CIMETIDINE

 

Description: Cimetidine belongs to a class of drugs commonly called H2 blockers. It works by reducing the amount of acid in your stomach.

Cimetidine is used to treat ulcers of the stomach and intestines and prevent them from coming back after they have healed. This medication is also used to treat certain stomach and throat (esophagus) problems caused by too much stomach acid (e.g., Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, erosive esophagitis) or a backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus (acid reflux disease/GERD). Decreasing extra stomach acid can help relieve symptoms such as stomach pain, heartburn, difficulty swallowing, persistent cough, and trouble sleeping. It can also prevent serious acid damage to your digestive system (e.g., ulcers, cancer of the esophagus).

Do NOT use cimetidine if:

  • you are allergic to any ingredient in cimetidine
  • you are taking medicine for cancer (nitrosoureas)
  • you are taking cisapride, dofetilide, or a nitrosoureas (eg, carmustine)

Contact your doctor right away if any of these apply to you.

Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or diarrhea may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., agitation, confusion, depression, hallucinations), trouble urinating, muscle/joint pain, breast swelling/soreness in males, decreased sexual ability (with very high doses of this medication).

Precautions

Some medical conditions may interact with cimetidine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

  • if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
  • if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
  • if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
  • if you have liver or kidney problems

 

Interactions

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with cimetidine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

  • Many prescription medicines (eg, those used for angina, asthma, arrhythmias, blood thinning, cancer, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, infections, pain, psychiatric disorders, seizures, other conditions) may interact with cimetidine, increasing the risk of side effects, some potentially life-threatening.

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if cimetidine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, take the victim to the hospital immediately.

Available brands:

  • Ciclem (GX International)
  • Lafayette Cimetidine (Lafayette Pharmaceuticals)
  • RiteMED Cimetidine (RiteMED)
  • Endure Medical Cimetidine (Endure Medical)
  • Shintamet (YSP Industries)

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