastmilk. It is not recommended for breastfeeding women.
General warnings

Kidney disease

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with the kidney injury due to the risk of interstitial nephritis and urinary retention. Close monitoring of kidney function is necessary. The dose of this medicine should be adjusted based on the CrCl.

Use in children

This medicine is recommended for children less than 16 years only if benefits overweigh the risks.

Liver disease

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with liver disease. Any signs and symptoms of elevated liver enzymes, fatigue, abdominal pain, and dark urine should be reported to the doctor.

Gastric malignancy

This medicine may relieve the symptoms of gastric cancer but do not treat the condition. Early diagnosis of malignancy is necessary and appropriate treatment should be initiated.

Missed Dose

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, then the missed dose can be skipped.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol

Description

Concurrent use of cimetidine and ethanol may result in increased ethanol concentrations. The mechanism appears to be due to inhibition of gastric alcohol dehydrogenase by cimetidine.

Instructions

Consumption of alcohol is not recommended in patients receiving Cimetidine. Any symptoms of adverse effects like dizziness, breathing difficulty should be reported to the doctor. Performing activities that require mental alertness like driving, operating machinery should be avoided.
Interaction with Medicine

Glipizide

Loperamide

Phenytoin

Antifungal agents

Disease interactions

Gastro-intestinal bleeding

Use of Cimetidine is not recommended for use if any symptoms indicating gastrointestinal bleeding exists. Consult your doctor if there is blood in vomit or the stools are bloody or black.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Cimetidine once a day with meals and at bedtime or as prescribed by the doctor. It can be taken 30 minutes before food to prevent symptoms of heartburn. Do not take in larger amounts than prescribed. Take this medicine at the same time every day.
Miscelleneous

Can be taken with or without food, as advised by your doctor

To be taken as instructed by doctor

May cause sleepiness

How it works
This medicine works by blocking histamine at a specific site in the stomach. This results in inhibition of acid secretion and lowered gastric acidity.
Legal Status

Approved

Approved

Approved

Approved

Classification

Category

H2 antagonists

Schedule

Schedule H

[Internet]. 2017 [cited 12 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/25753

Cimetidine: MedlinePlus Drug Information [Internet]. Medlineplus.gov. 2017 [cited 12 May 2017]. Available from:

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682256.html

DailyMed - Cimetidine tablet, film coated [Internet]. Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 12 May 2017]. Available from:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=06c0a509-026f-44e0-9975-a94a8de51d43

Prescribing medicines in pregnancy database [Internet]. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). 2017 [cited 12 May 2017]. Available from:

https://www.tga.gov.au/prescribing-medicines-pregnancy-database#searchname

[Internet]. Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov. 2017 [cited 12 May 2017]. Available from:

https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search2/f?./temp/~Luo7M0:1

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Information on this page was last updated on 16 Nov 2017

Disclaimer

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.