Cimetidine (injection)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kiran Singh, M.D. [2]
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Overview
Cimetidine (injection) is a {{{drugClass}}} that is FDA approved for the treatment of {{{indication}}}. Common adverse reactions include .
Adult Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
Indications
- Short-term treatment of active duodenal ulcer. Most patients heal within 4 weeks and there is rarely reason to use cimetidine at full dosage for longer than 6 to 8 weeks. Concomitant antacids should be given as needed for relief of pain. However, simultaneous administration of oral cimetidine and antacids is not recommended, since antacids have been reported to interfere with the absorption of oral cimetidine.
- Maintenance therapy for duodenal ulcer patients at reduced dosage after healing of active ulcer. Patients have been maintained on continued treatment with cimetidine 400 mg h.s. for periods of up to five years.
- Short-term treatment of active benign gastric ulcer. There is no information concerning usefulness of treatment periods of longer than 8 weeks.
- Prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill patients.
- The treatment of pathological hypersecretory conditions (i.e., Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, multiple endocrine adenomas).
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)
Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Cimetidine (injection) in adult patients.
Non–Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Cimetidine (injection) in adult patients.
Pediatric Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
There is limited information regarding FDA-Labeled Use of Cimetidine (injection) in pediatric patients.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)
Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Cimetidine (injection) in pediatric patients.
Non–Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Non–Guideline-Supported Use of Cimetidine (injection) in pediatric patients.
Contraindications
- Cimetidine is contraindicated for patients known to have hypersensitivity to the product.
Warnings
There is limited information regarding Cimetidine (injection) Warnings' in the drug label.
Adverse Reactions
Clinical Trials Experience
- Adverse effects reported in patients taking cimetidine are described below by body system. Incidence figures of 1 in 100 and greater are generally derived from controlled clinical studies.
- The collection of this information has been derived largely from trials associated with oral cimetidine.
- Gastrointestinal:
- Diarrhea (usually mild) has been reported in approximately 1 in 100 patients.
- CNS:
- Headaches, ranging from mild to severe, have been reported in 3.5% of 924 patients taking 1600 mg/day, 2.1% of 2,225 patients taking 800 mg/day and 2.3% of 1,897 patients taking placebo. Dizziness and somnolence (usually mild) have been reported in approximately 1 in 100 patients on either 1600 mg/day or 800 mg/day.
- Reversible confusional states, e.g., mental confusion, agitation, psychosis, depression, anxiety, hallucinations, disorientation, have been reported predominantly, but not exclusively, in severely ill patients. They have usually developed within 2 to 3 days of initiation of cimetidine therapy and have cleared within 3 to 4 days of discontinuation of the drug.
- Endocrine:
- Gynecomastia has been reported in patients treated for one month or longer. In patients being treated for pathological hypersecretory states, this occurred in about 4% of cases while in all others the incidence was 0.3% to 1% in various studies. No evidence of induced endocrine dysfunction was found, and the condition remained unchanged or returned toward normal with continuing cimetidine treatment.
- Reversible impotence has been reported in patients with pathological hypersecretory disorders, e.g., Zollinger−Ellison Syndrome, receiving cimetidine particularly in high doses, for at least 12 months (range 12 to 79 months, mean 38 months). However, in large-scale surveillance studies at regular dosage, the incidence has not exceeded that commonly reported in the general population.
- Hematologic:
- Decreased white blood cell counts in cimetidine-treated patients (approximately 1 per 100,000 patients), including agranulocytosis (approximately 3 per million patients), have been reported, including a few reports of recurrence on rechallenge. Most of these reports were in patients who had serious concomitant illnesses and received drugs and/or treatment known to produce neutropenia. Thrombocytopenia (approximately 3 per million patients) and, very rarely, cases of pancytopenia or aplastic anemiahave also been reported. As with some other H2 receptor antagonists, there have been extremely rare reports of immune hemolytic anemia.
- Hepatobiliary:
- Dose-related increases in serum transaminase have been reported. In most cases they did not progress with continued therapy and returned to normal at the end of therapy. There have been rare reports of cholestatic or mixed cholestatic hepatocellular effects. These were usually reversible. Because of the predominance of cholestatic features, severe parenchymal injury is considered highly unlikely. However, as in the occasional liver injury with other H2-receptor antagonists, in exceedingly rare circumstances fatal outcomes have been reported.
- There has been reported a single case of biopsy-proven periportal hepatic fibrosis in a patient receiving cimetidine.
- Rare cases of pancreatitis, which cleared on withdrawal of the drug, have been reported.
- Hypersensitivity:
- Rare cases of fever and allergic reactions including anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity vasculitis, which cleared on withdrawal of the drug, have been reported.
- Renal:
- Small, possibly dose-related increases in plasma creatinine, presumably due to competition for renal tubular secretion, are not uncommon and do not signify deteriorating renal function. Rare cases of interstitial nephritis and urinary retention, which cleared on withdrawal of the drug, have been reported.
- Cardiovascular:
- Rare cases of bradycardia, tachycardia and A-V heart block have been reported with H2-receptor antagonists.
- Musculoskeletal:
- There have been rare reports of reversible arthralgia and myalgia; exacerbation of joint symptoms in patients with preexisting arthritis has also been reported. Such symptoms have usually been alleviated by a reduction in cimetidine dosage. Rare cases of polymyositis have been reported, but no causal relationship has been established.
- Integumental:
- Mild rash and, very rarely, cases of severe generalized skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiforme, exfoliative dermatitis and generalized exfoliative erythroderma have been reported with H2-receptor antagonists. Reversible alopecia has been reported very rarely.
- Immune Function:
- There have been extremely rare reports of strongyloidiasis hyperinfection in immunocompromised patients.
