title: Oral and intravenous pharmacokinetics of cimetidine in liver cirrhosis.
abstract: The bioavailability of p.o. and i.v. cimetidine was studied in 12 patients with compensated liver cirrhosis in a crossover study. Single doses of 200 and 400 mg cimetidine were used for both administration routes. Plasma concentration and urinary recovery were determined by the HPLC method. The pharmacokinetic data observed in these patients do not differ from those of normal subjects and patients. A positive correlation between AUC and cimetidine oral dose was found. Oral bioavailability of cimetidine was about 94% compared to that of the i.v. route. The p.o. dose of 400 mg produced AUC values similar to the i.v. dose of 400 mg. After 400 mg cimetidine p.o. the mean peak plasma level was higher and the time for which plasma levels remained above 0.5 mg/l was longer. There were no significant differences between plasma cimetidine levels after the intravenous administration of 200 and 400 mg. The urinary recovery of cimetidine was significantly higher after intravenous administration independently of the given dose. The pharmacokinetics of cimetidine does not appear to be altered in liver cirrhosis.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001682:Biological Availability; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006146:Guanidines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007700:Kinetics; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006146:Guanidines; D002927:Cimetidine