Cimetidine: interaction with oral anticoagulants in man

Lancet. 1979 Aug 18;2(8138):317-9. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90340-4.

Abstract

In 6 patients anticoagulated with warfarin, nicoumalone, or phenindione the addition of cimetidine prolonged the prothrombin-time (PT) by a mean of 12.6 s (range 5--23 s). In 7 volunteers taking daily subtherapeutic doses of warfarin the addition of cimetidine increased the PT from 19.4 to 22.9 s and the plasma-warfarin concentration from 0.96 to 1.76 microgram/ml. Cimetidine reduced the single-dose clearance of warfarin and antipyrine. The basis of the interaction between cimetidine and oral anticoagulants is probably inhibition of drug metabolism. Care should be exercised in concomitant therapy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Acenocoumarol / administration & dosage
  • Acenocoumarol / metabolism*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antipyrine / metabolism
  • Biological Availability
  • Cimetidine / pharmacology*
  • Cimetidine / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Guanidines / pharmacology*
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenindione / administration & dosage
  • Phenindione / metabolism*
  • Prothrombin Time
  • Warfarin / administration & dosage
  • Warfarin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Guanidines
  • Phenindione
  • Warfarin
  • Cimetidine
  • Acenocoumarol
  • Antipyrine