Intensive care experience with intravenous cimetidine

This study reports the results of a retrospective review of the case records of 28 seriously ill patients who received intravenous cimetidine (generally 300 mg q8h) for the treatment of gastric discomfort and/or hemorrhage or for prophylaxis against stress-induced ulcers. Most of these patients presented with complex symptoms arising from a variety of pathological conditions including ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, pneumonia, and trauma. A number of patients also had acute gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Over two-thirds of the patients treated with intravenous cimetidine demonstrated a reduction in gastrointestinal symptom severity, and a statistically significant reduction in the mean severity rating for all patients was observed. Adverse reactions reported during cimetidine therapy were generally mild to moderate in severity and required discontinuance of therapy in only one patient. The most common complaint was headache. Intravenous cimetidine administered q8h offers a safe and cost-effective approach to H2-receptor blockade and reduction of gastric acid secretion in patients who are temporarily unable to take oral medication.