Premium
Cimetidine in Elderly Patients
Author(s) -
JENIKE MICHAEL A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1982.tb01299.x
Subject(s) - cimetidine , medicine , phenytoin , diazepam , theophylline , chlordiazepoxide , warfarin , anesthesia , propranolol , physostigmine , intensive care medicine , epilepsy , atrial fibrillation , psychiatry , acetylcholine
Cimetidine is widely prescribed but has numerous potential side effects, especially in elderly patients, who require a lower dosage, e.g., 300 mg twice daily. Antacids may be more effective than Cimetidine in preventing acute gastrointestinal bleeding in critically ill elderly patients. Cimetidine increases the risk of toxicity of other commonly used drugs such as phenytoin, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, propranolol, theophylline, warfarin, and car‐bamazepine. Elderly patients taking Cimetidine are at risk for neuropsychiatric changes, which may be temporarily reversed by physostigmine. Other side effects and indications for use are reviewed.