Cimetidine

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (sye met' i deen)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Cimetidine is used to treat ulcers; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the food pipe (esophagus); and conditions where the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Over-the-counter cimetidine is used to prevent and treat symptoms of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach. Cimetidine is in a class of medications called H2 blockers. It decreases the amount of acid made in the stomach.


How should this medicine be used?

Cimetidine comes as a tablet and a liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day at bedtime or two to four times a day with meals and at bedtime. Over-the-counter cimetidine is usually taken once or twice a day with a glass of water. To prevent symptoms, it is taken within 30 minutes before eating or drinking foods that cause heartburn. Follow the directions on your prescription or the package label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take cimetidine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Do not take over-the-counter cimetidine for longer than 2 weeks unless your doctor tells you to. If symptoms of heartburn, acid indigestion, or sour stomach last longer than 2 weeks, stop taking cimetidine and call your doctor.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking cimetidine,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cimetidine or any other medications.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); antidepressants (mood elevators) such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); chlordiazepoxide (Librium); clopidogrel (Plavix), diazepam (Valium); lidocaine (Xylocaine); metronidazole (Flagyl); nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia); phenytoin (Dilantin); propranolol (Inderal); and theophylline (Theobid, Theo-Dur). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • if you are taking antacids (Maalox, Mylanta, Tums), digoxin (Lanoxin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or iron salts, take them 2 hours before cimetidine.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), or kidney or liver disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking cimetidine, call your doctor.
  • talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking cimetidine if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take cimetidine because it is not as safe as other medication(s) that can be used to treat the same condition.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Cimetidine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • headache
  • diarrhea
  • dizziness
  • drowsiness
  • breast enlargement
Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:
  • confusion
  • excitement
  • depression
  • nervousness
  • seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)

Cimetidine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Adjuvants
  • Alimentary Tract and Metabolism
  • Drugs for Peptic Ulcer and Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (Gord)
  • Drugs for Acid Related Disorders
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9 Inducers
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inducers
  • CYP2E1 Inhibitors
  • CYP2E1 Inducers
  • CYP2E1 Inducers (strong)
  • H2 Antagonists
  • BSE
Prescribed For the treatment and the management of acid-reflux disorders (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, heartburn, and acid indigestion.
Weight :252.339
Structure Cimetidine
Generic Drug Cimetidine prescribed For the treatment and the management of acid-reflux disorders (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, heartburn, and acid indigestion.
Formula

C10H16N6S

Cimetidine has 18 Brands listed


C Met (400 mg)Cimetidine (200 mg)
Cimetidine (200 mg) (Healthy)Cimetidine (200 mg) (Synmedic)
Cimetiget (200 mg)Cimetiget (400 mg)
Cimetin (200 mg)Cimetin (400 mg)
Neotid (200 mg)Neotid (400 mg)
Tagamed (200 mg)Tagamed (400 mg)
Tagamed (600 mg)Taximet (200 mg)
Tymidin (200 mg)Tymidin (400 mg)
Ulciban (200 mg)Ulciban (400 mg)

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