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Tagamet (Cimetidine): Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

Tagamet

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList: 3/27/2023

Drug Summary

What Is Tagamet?

Tagamet (cimetidine) is a histamine receptor antagonist used to treat and prevent certain types of ulcer, and to treat conditions that cause the stomach to produce too much acid. Tagamet is also used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and causes heartburn. Tagamet is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Tagamet?

Tagamet may cause serious side effects including:

  • pain when swallowing,
  • bloody or tarry stools,
  • cough with bloody mucus,
  • vomit that looks like coffee grounds,
  • mood changes,
  • anxiety,
  • agitation,
  • confusion,
  • hallucinations, and
  • breast swelling or tenderness

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Common side effects of Tagamet include:

  • headache,
  • dizziness,
  • drowsiness,
  • depression,
  • agitation,
  • breast swelling or tenderness (in men),
  • joint or muscle pain,
  • skin rash,
  • diarrhea,
  • nausea, or
  • constipation.

Tell your doctor if you experience unlikely but serious side effects of Tagamet including:

  • mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, hallucinations),
  • trouble urinating, or
  • decreased sexual ability (with very high doses).

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Tagamet

Dose of Tagamet depends on the condition being treated and the patient's response to the medication.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Tagamet?

Tagamet may interact with blood thinners, clopidogrel, phenytoin, nifedipine, metronidazole, propranolol, chlordiazepoxide, lidocaine, diazepam, theophylline, depression or anxiety medications. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

Tagamet During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Tagamet should be used only when prescribed during pregnancy. This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Tagamet (cimetidine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Description for Tagamet

READ THE DIRECTIONS AND WARNINGS, INCLUDING THOSE PRINTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE CARTON, BEFORE TAKING THIS PRODUCT.

Drug Facts

Active ingredient

(in each tablet) Cimetidine 200mg

Uses for Tagamet

Purpose

Acid reducer

Uses

  • relieves heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach
  • prevents heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach brought on by eating or drinking certain foods and beverages

Dosage for Tagamet

Directions

  • adults and children 12 years and older:
    • to relieve symptoms, swallow 1 tablet with a glass of water
    • to prevent symptoms, swallow 1 tablet with a glass of water right before or any time up to 30 minutes before eating food or drinking beverages that cause heartburn
    • do not take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours
  • children under 12 years: ask a doctor

Other Information

  • store at 15-30°C (59-86°F)

HOW SUPPLIED

Active Ingredient

(in each tablet) Cimetidine 200mg

Inactive Ingredients

cellulose, corn starch, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate 80, povidone, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium starch glycolate, titanium dioxide

Keep out of reach of children.

Questions or comments?

Call toll-free 1-800-482-4394. tagamet.com

Medtech Products Inc. Revised: Aug 2022

Side Effects for Tagamet

No information required

Drug Interactions for Tagamet

No information required. Please refer to the WARNINGS section.

Warnings for Tagamet

Allergy Alert: Do not use if you are allergic to cimetidine or other acid reducers

Do not use

  • if you have trouble or pain swallowing food, vomiting with blood, or bloody or black stools. These may be signs of a serious condition. See your doctor.
  • with other acid reducers

Ask a doctor before use if you have

  • frequent chest pain
  • frequent wheezing, particularly with heartburn
  • unexplained weight loss
  • nausea or vomiting
  • stomach pain
  • had heartburn over 3 months. This may be a sign of a more serious condition.
  • heartburn with lightheadedness, sweating or dizziness
  • chest pain or shoulder pain with shortness of breath; sweating; pain spreading to arms, neck or shoulders; or lightheadedness
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug. Acid reducers may interact with certain
prescription drugs.

  • theophylline (oral asthma medicine)
  • warfarin (blood thinning medicine)
  • phenytoin (seizure medicine)

Stop use and ask a doctor if

  • your heartburn continues or worsens
  • stomach pain continues
  • you need to take this product for more than 14 days

If pregnant or breast-feeding,

ask a health professional before use.

Keep out of reach of children.

Precautions for Tagamet

Included as part of the WARNINGS section.

Overdose Information for Tagamet

In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Contraindications for Tagamet

No information required

Clinical Pharmacology for Tagamet

No information required

Patient Information for Tagamet

Allergy Alert: Do not use if you are allergic to cimetidine or other acid reducers

Do not use

  • if you have trouble or pain swallowing food, vomiting with blood, or bloody or black stools. These may be signs of a serious condition. See your doctor.
  • with other acid reducers

Do not use

  • if you have trouble or pain swallowing food, vomiting with blood, or bloody or black stools. These may be signs of a serious condition. See your doctor.
  • with other acid reducers

Ask a doctor before use if you have

  • frequent chest pain
  • frequent wheezing, particularly with heartburn
  • unexplained weight loss
  • nausea or vomiting
  • stomach pain
  • had heartburn over 3 months. This may be a sign of a more serious condition.
  • heartburn with lightheadedness, sweating or dizziness
  • chest pain or shoulder pain with shortness of breath; sweating; pain spreading to arms, neck or shoulders; or lightheadedness
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug. Acid reducers may interact with certain
prescription drugs.

  • theophylline (oral asthma medicine)
  • warfarin (blood thinning medicine)
  • phenytoin (seizure medicine)

Stop use and ask a doctor if

  • your heartburn continues or worsens
  • stomach pain continues
  • you need to take this product for more than 14 days

If pregnant or breast-feeding,

ask a health professional before use.

Keep out of reach of children.

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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.