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Cimetidine (By mouth)

Brand Name(s):

Tagamet HB, Tagamet, Good Sense Heartburn Relief

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

You should not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to cimetidine or other histamine H2-blockers such as Zantac®, Pepcid®, or Axid®.

How to Use This Medicine:

Tablet, Liquid

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you are taking 1 dose daily to treat ulcers or GERD, take the medicine at bedtime. If you are taking 2 doses daily, take one dose in the morning and one at bedtime. If you are using several doses daily, take with meals and at bedtime. Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
To treat heartburn, take the medicine at any time with a full glass of water. To prevent heartburn, take the medicine with water no more than 30 minutes before you eat or drink something that causes you to have heartburn. Do not take more than 2 doses each day, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Do not use this medicine to treat heartburn for longer than 2 weeks in a row.

If a dose is missed:

If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not freeze the oral liquid.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

You should not use antacids within 1 hour before or after taking cimetidine.
You should not use ketoconazole within 2 hours before or after taking cimetidine.
Make sure your doctor knows if you also use carmustine (BiCNU®), chloroquine (Aralen®), dofetilide (Tikosyn®), meperidine (Demerol®), morphine, theophylline (Theo-Dur®, Slo-Bid®), or tizanidine (Zanaflex®). Your doctor should know if you use blood thinners (such as Coumadin®), seizure medicine, or medicine to treat asthma or heart conditions.
Avoid large amounts of coffee or aspirin while using cimetidine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have painful heartburn that also causes dizziness, sweating, chest or shoulder pain, trouble breathing, or trouble swallowing. Tell your doctor if you have unexpectedly lost weight.
Avoid using this medicine if you are vomiting. Avoid smoking tobacco while you are using cimetidine. Smoking may cause the medicine to not work properly.
If you have had ongoing heartburn for 3 months or longer, you may have a serious medical problem. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
Bloody or black, tarry stools.
Pain when you swallow.
Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
Unexplained fever, unusual bruising.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Decreased sexual desire
Diarrhea.
Dizziness or drowsiness
Headache.
Swollen breasts.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor:

Reviewed last on: 1/4/2010

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