Postmarketing Experience
There is limited information regarding Postmarketing Experience of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
Drug Interactions
- Cimetidine, apparently through an effect on certain microsomal enzyme systems, has been reported to reduce the hepatic metabolism of warfarin-type anticoagulants, phenytoin, propranolol, nifedipine, chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, certain tricyclic antidepressants, lidocaine, theophylline and metronidazole, thereby delaying elimination and increasing blood levels of these drugs.
- Clinically significant effects have been reported with the warfarin anticoagulants; therefore, close monitoring of prothrombin time is recommended, and adjustment of the anticoagulant dose may be necessary when cimetidine is administered concomitantly. Interaction with phenytoin, lidocaine and theophylline has also been reported to produce adverse clinical effects.
- However, a crossover study in healthy subjects receiving either cimetidine 300 mg q.i.d. or 800 mg h.s. concomitantly with a 300 mg b.i.d. dosage of theophylline extended-release tablets demonstrated less alteration in steady-state theophylline peak serum levels with the 800 mg h.s. regimen, particularly in subjects aged 54 years and older. Data beyond ten days are not available. (Note: All patients receiving theophylline should be monitored appropriately, regardless of concomitant drug therapy.)
- Dosage of the drugs mentioned above and other similarly metabolized drugs, particularly those of low therapeutic ratio or in patients with renal and/or hepatic impairment, may require adjustment when starting or stopping concomitantly administered cimetidine to maintain optimum therapeutic blood levels.
- Alteration of pH may affect absorption of certain drugs (e.g. ketoconazole). If these products are needed, they should be given at least 2 hours before cimetidine administration.
- Additional clinical experience may reveal other drugs affected by the concomitant administration of cimetidine.
Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy
- Teratogenic Effects: Pregnancy Category B: Reproduction studies have been performed in rats, rabbits and mice at doses up to 40 times the normal human dose and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to cimetidine. There are, however, no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproductive studies are not always predictive of human response, this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
- Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) Pregnancy Category
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Cimetidine (injection) in women who are pregnant.
Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of Cimetidine (injection) during labor and delivery.
Nursing Mothers
- Cimetidine is secreted in human milk and, as a general rule, nursing should not be undertaken while a patient is on a drug.
- Caution should be exercised when solutions from flexible plastic containers are administered to a nursing mother.
Pediatric Use
- Clinical experience in pediatric patients is limited. Therefore, cimetidine therapy cannot be recommended for pediatric patients under 16, unless, in the judgment of the physician, anticipated benefits outweigh the potential risks. In very limited experience, doses of 20 to 40 mg/kg per day have been used.
- Safety and effectiveness of solutions from flexible plastic containers in pediatric patients have not been well established.
Geriatic Use
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cimetidine (injection) with respect to geriatric patients.
Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cimetidine (injection) with respect to specific gender populations.
Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cimetidine (injection) with respect to specific racial populations.
Renal Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cimetidine (injection) in patients with renal impairment.
Hepatic Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cimetidine (injection) in patients with hepatic impairment.
Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cimetidine (injection) in women of reproductive potentials and males.
Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Cimetidine (injection) in patients who are immunocompromised.
Administration and Monitoring
Administration
- Oral
- Intravenous
Monitoring
There is limited information regarding Monitoring of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
- Description
IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding IV Compatibility of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
Overdosage
Acute Overdose
Signs and Symptoms
- Description
Management
- Description
Chronic Overdose
There is limited information regarding Chronic Overdose of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
Pharmacology
There is limited information regarding Cimetidine (injection) Pharmacology in the drug label.
Mechanism of Action
There is limited information regarding Cimetidine (injection) Mechanism of Action in the drug label.
Structure
There is limited information regarding Cimetidine (injection) Structure in the drug label.
Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Pharmacodynamics of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
Pharmacokinetics
There is limited information regarding Pharmacokinetics of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility:
- In a 24-month toxicity study conducted in rats, at dose levels of 150, 378 and 950 mg/kg/day (approximately 8 to 48 times the recommended human dose), there was a small increase in the incidence of benign Leydig cell tumors in each dose group: when the combined drug-treated groups and control groups were compared, this increase reached statistical significance. In a subsequent 24 month study, there were no differences between the rats receiving 150 mg/kg/day and the untreated controls. However, a statistically significant increase in benign Leydig cell tumor incidence was seen in the rats that received 378 and 950 mg/kg/day. These tumors were common in control groups as well as treated groups and the difference became apparent only in aged rats.
- Cimetidine has demonstrated a weak antiandrogenic effect. In animal studies this was manifested as reduced prostate and seminal vesicle weights. However, there was no impairment of mating performance or fertility, nor any harm to the fetus in these animals at doses 8 to 48 times the full therapeutic dose of cimetidine, as compared with controls. The cases of gynecomastia seen in patients treated for one month or longer may be related to this effect.
- In human studies, cimetidine has been shown to have no effect on spermatogenesis, sperm count, motility, morphology or in vitro fertilizing capacity.
- Studies with solutions from flexible plastic containers have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential, mutagenic potential or effects on fertility.
Clinical Studies
There is limited information regarding Clinical Studies of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
How Supplied
Storage
There is limited information regarding Cimetidine (injection) Storage in the drug label.
Images
Drug Images
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Package and Label Display Panel
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Patient Counseling Information
There is limited information regarding Patient Counseling Information of Cimetidine (injection) in the drug label.
Precautions with Alcohol
- Alcohol-Cimetidine (injection) interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.
Brand Names
- CIMETIDINE IN SODIUM CHLORIDE®[1]
Look-Alike Drug Names
- A® — B®[2]
Drug Shortage Status
Price
References
The contents of this FDA label are provided by the National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ "cimetidine injection, solution".
- ↑ "http://www.ismp.org". External link in
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