CIMETIDINE

(sye ME ti deen) Brand: Tagamet, Tagamet HB

What is the most significant information I must know about cimetidine?

• Use this medicine exactly as directed on the label, or as your doctor has predesigned it for you. Do not use more of the medicine than recommended. Do not use the medicine for longer than recommended.

• Avoid taking antacids unless your doctor recommends them for heartburn pain. Follow your doctor's advice about the type of antacid to use and when to use it. You may not be able to take the antacid at the same time you take your doze of cimetidine.

• Taking cimetidine may create you more susceptible to virus that can reason pneumonia. This has occurred most often in elderly people and in those with diabetes, a weak immune system, or chronic lung malady. Till using cimetidine, speak your doctor if you have any of these conditions.

• There are much another drugs that can interact with cimetidine. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor.

• Heartburn can be confused with early symptoms of heart onslaught. Search abnormal medical attention if you have chest pain or hard feeling, dizziness, pain spreading to the hand or shoulder, sweating, nausea or vomiting, and a common ill feeling.

What is cimetidine?

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

• Cimetidine is used to treat and prevent determined types of ulcer, and to treat conditions that reason the stomach to manufacture too many acid. Cimetidine is also used to treat gastroesophageal reflux malady (GERD), when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and causes heartburn.

• Cimetidine may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking cimetidine?

• Taking cimetidine may create you more susceptible to virus that causes pneumonia. You may be more likely to develop pneumonia if you have determined health problems.

• Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safety for you to take cimetidine if you have:

· diabetes;

· asthma or a chronic lung disorder;

· a weak immune system;

· bone marrow suppression;

· kidney malady; or

· liver disease.

• Cimetidine is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be deleterious to an unborn child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Cimetidine passes into breast milk, and may be deleterious to a nursing child. Do not take cimetidine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Do not give this medication to a baby younger than 16 years old unless your doctor has told you to.

How must I take cimetidine?

• Cimetidine is generally taken with meals or at bedtime.

• Take this medication with a full glass of water.

• To be certain you get the correct doze of the oral solution (liquid), measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

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

• Your ulcer may take longer to heal if you smoke cigarettes.

• Store cimetidine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. If it is nearly time for your following doze, skip the missed doze and take the medication at the following regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medication. Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, extreme weakness, or fainting.

What must I avoid while taking cimetidine?

• If you also take ketoconazole (Nizoral), take it at least 2 hours till you take cimetidine.

What are the possible side effects of cimetidine?

• Stop using cimetidine and get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· cough, fever, chest congestion, trouble breathing;

· red or blistering skin rash;

· jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· light bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness;

· feeling faint, light-headed, disoriented, or confused;

· urinating smaller than usual;

· irregular heartbeat; or

· a rash.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· feeling dizzy, depressed, or agitated;

· breast swelling or tenderness (in men);

· joint or muscle pain;

· mild skin rash;

· headache; or

· diarrhea, nausea, or constipation.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect cimetidine?

• Till taking this medicine, speak your doctor if you are using any of the next medicines:

· a blood thinner (warfarin or Coumadin);

· clopidogrel (Plavix);

· phenytoin (Dilantin);

· nifedipine (Adalat);

· metronidazole (Flagyl);

· propranolol (Inderal);

· chlordiazepoxide (Librium);

· lidocaine (Xylocaine);

· diazepam (Valium);

· theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl); or

· depression or anxiety medicine such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), nortripytyline (Aventyl).

• This list is not complete and there are much another drugs that can interact with cimetidine. Speak your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal commodity, and drugs predesigned by another doctors. Do not start using a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about cimetidine.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each 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 external 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 must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help 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.

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