Cimetidine to reduce stomach acid

About cimetidine

Cimetidine belongs to a group of medicines that reduce the amount of acid produced by the cells in the lining of the stomach. They are called 'histamine H₂-receptor antagonists', but are commonly also called H2 blockers.

Cimetidine is helpful in the treatment of conditions caused by too much acid being produced in the stomach. These conditions include stomach ulcers (gastric ulcers), ulcers of the upper part of the intestine (Zwölffingerdarmgeschwüre), acid reflux or heartburn (reflux oesophagitis), and indigestion. It can also be used to treat stomach irritation and/or ulceration caused by Nichtsteroidale entzündungshemmende Medikamente (NSAIDs).

Acid is produced naturally in your stomach to help to digest food. Excessive amounts of acid can irritate the lining of your stomach, causing inflammation, ulcers and other conditions. Cimetidine works by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach. This helps to relieve symptoms and assist the healing process where damage has already occurred.

To make sure this is the right treatment for you, before you start taking cimetidine it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.

• If you have any of the following symptoms: difficulty swallowing, loss of blood, weight loss, or if you are being sick (vomiting).

• Wenn Sie Probleme mit der Funktionsweise Ihrer Leber oder Ihrer Nieren haben.

• Wenn Sie jemals eine allergische Reaktion auf ein Medikament hatten.

• Wenn Sie andere Medikamente einnehmen. Dazu gehören alle Medikamente, die Sie einnehmen und die ohne Rezept erhältlich sind, sowie pflanzliche und ergänzende Medikamente.

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about cimetidine and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take cimetidine exactly as your doctor tells you to. There are different strengths of tablets available - 200 mg, 400 mg, and 800 mg. You may be prescribed the tablets to take once, twice, or four times a day. Your doctor will tell you what dose is right for you and the directions will also be on the label of the pack to remind you what was said.

• You can take cimetidine before or after meals.

• If you forget to take a dose at your usual time, you can take it when you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• A course of treatment can vary in length, depending upon the reason why you are taking cimetidine. It may be just for a few days to relieve your symptoms, or for several weeks to help an ulcer heal. Keep any appointments that you have booked with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.

• Some foods may make your symptoms worse. Foods and drinks that have been suspected of this include peppermint, tomatoes, chocolate, spicy foods, hot drinks, coffee, and alcoholic drinks. If it seems that a food is aggravating your symptoms, try avoiding it for a while to see if your symptoms improve. Also, try avoiding eating large meals, as these can make your symptoms worse too.

• Wenn Sie übergewichtig sind, übt dies zusätzlichen Druck auf Ihren Magen aus und fördert die Symptome von saurem Reflux. Abnehmen und eine gesunde, ausgewogene Ernährung können Ihnen möglicherweise helfen.

• Rauchen erhöht die Menge an Magensäure und kann Ihre Symptome verschlimmern. Wenn Sie Raucher sind, sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker darüber, wie Sie aufhören können.

• If you buy any medicines 'over the counter', always check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take alongside your other medicines. Cimetidine can interfere with the way other medicines work.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with cimetidine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Wenn Sie andere Symptome bemerken, die Ihrer Meinung nach auf das Medikament zurückzuführen sind, sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Arzt oder Apotheker für weitere Ratschläge.

• Bewahren Sie alle Medikamente außerhalb der Reichweite und Sicht von Kindern auf.

• An einem kühlen, trockenen Ort aufbewahren, fern von direkter Hitze und Licht.