Please inform your doctor if you have diabetes, asthma or a chronic lung disorder, a weak immune system, bone marrow suppression, kidney disease, or liver disease. If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to use this medicine or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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

Moreover, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications: a blood thinner (Warfarin® or Coumadin®); phenytoin (Dilantin®); nifedipine (Adalat®); metronidazole (Flagyl®); propranolol (Inderal®); chlordiazepoxide (Librium®); lidocaine (Xylocaine®); diazepam (Valium®); theophylline (Theo-Dur®, Slo-Bid®, Bronkodyl®); or depression or anxiety medication such as amitriptyline (Elavil®), imipramine (Tofranil®), clomipramine (Anafranil®), desipramine (Norpramin®), or nortripytyline (Aventyl®). 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.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect cimetidine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without first telling your doctor.

Furthermore, taking this medicine may make you more susceptible to virus that causes pneumonia. You may be more likely to develop pneumonia if you have certain health problems.

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 dose of cimetidine.

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

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

Do not give this medicine to a child younger than 16 years old unless your doctor has told you to.

 

FDA Information

Why is this medication prescribed?

Other uses for this medicine

Dosage and using this medicine

What should I do if I forget a dose?

What side effects can this medication cause?

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

In case of an emergency/overdose