Cimetidine as an inhibitor of drug metabolism: therapeutic implications and review of the literature.

Cimetidine has been reported to decrease the biotransformation of drugs metabolized by the MFOE system. Additionally, cimetidine decreases liver blood flow and increases the bioavailability of drugs with high hepatic extraction ratios. Patients receiving cimetidine in conjunction with drugs known to interact with cimetidine in conjunction with drugs known to interact with cimetidine are at risk of experiencing toxicity. When appropriate, reducing the dosage of these agents or switching to an alternative drug will minimize the incidence of side effects. Clinicians should be suspicious if patients experience exaggerated drug effects when cimetidine therapy is begun.