cimetidine

(sye MEH ti deen)
Tagamet, Tagamet HB

What is the most important information I should know about cimetidine?

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Do not stop taking cimetidine without first talking to your doctor. It may take up to 8 weeks for an ulcer to heal.

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Do not take antacids within 1 hour of taking cimetidine. Antacids may decrease the effectiveness of cimetidine.

What is cimetidine?

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Cimetidine is in a class of drugs called histamine receptor antagonists. Cimetidine works by decreasing the amount of acid the stomach produces.

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Cimetidine is used to treat and prevent ulcers in the stomach and intestines. Cimetidine is also used to treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid and conditions in which acid comes up into the esophagus and causes heartburn, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

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Cimetidine may also be used for conditions other than those listed in this medication guide.

Who should not take cimetidine?

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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

kidney disease; or

liver disease;

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You may not be able to take cimetidine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

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Cimetidine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take cimetidine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

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Cimetidine passes into breast milk, but it is believed to have little effect on a nursing infant. Do not take cimetidine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take cimetidine?

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Take cimetidine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take each dose with a full glass of water.

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To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the liquid forms of cimetidine with dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

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Do not stop taking cimetidine without first talking to your doctor. It may take up to 8 weeks for an ulcer to heal.

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Store cimetidine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention.

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Symptoms of a cimetidine overdose include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased saliva production, difficulty breathing, and a fast heartbeat.

What should I avoid while taking cimetidine?

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There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activities while taking cimetidine, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What are the possible side effects of cimetidine?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking cimetidine and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

easy or unusual bruising or bleeding;

bleeding gums;

irregular heartbeat;

yellowing of the skin; or

a rash.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take cimetidine and talk to your doctor if you experience

dizziness;

headache; or

diarrhea, nausea, or constipation.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect cimetidine?

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Do not take antacids within 1 hour of taking cimetidine. Antacids may decrease the effectiveness of cimetidine.

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Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

a sedative, sleeping pill, or tranquilizer such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium);

an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin);

a seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or carbamazepine (Tegretol);

a heart medication such as procainamide (Procan SR, Procanbid, Pronestyl), digoxin (Lanoxin), propranolol (Inderal), or metoprolol (Lopressor);

an oral diabetes medication such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase), tolbutamide (Tolinase), and others;

ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), or fluconazole (Diflucan); or

cisapride (Propulsid).

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You may not be able to take cimetidine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with cimetidine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist has additional information about cimetidine written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.