title: Comparison of the Parenteral histamine2-receptor antagonists.
abstract: The chemical structure, pharmacokinetic properties, and drug-drug interaction profiles of the parenterally available histamine2 (H2)-receptor antagonists were compared. Famotidine is a guanidinothiazole derivative, ranitidine contains an aminomethylfuran ring, and cimetidine has an imidazole ring. Data from the literature indicate that because of its chemical structure famotidine has a much greater potency and affinity for the H2-receptor and a notable lack of drug-drug interactions when compared with ranitidine and cimetidine. As a result, famotidine should be considered the H2-receptor antagonist of choice for critically ill patients who require gastric-acid suppression and at the same time are being treated with other drugs that depend on the cytochrome P-450 mixed-function oxidase system for their metabolism and/or on renal tubular mechanisms for their excretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tennessee.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Skoutakis
mesh_terms: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists