Use of cimetidine in hospital patients

The use of cimetidine in 137 patients in a large Canadian teaching hospital was assessed prospectively. About 80% of the patients received the drug for treatment and 20% received it for prophylaxis. All of the prophylactic indications as well as some of the treatment indications have not been approved by the health protection branch of the Department of National Health and Welfare, nor do most have adequate literature documentation. The duration of therapy varied from less than 3 days to more than 2 months. The average cost of cimetidine therapy was $40.71. The dosage was not adjusted in over 50% of the patients in whom impairment of renal function was serious enough to warrant consideration of a dosage reduction. Approximately half of the patients received concurrent antacid therapy. Although cimetidine is relatively safe, its use in this institution was less than optimal.