Cimetidine
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Cimetidine is an H2 blocker, a type of pharmaceuticals that decreases the amount of acid produced by the stomach [1] It is sold under the brand name Tagamet.
Contents
Why It's Prescribed
"Cimetidine is used to treat ulcers; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and injury of the food pipe (esophagus); and conditions where the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Over-the-counter cimetidine is used to prevent and treat symptoms of heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach."[2]
Labeled uses include:[3] Duodenal Ulcer, Dyspepsia, Gastric Ulcer, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Heartburn, Maintenance of Healing Duodenal Ulcer, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Systemic Mastocytosis, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
Additionally, unlabeled uses include:[4] NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer, Pancreatic Insufficiency, Prevention of Stress Ulcer, Upper GI Bleed, Urticaria
Form, Route, and Dosage
Cimetidine is available as a tablet and a liquid to take orally.[5] Over the counter cimetidine comes only in the strength 200mg, and patients are directed to take one tablet to treat or prevent heartburn and no more than 2 tablets (400mg) per day.[6] However, doctors may prescribe up to 2400mg of cimetidine per day.[7]
Risks
Side Effects
Some patients taking this medication might experience side effects, including:[8]
- headache
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- breast enlargement
- confusion
- excitement
- depression
- nervousness
- seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
As a Pollutant
Because humans and animals often do not fully metabolize pharmaceuticals in their body, they can excrete drugs or their breakdown products, which may the enter the environment.[9]
In Sewage Sludge
Cimetidine has been found in sewage sludge. In the Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey, a 2009 test of 84 samples of sewage sludge from around the U.S., the EPA found cimetidine in 74 samples (88%) in concentrations ranging from 7.59 to 9,780 parts per billion.[10] There are no federal regulations governing how much of this drug may be present in sewage sludge applied to land as fertilizer.
Articles and resources
Related SourceWatch articles
References
- ↑ Cimetidine: MedlinePlus Drug Information, Accessed August 31, 2010.
- ↑ Cimetidine: MedlinePlus Drug Information, Accessed August 31, 2010.
- ↑ Cimetidine Oral: Dosage, Uses, and Warnings, Accessed September 3, 2010.
- ↑ Cimetidine Oral: Dosage, Uses, and Warnings, Accessed September 3, 2010.
- ↑ Cimetidine: MedlinePlus Drug Information, Accessed August 31, 2010.
- ↑ Drugstore.com, Accessed September 2, 2010.
- ↑ Cimetidine Oral: Dosage, Uses, and Warnings, Accessed September 3, 2010.
- ↑ Cimetidine: MedlinePlus Drug Information, Accessed August 31, 2010.
- ↑ O.A.H. Jones, N. Voulvoulis, and J.N. Lester, Human Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater Treatment Processes, Environmental Science and Technology, 2005.
- ↑ Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report, US EPA website, Accessed August 28, 2010.
